Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-07-15
The Cattle Herders of Florida.

A letter dated Fort Myers, Florida,
says: The Caloosahatchee at this point
Is deep and wide stream, aflording
easy navigation for ocean craft. From
here eastward the river narrows, and
drains an open prairie, or savann-
country. This region Is vast cattle
range. and inhabited only by herders
and the remnants of the Seminoles.
Some of these cattle raisers are wealthy,
andipride themselves on their acausi-
tions. Cuba affords them a market
and their available wealth is mostly in
Spanish doubloons, though great deal
of it Is in Mexican dollars. The silver
money is kept in sacks representing $50
500, or 5000. and never untied-pass-
ing from hand TO hand for the amount
marked on the tag. Every man is his
own banker, and his coin is good deal
safer under his own root than il would
be in the custody of any bank. 1t would
be impossible To rob one of these cattle
men of his money and get away with it.
The weight OF the coin would prevent
rapid fight, and there is no place TO fly
TO If flight were possible. Hemmed in
by swamps and ocean there is no safety
for him who would rob his neighbor,
for he could not get away or make use
at home OF what was another's. II
theft were attempted swift punishment
would follow the offense. No useless
judge or superfuous Jury would con-
sumo time in determining the magnitude
OF the crime. The offender would die
with his boots on, and there would be
no cumbering OF a court record with the
transaction.
The people of this region are honest
from q desire To be so. Everybody's
house Is open. The merchant, who Is
always his own clerk, leaves unclosed
the door of his store when he goes TO
dinner. III a customer should come in
during his absence and want plug of
tobacco, he would take the tobacco and
leave the value of it in coin in its place.
II he couldn't make the exact change nj
the time he would mention Il after
ward and square the account. There is
no such thing as cheating on the part of
merchant. He couldn't keep store II
he WIS known to cheat, and he never
attempts IL. There is unlimited mutual
confidence on the part of buyer and
seller.
One of these "cattle kings" as the
herders designate each other, is n miser,
and lives in n miserable hut, with no
company but dogs. He has boxes OF
doubloons in untold numbers secreted
about his premises. has no visitors and
no neighbors, for, in addition TO being n
miser, he Is hermit. Perhaps fancy
has credited him with more wealth
than he actually possesses, but he Is
reputed the richest man IN Florida, and
marvellous stories are told of the gold
and silver he has buried. As poorly as
this miser cattle king lives, there are
none of them who live much better.
Bacon is their staple meat, and with all
their cattle, they have neither milk nor
butter, and fresh beef but seldom.
With a climate and soil that would
produce fruits and vegetables the year
round, they have nothing Of the kind,
except what is gathered In a wild state
One or two families Mt Fort Myers have
done something in the way of producing
fruits. but elsewhere about here no ef-
forts are made in this direction.
The Ca!oosahatchee is n favorite
home of the alligator. Thousands line
its banks, basking in the hot sun OF
April. Deer are found in abundan ce
and bears and wild cats are too numer.
Gus to make the rearing of hogs or
sheep possible except in Enclosures.
Fish OF fine quality can be had for the
catching. Birds of gaudy piumage and
ravishing song enliven the forest. and
bush and tree OF exquisite flower and
foliage make picture or which the eye
delights TO linger.