Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-13
uEMPHIS APPEAL
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 1883.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

EXPLORATION IL FLORIDA.
1t is not generally known that there is
large portion OF Florida which has never
been trodden by the foot OF a white man, and
which is as mysterious and unknown 10 us as
was the interior of Africa before Livingstone
and Stanley laid bare the long preserved &C.
crete of wide plains and far spreading lakes.
As the traveller on shipboard journeys to-
ward the Bahama Islands, he sees land con-
tinually coming into sight and disappearing
again, and when further on he has made
certain that he il at length where ''the blue
above and the blue below" are all that re-
mains within reach of his eye, he again
catches sight Of the sometimes advancing,
sometimes receding shore, and sees the palms
and the pines again sWaying in the soft sea
breeze and he learns, generally to his eur
prise, that he has still Florida in eight. This
fitting and disappearing Of the long and
tapering peninsula has something weird
about it. All that meets the eye far on to-
ward where the hot Gulf stream flows, is wild
and savage. No smoke stains the serene azure
of the tropical sky, no sound or sign of
man. The woods appear deserted, and
glimpse into their dark shadows has a mys-
tic gloom about it that makes the spectator
feel how fearful mutt be i-olstion within
those thick black covtrls that look the darker
from contrast with the play of the scorching
sunlight upon the quivering leaves at the
atzasu1it. The lnystIc FssIips.- uis thriu the
wild scene inspires is not without cause, for
there lie those mysterious Everglades among
which tns- bruT-- Seminole Indians long
bsffied the skill and courage of the intruding
whites. The years have gone on, yet still
those hidden scenes have been penetrated by
the eye Of no white man. At length the I'M
known interior is to be explored; bold and
venturssome men have perfected plan for
passing through the unknown territory. On
the lst of November next, when the heat Of
the fall has passed away, the travellers COM
mence their hazardous task. 10 view Of the
dangers and hardships 10 be encountered the
party will have TO be large, for mutual
aid. A. P. Williams, of the New Orleans
Times Democrat, heads the expedition. A
civil engineer and surgeon will accompany
it. There will be eight picked men
with six canoes, two months provisions, tents,
Weapons, implements for cutting a way
through the swamp, and other equipments.
There has naturally been little curious de-
fire for years TO snatch from the Everglades
their long preserved secret, but the difficult
lies of the search are so formidable that
hitherto body Of men determined enough
10 penetrate within these hitherto impene-
1rable shades has not been found. There
are dangers from the untrodden and treach-
erous swamps-danger. Of fever such as in
Africa has robbed go many brave explorers
Gf life-danger from the wild beasts that
prowl by night and spring trsacheIously
upon their victims by day-dangers from
poisonous reptiles that silently and iDsidi-
ously strike the blow that ends in death
and dangers from Indians. When the Semi
noles were conquered, many of them, how
many has never been known, withdrew with
in the deepest recesses and most impene-
trsbie swamps of the fsr-extending penin-
sula. Trained as our soldiers had become in
The strange ways Of living and fighting the
Everglades made necessary, it was in
vain to attempt TO follow the van
quished savages TO their inner re-
treat; there all the might of the white
mans army was powerless to conquer, impo-
lent even 10 pursue. Since then a mys-
FERROUS e;lence has lowered above these peo-
pie driven from their hearthstones and from
Ihe graves of their kindred. Hidden, inyis-
jble to civilized eyes, the remnant Of the
-ssoo powerful Beninoles remains lost and
uuiraceable. 1t is said, and nothing else
Douid be expected, that these fugitives cherish
The profoundest hatred and feelings of re-
Venge toward the unjust and detestable race
that invaded their homes and robbed their
chiefs of rank and their tribs OF power. To
take the blood Of any of the hated race that
fall within theirg grasp will be joy to them,
a revelry conducted with that cruel torture
the Indian so we'll knows how to inAict.
Against their antagonism every preeaulion
op the part OF the explorers will be neces-
BaIy, and practiced scouts will be put on tbs
watch. But the travellers will be on ground
utterly unknown to them, buried among the
5ntricacies Of impenetrable jungle, and in.
closed by swamps whose surface, covered
with moss aad weed and flower, stretches
over whole acres of shaking slime and
10 meet death hopeless of rescue.
The wild IudiaD, knowing every trail
among the woods, every winding passage
i;mong the swemps, hiss the white stranger
at every disadvantage. Something ia known
If the FIRST main difficulty the explorers will
have to surmount. A succession OF extensive
md bewildering swamps are covered with a
vegetable production called saw.grass, be-
cause OF its power TO rssp, abrade and tear
with its jagged edges whatever yielding sub
stance it comes in contact with So thickly
grow the blades the passage, as they stand,
is impossible for man, and so high they reach
they cannot be stepped over. Patiently aud
with srduous toll a path must be cut among
them where the party can make its way, drag
ging the canoes over the grass 80 laboriousy
cut down. Only by watchfulness, unyield-
ing courage, patient and painful endurance,
presence of mind in danger, prudence in mo-
ments Of extremity, and determination I'M
Conquerab!e, can such a task as the explor-
alton Of the Everglades be accomplished.
When the arduous labor is begun and the
bold explorers are lost in the iutricacies of
abe woods and swsmps, with what interest
abe public will await news of them, and
when at length they emerge from their wan
behring's, with what interest the detail of their
adventures ard discoveries will he readl