The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-01-28

Notes on Florida.
The cruise of The Gander.


The Cruise of the Gander.
NEW VENDOR, Jan. 20, 1882.
MEssRs. EDIroRs The cruise of tho
schooner Gander along the coast of Florida,
from Choctawhatchie Bay to KeyWest on the
Gulf, was filed with incidents and accidents of
interest, not only to those gentlemen who
were so fortunate as to be participators, but to
that world of readers who take special delight
in devouring pages without number OF sketch
es of travel as it was the only void to be filed
in that fortunate trio, they should have added
some one capable of ''dotting hy the waysde'
and have given to the world, carefully written.
the history of the ins and outs of this pleasant
cruise. In your valuable Journal now appears
the first notice of so Interesting a trip, that
am sorry that more able and ready pen was
not at hand to undertake this work. The con
ception of this trip at that most delightful
season of the year, was due to the gay and
handsome Major Call, and under his aupervi-
sion it was a brilliant success.
As the beautiful schooner hay at anchor in
the channel leading into the East Pass to
Santa Rosa Sound, She illustrated fully to the
| greatest perfection the reason why
ssAfps thar go down to the sea
/ Take a glance at her, get up. Look at
those iaunty "bonnets sitting so costly at the
I top of each mast, ready at moments wSTn-
ing to ''don'' the head of either or both Of
them when under full sail. They are now
! styled 'Gainesborough, but are as change
able as the wind they so love to make suhser-
/ Went TO them. The graceful foot Chains
and 'laces'' each belong TO the lower '>head-
gear Her ''breast'i and waist look as IL
! coming from the chisel ola sculptor. Dressed
/ in all the gay bunting she could carry and
{ cloaked with sails rs white the wihgS Of
swan-the sailors "heave home the anchor,
and she glides as gracefully from her moor.
I ingS a. city belle from charity hall. All
/ hands and the cook now form group ON the
deck t0 discuss the spirituous fasaen1i, and
! drink bumpers to the pleasure of tbs ZIP aud
Its happy tinis.
/ The Captain suggests a run to ST. AndrsH's
I bay and before engaging in any Of the sports
that they go with him few miles into the
country and pay a visit to a Florida planta-
ton. His advice Is received with thanks and
I i, was agreed to leave to his better experience
the plans for the future. A sail along this
part Of the coast under NoVeaaber sun, with
I a good breeze gently from tbs Southwest, Is a
I pleasure that does not often hall to the lot OF
man. The numerous islands hlled with sea
fowl are constantly attracting attention. Gar.
lew Of all kinds aud colors quit their island
homes az the appearance of the "Gander,
/ and follow her ia search of the food thrown
overheard from the vessel after meals. Il Is
a sight To see them: Of every color under the
sun The Captain whispers into MAJOR Call 5
ear. aud up he jumps. CUES to the fishing tack
Ie box and gets ont one his longest lines,
attaches several hooks to il and bats each
with piece ef cooked beef sAHything else
ia the eating line viii do a well, for these sea
gulls seem always perfectly rayeB0as for food ,
ghss.sf s,sf
the sarface a. Il Is drawn along BY the last sail
ing schooner. the air seens filled with those
birds lowering ever aud ready 10 dart down
AM SECURE the prize. Hardly waiting Ia care
fully poiSu himself in the air, large pink cur
lew, With scissors bill, aeW down. grabbed the
beef VA his mouth and instantly swallowed IL
Atfer his success be continued has seai slson
the water, IS # realizing with the evwasest sat
isfacii0n. how easy Il was to DO Il. Soon,
however. be became aware that shat be had
eaten was not eutirely swallowed 50 be made
several esEnFss to pant the line where the heci
had gone. bat this sas no easy Dob, and assay
he started. but a slight pail on ths line hFouEhs
him hack to the waser. and he prisoner.
