Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-04
Florida Affairs.


last month than during any corresponding
month OF previous years.
The st. Augustine Press states that Mr.
Daniel J. Martin returned to that city on Tues
day, the 2lst uIt. having been successful in re-
covering the body of his brother-in-law. Mr.
Felipe Hernandez, who, with his wife, were
lost on the Vera Cruz" The body was fully
identified and has been Forwarded North Mr.
Martin also made efforts to recover the re-
mains OF his sister. but failed to do so, not
withstandinz the fact that the remains were
buried near the spot where her husband was
disenterred. His failure Is attributed to the
want cf land m lrks aud the shifting and CON
slant moving Of the sand on the beach. Mr..
Martin states that he feels hopeful that the
body of his sister viii yet be found, as the peo-
pie in the vicinity OF the beach for miles back
are all deeply interested and viii use every
possible means to find the body. He speaks
in the most lattering terms of the people of
st. Augustine and on tie coast where his sad
duty called him, receiving, as he says, the
kindest and most cordial treatment from all
The present cold spell it is thought viii not
materially injure the Florida orange trees,
though in some cases the fruit was frozen. A
states that there is no appreciable injury
from frost there, or in Sanford Grant, Oranges,
lemons, pine apples, guavss. all right, but to
matOes and some tender vegetables were cut
down. Col Hart. Of Palatka. thinks that the
fruit on his grove opposite that city on the east
side Of the river, is not injured. He had large
ares built near the grove the night after the
freeze, and the up-river boats report seeing
such fires all along the river that night.
On Wednesday last a Northern visitor, 40
cOmpanied by two men whom he supposed to
be gentlemen. registered at a Jacksonville
hotel. He had with HIM satchel containing a
great deal of money, which he placed in his
room. While he was at supper his compan-
rs entered the room, sole all his money and
his watch, and made their escape. Their
whereabouts is not known.
The Fernandina Express wants to get rid of
the abominabie nuisance Of horses and COWS
running at large on the streets Of tn t city.
On Saturday last, James 4. Pickett, who kill
/ ed James A. Campbell last September in a
/ quarrel about some land, came into Jackson
] Vile and surrendered himself The family of
the murdered man have since the deed moved
/ to Tennessee, and as there was no evidence
/ produced against Pickett, he was discharged.
The st. Augustine Press reports Thursday of
Christmas week day Of accidents. 1t says:
Patrick Murphy, porter at the Magnolis,
fell from psir Cf stairs and fractured his left
wrist and otherwise bruised himself. A lighter
loaded with lumber for the North Beach sunk
on the fiat between the fort and the beach
phaeton, became frightened 81 the breaking
OF some part Of the harness, and becoming un-
manageable near the depot, dashed at full
speed over the bridge, and were not stopped
until reaching the post Offica The phaetOn was
considerably damaged. AS the running horses
were approaching the bridge, Bartolo Rose
was fishing He saw the horse coming, and
losing his presence of mind he climbed the
railing Of the bridge, plunged into the river and
SWAN ashore"
Says the Fern endina Express by decree
of the United States Court. Judge Settle pre-
siding the Atlantic, Gulf and West India Tran
sit Railroad viii be sold on February z, 1891
The sale is made, we understand, says the
Union, by virtue of a harmonious arrange
ment between all the bordholders, and will in no
way affect the existing obligations OF the COM
pany; on the contrary, it will, we are assured,
provide sum of money to put the road in
urst- class order by the purchase of iron. roll
ing stock, etc The bonds are nearly all held
by the estate Of Marshall o. Roberts"
Abiding to the late freeZs the Jacksonville
sun and Press says: The cold weather OF
Thursday morning has not been eQualled in
this city or state since December OF the winter
OF 1S97-9S. At the Signal station here the tenn
perature at two o'clock yesterday morning
was ID degrees. while across the river, on the
south side. different thermometers give the
lowest range of temperature at 20 degrees
only degree warmer than in the city. AS far
south as Lake PenaSOpke in Sumter county
