The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-06-16
A Deserted City-The Hapless Fate Of
Florida Town.

very lew persons are probably aware
that in the early part of the present
century there existed in this new coun-
try of ours a city which, after attaining
considerable Importance, was, in coL-
sequence of q blighting pestilence by
which it was visited, suddenly deserted.
so that it rapidly passed into decay and
oblivion.
Situated on q beautiful bay, which
sets in from the Gulf of Mexico and in.
dents the shore of western Florida,
there fourished, about the year 1887, the
prosperous little city of St. Joseph. It
had many attractions. The location,
commanding a view of the lovely bay
and islands beyond, was charming.
The climate was delightful and at that
time it was fast becoming an important
business center. The first railroad in
the State was built from St. Joseph to a
point on the Chattahoochee River, the
fine harbor for shipping being the in
ducement, and large quantities OF cotton
were sent from Northern Florida and
Alabama to be shipped from here in the
sailing vessels, which thick!y dotted its
bay, to Northern and European ports.
Receiving and transferring these
large amounts of cotton was the chief
industry of the place, and made
business very active during the winter
months. CAPITAL was invested IN ware
houses, stores, docks, etc. Men of
wealth, culture and refinement built
beautiful houses, surrounded them with
luxurious gardens, filled with the rarest
flowers and luscious fruits, hoping and
believing that they were founding per-
manent homes for themselves and their
children. But, just as prosperity and
happiness seemed assured, the dread
visitor of the South, yellow fever, made
its appearance. sweeping the place like
a scourge. This was in the summer of
1841. Whole families died in the midst
of their lovely surroundings. Many fed
terrified and never returned. seeking
their fortunes anew elsewhere. 1t was
long after. before any one dared VEN
ture to reclaim what might remain of
their deserted property. The work
had been complete. Business firms and
families were broken up, or wholly de-
stroyed, and the city was left a scene
of wreck and ruin. Five years later a
few old families, hoping to revive in
terest in its fallen fortunes. and also to
enjoy its superior sea-bathing facilities,
returned, thinking to make summer
homes there. and induce others. But it
was useless; the blow had been fatal.
1t was at this time that the writer
visited the spot, and the impression
then made has never been effaced. 1t
presented melancholy spectacle, yet
a, ;b;rr.l,, ,,;.%,~ooc,ro Thn ,holoto..
warehouses. costly and spacious houses,
now doorless and windowless, rose like
specters on every side, many of the
houses being almost buried in the tan
gled masses of vines, flowers and
shrubs, cultivated and wild, grown to-
gether at their own will, making it diff
ficult to get through the thicket to ex-
plore the deserted ruins. Now and
then parties of hunters from q distance
would take possession Of some one of
these ruins as headquarters while seek
ing deer and other game with which
the woods not far of abound. But aft
err while even these occasional visit
ors ceased, as the place became more
and more isolated. The last residents
were an old man and his daughter, who
lived entirely alone, subsisting on the
resources OF their garden, the fish of
the bay, and the game of the woods,
and depending for other necessaries
upon the sale of shell work, made
from the exquisitely fine shells, gath
cred in quantities along the lovely
beach, to sell which they made ccca-
sional trips to town twenty-five miles
distant. At last the old man died, the
daughter left, and none now remain to
tell the story of once bright and
promising city.-C0r. ~ r. Eve,s;ng
Post.