Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-10
LOST IN OKEECaOBEE.
A New York Yachtsman,s Remarlxa-
bic Voyage.
Orlando fF7al Reporter. 2d inat.

Orlando (Fla) Reporter, 2d inst
On Monday evening last there arrived in
Orlando from Kissimmee IAN adventurer who
has completed the greater portion OF a re-
markable journey.
In the month of October last c. K. Mon
roe, Of New York city, started for Florida.
The greater portion OF his baggage consisted
of the canoe Psyche, of the New York Canoe
Club, ninety pound craft, yet trim and
seswOTthy as a msllsrd duck. Mr.. Monroe
launched his little bark at Ellaville, on the
Suwannee river, aud jOurneyed down that
stream to Cedar Keys, thence down the west
coast OF the peninsula to Charlotte Harbor.
Here he took a steamer for Key West,
taking the Psyche along as baggage. In
her he cTuised around the keys for a time,
going wherever ne pleased, provided the
water happened to be deep enough to float
his boat. He took a steamer for the Dry
Tortugss, and had the pleasure of fishing
about Loggerhead Island, which he desig-
mates as the jumping off place of the
United States. He finally returned by
steamer to Punta Rassa. Here he launched
his sterling little canoe In the waters OF the
CalOOsahatchie, and sailed up that stream
as far as the head Of Lake Flirt, where he
fOundth Drainage Company's dredge boat
at work. He remained here about week,
and satisfying himself that a passage into
OkeechObee by that route was i'm
practicable, he employed an OK cart
to transport his effects to Fish
eating creek. Here he took to
water again, following down the creek and
out into Okeechobee. AS he passed the
saw grass at the margin Of the lake 1t
closed behind him and left no landmark to
indicate the spot. Calculating as closely as
possible the mouth Of the Kissimmse, he
essaysd To make the entrance of that
stream. But nothing but miles OF saw grass
appeared along the shore, and no river
could be found. For eight days he searched,
and for as many days he failed to find wav
out Of Okeechobee. -Four days and nights
he spent in his little canoe, and the impTes-
siye words sail alone" must have had q
wonderful significance to him 10 his s)li-
tude. He tried TO regain Eisheating creek,
bus this attsmpt proved as fruitless as the
search for the mouth of the Kissimmee. He
pOked the nose of his canoe into every
hole which gave the faintest promise Of
an outlet from his prison. At last he
pluckily put his boat as near the shore as
possible, and took to the saw grass on foot.
Working his way through he finally struck
terra firma. Taking nOrthwsrd course he
al last struck a trail which led TO the home
of a settler, fifteen miles east OF Fort Bas-
singer. Here he got a guide who took him
to Basslnger, where he secured the services
of a guide who knew the river and lake. Re
turning to Okeechobee he secured his boat,
and gaining the mouth Of the Kissimme, set
sail for Basslnger. Here be was fortunate
enough to fall In with. Tom Bass Kissimmee
river steamer, and took passage for Lake
Tahopekaligs, At Kissimmee City he en-
gagged q mule team to bring him to this
place. He spent one night here, and on
Tuesday took passage on the South Florida
Railroad for Sanford, where he again ex-
pected to wet the hull of MS now famous
canoe, and sail down the st. Johns for
Jacksonville. be will spend a month on the
lower river and at st. Augustine and Fer
nandins, and start for home about May
first.