according 20 ttlegran received yesterday by
Major Whitfield Walker, the lowest tempera-
ture was 30 degrees, going to prove that every
where between here and there the freezing
limit was reached, although probably but few
old trees were injured, as the cold for
several days past has driven the sap in
the trees downwards. By the same tele-
gram il alsO appears that neither the oranges
nor trees were injured in that vicinity, but
only the tender shoots just sprouting out 1t
is estimated that so far between one-third and
one half Of the orange crop Of the State has
been gathered and shipped: In a few days re-
turns will be in from nearly all the counties,
and then the amount Of damage to the crop
can be aseertained To Illustrate the degree
OF cod here it is only necessary 10 say two
thirds Of the housekeepers in town have Stree
been experimenting with frozen pumps that
frozen oranges abound on the trees. that the
fire plugs had more or less ice in them. and
that ice formed everywhere where still water
has been exposed to the weather" f"
The Jacksonville Union tells how notorious
thief Of that city broke JAIL and in the attempt
to make his escape was frozen to death IL
the name of SchOfield Davis. was convicted in
the Circuit Court for larceny, and sentenced to
pay a fine and serve several months in the
county jail After remaining in jail a short
while. he assisted by other prisoners, broke
out. He made his escape, but in doing so was
shot in the hand Oy the jailer. Since that time
his whereabouts have been unknown up to
about three weeks ago, when he called at Con-
stable j H. Stephens house. The Constable
not being at home, he left word with Mrs.
Stephens that he would return in few days,
as he desired to see Mr.. Ste phens on bust
ness connected with his escape, and last
night was set as the time for returning.
When the Constable arrived at home his
wife informed him Of the circumstances. MIR.
Stephens then communicated the facts TO the
Tu5la md wa al q
should accomI auy him to The house, and when
Davis arrived here arrest him. About O'Clock
last night Constable Stephens, accompanied by
W. III. Hamilton the assistant lalleT left for the
| formers house. They found Davis there and
Mr.. Hamilton Immediately arrested him, and
| called upon Mr. Stephens to assist in taking
him to jail. A large bowie knife and two Pis-
I tolls were then taken from Davis, and the par
/ ty left for the jail When near Clay street,
Davis again attempted to escape, anu ran of
| toward LaYills. The officers fired several
shots, without effect Mr.. Hamilton attempted
/ to catch him, but the thief ran around the
/ block and was overTaken by Mr.. Stephens, who
/ held him until Mr.. Hamilton arrived, when the
/ latter struck him several severe blows over the
/ head with his pistol Davis, however again
Il succeeded in getting away from the officers,
/ and ran in the direction Of the railroad trestle
/ and jumped into the water. After swimming
/ around awhile he climbed out and concealed
/ himself in the weeds near the Brooklyn bridge.
| Assistance and q lantern was procured and
search made for him. In the course of a few
| minutes nc hdS seen 10 z his place OF con-
| caalment and run IN the direction Of the rail.
road wharf. On finding that the officers were
pursuing him he again jumped into the river
| near the Clay street sewer and swan under the
/ wharf, where he remained about two hours and
| a half The officers on the wharf could hear him
/ smashing and swimming around underneath,
| but could not get to him They used every
/ means in their power to induce him to sur
/ render. but could not succeed in doing so-in
| fact he would not even speak to them.
| Finally the sgllashing ceased, and one OF the
| men Climbed underneath the wharf on the
| frame work and succeeded in getting hold OF
him The unfortunate man was then taken
oIlt Of the water. and lived about five minutes
when he expired DIR. VIM. L. Baldwin was
| called, but could render no assistance; hls
| body was examined, but no wounds were found
/ except several cuts on the head inflicted BY tht
assistant jater with the butt Of the pistol while
| irving to rearrest him. The general supposi-
| tion Is that the man literally froZe to death
having been in the water, in all, about thFet
hours"
| The Lon don - TimesD on Our In.
| creased Population.
III