New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-22

where spectres chase each other and COLLINS seem to
hold silent reve undisturbed by the busy wheel and
the constant putting of the steamer as she threads
her way along this watery path through the forest.
AT daybreak the fire had gone out. and the gray
dawn Illuminated the scene with its sober light. IL
was Sunday. There was sound but The never
ceasing splash of the wheel and the pant of the
laboring engine below AT first tue topmost branch
of the tallest cypress that struggled upward toward
the sky was gilded with the foremost ray. An
eagle sat there as though be had never been dis
turbed, and seemed to enjoy the golden sun that
lighted up his rusty coat for he shook not plume,
DOR moved plnion, but sat and looked in silence
on tie scene below him. Nine miles from the
spring the run rs II Is called puts into the Ockla-
waha. Once upon il the water is fOund 10 be as
clear : glass. At II o'clock the OsceOla reached
HarTi, 0n's Landing and here was a crowd Of men
and women, white and coored, who had come
many miles to see the distinguished traveller. The
Mavor came on board. and after meeting General
Graft. said: "Fcllow-ciiizens of Marion County,
have the honor to introduce to you General Grant,
the most distinguished living American" The
crowd gave one of those shrll Southern cheers
unlike the deep, sonorous ring of the Northern
burrah. As many people as could find room on the
boat aboard. and we passed on to the spring,
mile away, where there was another thronG that
cheered. The curiosities of the spring inspected,
General Grant and some members of the party
placed in carriages and driven to Ocala the county
seat of Marion, SIX miles distant and
pretty village of 1000 inhabitants, built mp
with white frame houses, and broad, sandy streets.
After dinner at Harris's Hotel large number of
colored people joined the crowd about the veranda
on which General Grant sat smoking bis cigar. and
asked him to make speech. He smiled. remarkiEg
that it preachers day, and he thought he would
not try it.
THE RETURN.
1t was dark when the landing was reached again,
and we started on the lO0-mile trip back to the ST.
Johns The torches were lighted once more, and
the strange pictures of the night before were re-
peated. Navigation. however, was now more Diff
cult than on the way up The current was so swift
that the sharp bends that occurred every few rods
could not easily be made. Sweeping down a curve,
the prov of the boat would 90 humping into the
trees on the other side, and a coored man with
long pole was kept on the lower deck TO shove the
boat Of But if the Captain was not looking he
would lei the boat 90 crashing into the oyerhanging
trees, trusting to the rebound to Lelp him get her
under way again.
The only landing made before reaching Palatka
was at Murphy's Island, IN the ST. Johns. Palatka
itself was reached before noon on Monday the 18TH
The day was spent in and about The town. As the
journey came to happy termination at Tocoi,
asked General Grant what were his conclusions as
10 the future of Florida the least improved State
east of the Mississippi River.
:" think" he sand. that Florida has a bright
prospect As far the product Of the soil * con-
cerned, this will surpass any State in the Union
and will realize the most money. Her productions
will be a monopoly and besides her oranges, pine
apples and sem-tropical fruits and vegetables, she
will in time produce The sugar for the consumption
Of the entire country Then she grows the finest
long staple cotton, the best Of tobacco for cigars
and her timber is Of immense value. Then when
the swamp land is cleared Of the ti.Aber there viii
remain the choicest kind of a nee country. The
soil while apparently baTen,is suited TO the climate
and there are extensive beds of material for fertli-
cation that will not only supply the needs of the
land but will be an article Of export" AZ Toc0i
committee of citizens of st. Augustine met General
Grant to accompany him tho rest of the way to this
the Oldest city il the United States, of which /
have already written.