The happy MAJOR sooa drew him ga dsSk and
undertook IT, take the hook out ~ hIs uoSsiA.
but thy cspsared bard handsomely took sl'ce
of flesh from 81 the MAluV thgwh. hrs sea
bird j. one of the mozs beautiful " It's SFeeses.
and is beautiful pink feathers a3uru many a
..GainssisaFoaFh frnm Name 90 Texas. Is
has a clear red hill and shaped cxscsly like
the blades OF pair IL scissors. and egaalls -
shaTi, a. the slsaspe<t. In sac, shoat that %
. half grown saFkey. Being al experienced
o,losiss. the Mayor soon bad The bird in . stafc
~ preservation that j. W0ald puEaie the closest
observer n tell Is frem a live one. AftcE this
capture al vas excitement, aud both tbs ssh.
crs IL the party. a. well as derry, ihs eook,
had oat their haes fishing Cor SEA sRlis. The
Captain having determined - dispense the
treasures Of has experience 60 the pAFty, 0ae
az 8 tinsa. ard .ive them something aes trUEa
day To- dsy, coaid mot, undeF the ciFvam-
stances tif tseing such hesstiiGl weather feS
the sport. help, after the cSeiicmssit II catch.
iae curlcS was over, iutormsnE The party ihai
the sFuand thew were u0a sailing over was tac
karsa flr SHARK slshsng ihat there wss tbs
eaass. ~ Of lhs . sent a. ger their shark
lines aad hooks. Ssgs they wcFe d~Ck
Speeding them cat, and while engaged ia this
bassuess. the fNo mrn '-afpFemAss av sailors
~ Hp the greatest lanxh yaa ever htsESl
ahoard ship The Captain being ~ shs' ''ioEc
chains yiehting the schooner 'nartiagair.
beard ihis outhurss II laughter, aul vas ~ooa
Of tie paEty To- 6na oat wllcrR the laugh
came ia, bus shr trio e0s!d wes tell hiw.
The Mayor, as last snceeediag in stopping skriF
eonvalslons sufficiently IL find 0at thai they
Scre laughing n their shark kaoks and Esmes-
Come aud sec them captain sAid the
HSieT, ''anA shaE g What 'hsg arc iaaxh-
ins 81.
A. ss,on a. the rapsaisls eve. fsll oa shrui.
be- fcls - il there not had Res been much
laughing be woald ike 10 take tara ~ i
kinaeh.
What d. yoa use ,hsse lincs for major =
Why, shark .tshing. Of oaaF-e, replied
tbs msjor.
sharks took hssid al hook ga that Inc u
yOars While b. was swimming si . moderate
sPeed, that i would Ros impede bis Progress
il the icss. =
as tias 1sl.sis,lc =! all thscc % them asked,
opening their eyes, like saseers.
.'Yes. il j. possible. and now | d sho~ yoa
what kind 81 hook and iae 80 use iur sharks
here. 80 he went TO his locker and
brought out a large hook made of iFoa and
copper. mixed The BEARDED point II which
Ee,ghed mere than the eHiiEe outfit II the one
belonging TO the other parry, The book itself
was ahoai The siTe of The middle singer If q
man hand, and 20 he shank vas attached 9
ring which heli BehalH about fpur tees long and
the size ~ common lrnne chain. Fisty Feet
Of tkEee-gaarser inch ssrnng epstaa rope Was
tied 10 this ring. The honk vas baised with
\ aEge piree III iEesh sleef. thrown over board
aud The schooner hove t.. II sas hardly 8
minute before the rnFAe peBi sizziag through
the water, and the captain with necessary pre-.
caution wannd his end II il aronnd the caps.
tan, near the foremost Jerry said be was
certain that be could hold any shark in the
Ggsf Of Mexico, bat after seeing that the cap
tain did not feel Ike trusting TO the strength
Of crew, passengers and all. be changed hi.
mind The huge fish. weighing perhaps q
thousand pounds or moe, would make coin
plete semi.circle, and after stretching the r0pe
~ ''taut' as be eppld would leap iFgm ihe
water, 10 his aiteHIs 10 Gus the chain his huge
teeth fairly grinding il as he turned over while
out Of the water, Down like lightning he
would ~ 10 the other end, and up ogs Of the
I water again and again, as long H. hls strength
was LEFT him, 10 keep up this semheiFcalal
, race for life. II was ..eheetly useless tol
those on beard Ia attemI, bis capture. Al
Of them. together, would have been but child
play for him. The capstan held the rope fast
and he was at last worn out, and hnall.
drowned. Then came the work OF getting
him on board the schooner. Blocks from til,
fore aud main mast were connected together
by a rope and still another tied to that The
two sailors get out the ''Dinky boat, taxi
. he rgae's end and put GROUND behind hi
fins. aud GENE 80 help pull the rope thrhagt
the blocks and gei BIN aboard, This al
( DONE and there law the huge monster, thai II