Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-01-04
ASHTABULA OHIO PARLIAMENTARY f. 1873

IN one hand, and a cold potato in the oth-
er, my oounteous repast, and | gezed on
such with a feYerish sye, and consigned
them to inward depths with fear and
doubt, instead Of thanksgiving. DR.. and
Van remained below and watched our Cap-
tain eat, the DR.. initiating him, but from
our own supplies, while Van made his
meal of, of the enjoyment with which
they ate. He did not complain of any
fullness, and it suggested to us the ef
feets meal must have to the many who
dine of the odors Of the kitchen of
restaurant. As the weather continued bad
we, on the sixth day, determined to land
at Cedar Keys, and not trust ourselves in
this craft to Tampa. Before | leave the
vessel, let me tell you Of our captain. He
was a huge animal, some seven feet high,
snd as broad as long; he was one of the kind
that knew everything, yet knew nothing.
He claimed to have discovered everything,
and to know everybody; he would put out
to sea instead of cOssting, and the conse-
quences were as related. In fact when
nearing Cedar Keys, we were actually lost,
and lit was by chance we made the Har-
Dor and escaped terrible storm. He ut
terly ignored the Government regulations,
never burninga light when at anchor, or
being regulated in navigating channels by
the buOys. He could swear like Pirate,
q say Pirate because / never heard Pirate
swear. and never heard man who could
swear like our Captain).
We landed at Cedar Keys, very thankful
to reach there l assure you, and discharging
our vessel and Captain, took upaHotel
quarters st the ''Islsnd House Hotel"
Cedar KEYS does not impress ons with its
or ie oor,r,ocad Of four rarv
dilapidated houses and two hotels It is
the terminus of the railroad running across
the Peninsula from Fsrdinanda, and its
business is the transhipment of freight
from Tampa and Key west to Eastern
Ports. 1888 Ltl-sa
This town eyinees a great snimosity to
Tampa, and its people sndsayOr to inn
press all who visit it with the beauties it,
Cedar Keys, possesses, and inducements
it offers in commerce, compared to Tam
pa, and a hundred and one other things in
what it exeels the latter place. Indeed we
were told so much of Cedar KEYS to its
good and so much to the bad OF Tampa,
that we made up our minds to be sadly dis
appointed with our destination, and We
really thought that We we're incapable of
appreciating the many good things of
Cedar Keys, as We could not see any, and
that we were not possessed with that
amount of conception we were eOnceited
enough to think we were. 1t was not long
before we were made aware OF the falsity
of all Of it, and found out why Cedar Keys
SO hated Tampa. In few words Tampa
is a diamond and Cedar Keys a paste
gem. 1t needs the brightest light to show
the sparkle Of the latter, but light or dark,
the former flashes its tints continually.
We travelled to Tampa from Cedar Keys
in the steamer ''Lizzis Henderson, and af-
ter short, enjoyable trip, arrived safely,
although after weary journey, at our
destination.
Our route Of travel is one advised to
none, farther than New Orleans. From
there to Cedar Keys by rail and to Tampa
by steamer, would give the traveller mag
nifeent and enjoyable trip, but "beWsre Of
schooneEs." -4t
will write Of Tampa and a trip Inow
start on, through the country, in my next
letter. Yours,