Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-01
Florida Affairs.


The run of of the passenger train on
Monday night last, near Madison, at the point
where the killing Of the prisoners took place
on Sunday, was caused by a defect in the
sites. and was not occasioned by premedi-
tated design as was at first reported. Captain
Floyd, the conductor Of the wrecked train, has
stated that, in company with the engineer. he
made careful examination OF the track after
the accident, and was convinced Of the fact
that it was the result of defective cross-ties
The ties were decayed and the spikes did not
hold firmly, and it required comparatively
light force TO dispIace them
Col. W. l. LawtOn, Vice President Of the
Jacksonville and st. Augustine Railroad. is in
New York in the interests Of the company.
Ample funds have been provided to promptly
complete the road. and it will be pushed for
ward as rapidly as possible.
Yellow fever has at last gained foothold in
Pensacola, and that city is now undergoing a
rigid quarantine. The navy yard has been
abandoned temporarily. and the company of
United States troops in the barracks there have
been removed to quarters in Alabama Steps
have been taken by both Mobile and Mont
gomery to insure a rigid quarantine against
Pensacola, and without doubt the city will be
soon shut in as completely as the infected
towns on the Rio Grande have been. Although
the season is well advanced, there are still
two months Of weather in which the disease
can be prOpagated and no risks should be
taken that prudence can avoid. We deeply
sympathize with the people Of Pensacola in
their calamity, and hope that the fell disease
may speedily run its course, and that the good
health of the city will soon be restored.
The real estate agents Of Jacksonville report
the sale OF more property in the city this sum
mer than during any previous summer since
the war
The annual report of the General Land Office
viii show the following disposition Of public
lands in Florida: 13O,5OO acres of land, cash,
s23i374; homestead entries, 191, ,O33 acres;
final proof. 9l,726 acres; miscellaneous, 81. lis
acres.
There is a good deal OF government land on
and near the Gulf coast. between the Withla-
coochee river and Tampa, open to entry.
The Florida Central and Western Railroad
Company is making preparations to reduce
the heavy grade mile west of Jacksonville by
increasing the cut several feet. the earth to be
used in filing up in the vicinity Of the ware
house.
The dead body of Mr.. Neal Monroe was
found on the roadside near Fort Meade last
Friday 1t is supposed that he fell in a fit
from his horse and was killed.
The citizens of Orlando have pledged 81. COO
towards establishing a college in that city, un-
der the auspices Of the Methodist denomina-
ton, which has decided the committee charged
with the subject to locate the institution in
that place Several generous offers of land on
which to locate the building have been made,
and the probability is that the site will cost the
committee little or nothing
Palatka has organized a new fire company.
OF which Captain A. V. Mount is Chief, with
the following assistants; J. H. Man first F. n.
Marvick second, J. H. Mclean third, and f
Haffers Secretary. They will be designated as
Mechanics No 1. and will ask the City Council
TO purchase a steam fire engine with which to
battle the nery element.
Notwithstanding the unprecedented building
boom in Palatka this season, it is almost i'm
possible to rent room or even get the promise
Of one.
The Florida Land and Improvement Compa-
ny has arranged with the State authorities that
hereafter purchasers of lands which the com.
paug mas SbltCt6u uuuef the DlSSLOn purchase,
hut for which it has not yet received a deed
from the State. shall receive their deeds
prompts direct from the State Land Office
The largest mortgage ever recorded in Duval
county was recorded by Captain Buchanan a
few days ago, and amounts to 5500OO0 It is
from the Florida Transit and Peninsular Rail
road Company to the Union Trust Company of
New York, and was given on February J. 1852
It is recorded in book L, and occupies twenty
pages. beginning on page AS. It IS signed by
Edward J. Reed. President, and c. d. Willard,
secretary, for the railroad company, and Ed.
King, President, for the Union Trust Company.
and covers the railroad, rolling stock, ware
houses, whsrves, and all property of the road.
and draws b per cent interest 1t is made to
secure the payment Of certain bonds issued by
the railroad company.
In relation 10 the murder of Mr. and Mrs.
Naff a NOlusia correspondent of the Jackson
vile Times writes as follows: Madame Rumor
is busy The mystery surrounding the Neff
murders is still impenetrable, but some of the
guessing ones think they have reason TO sup
pose that interested parties instigated the muir
der, This is the way they talk: About week
or two before the murder Mrs Neff at a neigh
boris house, stated that she and her husband
had short time before made their will. Hav-
ing no children, each had favOrite relative
vOred brother Of Mr. Neff's and relative of
Mrs. Neff's. The death of the old folks would
thus change the ownership of considerable
wealth Their deaths were accomplished. One
Of the relatives came on and acted as if he
would like to ges away the next day. He was
IN great haste to have a sale of the effects the
day after his arrival if possible. He had an
administrator appointed and the sale adver-
tfsed He offered no reward for the apprehen.
sion OF the guilty parties, but hurried back
home This is the m amer in which some OF
Mr. Neff's neighbOrs talk, and give it for
-r-g,r r. Ter Tr,rfh