The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-03-13
ALAF1A, FLA, February, 1879.

O'Quinn's, in Columbia County, and on
the morning of 7th of March, bright and
early, we push on in direction of New
nansville, which place we expect to pass
during the day. Upon this days travel
we cross the Santa Fee River upon a nat.
ural bridge, about eight or ten miles be-
fore reaching Newnansyille, which would
have given US astonishment and wonder
for the whereabouts of the river along
whose side we ride for some distance
when suddenly it disappears and we see
it no more, but we had been apprised of
this phenomenon at Mr.. O'Quinns', who
Informed us that this somewhat remark
able disappearance continues for several
miles, reappearing as suddenly as it had
vanished.
Somewhere in this neighborhood there
is said to be remarkable cave, the en-
trance to which, MIR. O'Quinn says, Is
near the road we pass. The entrance is
only large enough for man to crawl
into, but, once in, the cave expands, and
one can easily stand erect, the walls be-
ing much higher than mans head, and
furnishing other entrances to different
apartments. Though it has been fire.
quently entered, Mr.. O'Quinn says it has
never been fully explored. We did not
visit it, having no guide and not know
ing its exact locality, though we saw a
hole that we supposed to be its entrance.
The little town of Newnansville pre-
sents no remarkable features except for
dizziness, as indeed do all the little vii
Iages through which we pass.
Archer Station, in Alachua, comes
next en- route, and except for being made
famous for its election frauds and as the
place where Dennis figured in the giant
fraud of the nineteenth century-the
fostering of Hayes as'President over q
people who did not call him-would
never have been heard of by your read
ers. Even here, though, we refrain for
some of its peoples sake, for there beon
who comes out and gives US 3 friendly
greeting, intuitively feeling, as he said,
that we were Carolinians and from old
Anderson. This was Mr.. Holland, for
nerly of Anderson, who had many in
quiries to make of her and her people,
cordially and pressingly inviting us to
go by his fathers and "spend day or
two," assuring US of the pleasure the
family would have in welcoming us and
hearing from taeir old home. 1t is some
miles off of cur direct route, however,
and anxious to reach our destination, we
express our regrets and push on for the
goal. This night we all pass in the
wagons, as the country is becoming more
thinly settled, and, except some negro
cabins, when night overtakes us there
are no houses for miles ahead. Fatigue
is good harbinger Of sleep, and we are
soon lost in 'sweet forgetfulness," and
awake in the morning measurably re-
freshed. Tonight, Saturday March
9th, we stop with Mr.. Tom Barco, in
Marion County. With this pleasant
family we remain over Sabbath until
Monday morning, when, bright with an
ticipations of home nearly reached, we
move forward, "avoiding Spooners'" by
advice of a valued friend left behind,
and stop Monday night, March l1th,
with Mr.. Green Thomas, on the Charlie
Apopka Lake, in fernando County.
Mr.. Thomas is poor man, with meagre
accommodations, but, learning that we
are acquaintance and friends of Mr.. and
Mrs. Samuel Crayton, of your town, gives
us kind and cordial welcome to what
he has, and we are grati6cd at being able
to contribute somewhat to the pleasure
and enjoyment of the old lady, his wife,
whom we find bewailing her sad fate of
hcing without coffee, and "living away
off out of the world, where, if body has
little money, they amt got no where
to go to spend it." Mr.. Editor, it almost
made me feel like crying Hallelujah to
think of being where one had no use for
money. Charlie Apopka Lake is about
twenty-five miles long and from one to
FIVE miles wide, and Mr.. Thomas says
abounds in fish of various kinds. The
boys and l would have gone out on it for
moonlight ride and fish, but the first
hcavy rain we experienced since we left
home (Anderson) came up just as We
reached Mr.. Thomas, and continued un-
abated-an night. The next morning the
rain is still falling lightly, but the clouds
are lowering, and gives warning of
heavier rain during the day; however,
we have counted on reaching Mr.. C. Q.
Nevitt's to-day, and will try it, as our
wagons are well covered and dry, and we
have no streams of consequence to cross.
Reaching Mr.. .Nevitt's, we find his good
lady looking for us, having been apprised
of our coming by our friends Mr.. and
Mrs. Sam. Crayton, of Anderson. Mrs.
Crayton is Mr.. Nevitt's daughter BY O.
former wife, He is in the cedar swamp
getting out cedar for Northern COM
pany, but the welcome given US by Mrs.
n. is warm and cordial, though VIC are
strangers to her, and right highly do we
appreciate it, feeling grateful to our
friends behind, though believing it to be
innate in the lady. We will stop here
two or three days, which will give rest to
cur mules bruised and sore shoulders,
which render them almost past travelling
An1 hcre 7 world advice any one tray.