Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-02-19
ON THE WING.
Trip to FlOrida-Past and Present
WaycrOss sShOrt Line''-The State
Fair-Up the st. Johns.


A Trip to Florida-Past and Present
WaycrOss "ShOrt Line''-The State
Fair-Up the st. Johns.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Feb. ia trip to
Florida a few years ago was matter of some
apprehension if not absolute discomfort. The
accidental policy man was in demand, and
insurance on this line was profitable. The
greatest injuries sustained was by the rail-
roads, however, as few persons were ever Sc
riOusly hurt. To-day the trip is a pleasant
one as well as safe one. No road in the South.
supplies better accommodations, both as to
speed and comfort, than the Savannah, Flori-
da and Western Railway their sswaycross
Short Line" Their coaches are all COM
paratively new, and arranged with
an eye to ease and comfort. The parlOr ears
are elegant, both as to arrangement and fur
niture, and their sleepers are luXuriant and
are neatly kept, affOrding every facility for
rest and enjoyment. The trains are all well
manned with polite and efficient conductors,
men who understand their business and take
pleasure IN performing it.
The travelling public has discovered all these
facts and are availing themselves of their ben
eft, the proof of which Is that hundreds more
this year have selected this route of reaching
Florida than during any former year.
Leaving savannah when the crowd which
had been IN attendance upon the Sesqui- Cen
tennial was at its flood tide returning / was
curious to know how the authorities of the
savannah, Florida and Western Railway
would handle it. Their facilities were equal
TO the demands. As fast as the surging crowd
would ill one car another was added to the
already heightened train The hour OF de-
parture came. and the giant engine moved OIL
with its load of living freight, seemingly with
as much ease as if IT were but a common train
with everything to annoy and irritate, for
many were drinking, and noisy, and impu-
dent, while others were petulent and over eX-
acting. Captain Keller. one of the oldest, as
well as one Of the best conductors in the SER
vice, went through the crowded cars perform
ing his duty with q smile and a kind word for
all, and ever ready when in his power to con-
tribute to the comfort of his passengers and to
settle the ehafed spirits OF the fretting and
We reached Jackson VILE alittle behind time
by the delay of an outgoing freight train.
| This was my first trip over the WaycrOss
''cut or" but / found the rOad-bed smooth
and in splendid condition. Notwithstanding
the incessant rains of the winter.
The hotels and b Oarding houses in this city
were crowded already but our train turned
loose upon them some three or four hundred
more, and the trains on other roads and every
steamboat on the st. Johns brought in large
numbers to swell the thrOn g of visitors. Many
were without sleeping accommodations of any
| kind, and among them were several ladies.
/ The Florida Legislature came down in body,
! reaching the city abouut O'Clock at night,
I and were compelled to walk the streets or
I stand around the hotel offices, as almost every
/ chair had been appropriated. Many of them
/ pr2ssiOns at the situation.
/ The Florida State Fair has been in opera
tiOn this week. The exhibit on the whole was
| creditable, while the display of fruits was
/ superb. | was disappointed, however, at the
] vegetable display. Perhaps my expectations
] were too high-mOre so than real facts would
4 warrant. The ladies department was well
! filled and artistically arranged. The ladies
| never fail. The art department was not what
| il should be. While creditable, 1 am con-
/ vinced that the people of Jacksonville even, to
ri Of Fu tot ID BDffa
/ this line, The Savannah, Florida and Western
| Railway had the immense painting of the
| ''WaycrOss Short Lines'' which was exhibited
1 at the Atlanta Cotton Exposition. and also
the splendid float which they exhibited at the
| Savannah Centennial, and which was
so greatly admired.
The fair was largely attended and the re-
l ceipts, no doubt, were most satisfactory. Pres
I ident Greenleaf. the live man of the organiZa-
I ti0B. deserves great credit for his excellent
/ management. To his untlrlng energy and
| good Judgment belongs the credit of success.
/ His display of traits took the first premium.
| The second, a full set of china, was awarded
| to Mrs. {. B. Magruder, whose husband is
4 superintendent of the Rock Ledge Home
| Grove, on Indian river.
/ one Of the most ingenious articles on exhi-
| bitiOn was the fruit gatherer, patented by
| Mr.. l. J. knight. The Implement is simple in
/ construction and automatic in operation, and
/ can be used by any one. The orange Is never
touched by the hand, but Is clipped on by TINS
| implement, resembling somewhat PAIR OF
nippers, and Is conveyed TO the sack by a
! funnel Of cloth without damaging the fruit
I in anVWise, A. yQg regular reporter was on
| hand I will desisf from further comment
. further than to express my thanks TO PresI-
/ dent Greenleaf for cOurtesies and attention.
Among the side shows was a pair of 'mOn-
| kev-faced owls" queer bird. They have the
| body and plumage of the regular owl, but
/ their heads are so shaped that there Is strik-
/ ing resemblance to the monkey family
/ could not learn much OF their history. There
| were four 0f these birds captured by Mr.. W.
A. Bradford about three or four weeks ago, in
the dungeon OF The old spanish l3Ft san Mar Mar
! distance beyond the cavern where the famous
! Sergeant Mcclure is wont to discourse elo-
/ euently to the thousands of visitors about the
| skeletons and racks which were found IN that
| enclosure. The birds are vicious IN nature,
| and fought vigorously before they were cap
! tured. MIR. Bradford thinks thli there are
| more of this brood IN the dark recesses OF the
Old fort He keeps these IN Everett House
/ Park, and they are visited by hundfeds OF
! people and greatly admired.
bad the pleasure OF TIP on the St. JO,iI IN ;
river ,sp a. far as Paiatka to-day on that
/ magnificent steamer, II. L. BayS, under the
command of Captain Leo NOgel, so Wei anu
| fayOrably known as the former SSftaln OF the
4 steamer St. Johns. He is one OF iLe most
/ pOpular men on the river, and QesefYediy SO,
| for their is not a more accomplished gentle
( man or attentive officer on deck IN any waters
'"f . favoriis an New York harbor as
/ on the Southern coast, He Is nov IN
/ command OF the fastest s5e3IneP on the IT.
I Is
| whole trip is made interesting by rival Hne,
] the John Sylvester and the Eliza Hanc0X,
I both of which are splendid boats. The sylvan
! Glen. She companion boat of the IL. L. Bayal
! is also an elegant craft, The leaving time OF
/ the rival lines are onig t9n minutes apart,
/ which makes the run exceedingly interesting.
They formerly left at the same time, but the
/ temptation TO racing was 90 great tlaI as q
/ prudential measure the authorities lad 10
1 interfere and change the schedule, and In the
( arrangement the Baya line has the advan-
I tage of leaving ten minutes ahead OF ITS rival.
/ To-day the II. T. Baya carried 29l passen-
| gers one OF the heaviest d9ys work OF the
! Season. The day was splencid anq the oeca-
sion most enjoyable. Siy old friend, = hay
/ ton. ESQ. is general travelling agent for thls
/ line and to his kindness am indebted t9r the
| days pleasure.
| fine FloF4da Press Association held meet
| ing on ThHFsdaS, but being an outsider did
not meet any Of the brethren Of the quill save
/ OF the city paper here.
I The Governors stan and state sfseefs re
/ turn 70 Savannah tonight to join Governor
I stephens on the hOmeward journey: They
| report an elegant time, and no doubt they
| had il.
The number Of Northern visitors are in
creasing every year. and although jackson
Z 40 i a city Of hotels and boarding houses,
/ There Is !. deJJsand for more hotel room.
| After a deii2Rf.l -Oiaurn for several DAYS l
| leave for Macon tO-niGLT, JACK PLANE.