Litchfield enquirer., 1879-04-24
NortthTaTd PcrnI.

] if not 10 many of the readers of the old En- quirer. Leaving Jacksonville on the morning of the 23d, ult., our attention was first attract ed by the profusion of roses on either side r the Florida Central R. R. for long distance, 1 will not try to state how far, fearing might over or under estimate. The next thing we noticed particularly was the condition of the road. 1 doubt whether there is another such miserable: horrid bit of railroad in the United States. In some places the top of the rail was actually worn off, leaving the narrow center for the wheels to pass over. In other places one rail would rest on the tie and the other on the ground, while in others still, there were short lengths of only yard or SO of rail. The first station, about 15 miles out, is White House." where, among the pines, are three or four huts, yet sufficient for wood station Here I noticed a tram-road and large wagon with log wheels about IS inches in length and 20 in diameter, mounted with rack large enough to contain two cords of wood or more 1 Next we arrived at Baldwin, 20 miles from Jacksonville, and changed cars for Cedar Keys, 105 miles away. While waiting for the train from Fernandina, we hadan hours time to view the beautiful village of Baldwin with it's barn-lke station and restaurant like a chicken-coop. The houses are raised on tim bers, or rather posts, about feet high, to keep them frsm the green stagnant water un- derneath. What delightful place it must be in summer, when the mosquitoes set up their nightly raids, and the frogs their familiar songs. It must then be ''Garden of Eden," from which one would not regret expulsion. At this point we took the Atlantic Gulf 6y West India Transit railroad at IO:3O p. m., ar irving in Cedar Keys at 9 in the evening. Here we were met by tall, well-built man, representing what he called the Gulf House." l Said house would not be decent barn in New England, to say nothing of he way it was kept. The steamer ''Chase," which we ex- pected to take that evening on our arrival, had left at o'clock. AS this line of steamers had not advertised to leave that day we were not disappointed. The opposition line had adver- tised their boat ''Margarette" to leave the fol- lowing evening for New Orleans, so we count ed on that, sure; but, owing to some strife, the "Margarette" left Tampa and went direct to New Orleans, not landing at Cedar Keys as advertised. Such at least was the most favor able version for the company. Several pas sengers were detained till Monday morning, | and then took the steamer 'Lizzic Hender- son." while several waited thinking, surely the | "Margarette" would be in port in few hours. | For aught we know, they are waiting there | yet. During our stay at Cedar Keys, We learned of the great Faber pencil works on one of the islands in sight, and visited the groun.s | where the soldiers were buried during the war. made the acquaintance of Capt. Falcon and son, on board the yacht Falcon" which left Chicago Ui0 the canal and rivers to the Gulf, and so to the Florida coast where they spent the winter. A few days previous, as the cap- tain and his crew were out for a sail, they picked up two young men who had been cap sized and had been clnging to their boat for dear life for AS hours. Another had died of exposure; his body was found afterwards and ta- ken North by the surviving brother. During our stay in Cedar Keys we stayed at the we'll kept hotel of Mir. O. Battelini, where we were made comfortable two nights out of three when there. If any of the readers of this scrawl ever visit Cedar Keys that is the house for them to stay at
 On Monday morning, March 31st, we left Cedar Keys for New Orleans, distance 450 mies-fare from Jacksonville, $20. As there had been high wind for several days from the Gulf, with a change afterwards, we had the benefit of what is termed ''chop sea" (called by one of the passengers who was very sea sick ''hash sea'), which caused the boat to go anything but steadily. The second night out there came on a heavy thunder shower accompanied by high wind, which caused the ''Lzzie Henderson" to dc any thing but ''glide gently" The chairs tumbled first one side then the other of the cabin, the dishes rattled and the passengers clung to their berths to avoid rolling out; and when, about half an hour before daylight the news came through the cabin, ''We'll be on the Missis- | sippi in about thirty minutes" many hearts | rejoiced with exceeding joy.
 
 | We arrived at the mouth of the Mississippi about the break of day, and passed up the south pass by the jetties about 6:30, having l fine view of all the works which will without doubt prove great benefit to navigation as there are 27 to 30 feet Of water in the south pass at present, and the jetties not completed. Soon after we passed the jetties, we came to the large sugar plantations, which were we'll worth seeing also. The clover in blossom on the banks presented wide difference in ap- pearance from the barren State of Florida. On these plantations they were moving their dooryards as in New England in June. After pleasant days sail we arrived in New Or leans at in the evening. Next day 1took up quarters at the St. James Hotel and was shown about the city by much esteemed friend formerly from Connecticut After a three days visit we took the steamer James Howard" on Saturday evening for St. Louis distance 1 1,250 miles, by river. The "James Howard' is one of the largest if not the largest boat on the river, being 322 feet long, 95 feet wide and of 3,400 tons burden The officers of the boat are refined gentlemen, and all passed pleasant ly during our journey, except an attempted theft by a fellow called Saup, who came on board at New Madrid He was we'll dressed, of gentlemanly appearance, and was given quarters in state room with gentleman from New Orleans. Not long after, the latter found his satchel open, clothes in confusion, and several articles missing, among them a scarf-pin. This pin was found on the person of the New Madrid arrival; who, on being charged with the theft, he retorted with like &C., cusation against the New Orleans gentleman a man of excellent character. On investiga- tlon, the truth came out, unmistakably, and the fellow went ashore few hours later, at Cairo. I hear he is a newspaper reporter and