The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-11-22
Exploring the Everglades


New ORLEANS, Nov. 19.-The Tunes
Democrat has received the following:
In THE EVERGLADES, VIA JACKsoNvILLE,
Nov. 1S.-The Times Democrat eXpedI-
| ton through the Everglades reached
Lake Okeechobec November l. The ex-
petition encountered two severe gales
on the lake. Two boats were swamped,
but nobody lost. We found eight large
| rivers running from the lake south into
| the Everglades, which we partially eX-
plored. We made six unsuccessful at =
| tempts to cut through the swamp Dor
derIng the Everglades On the 18th of
November we went up the Times Dem
Ocrat river a distance of twenty miles.
This river, which we named for the
Times Democrat, is on the extreme
southern shore of the lake. From the
banks of The river we cut through
the surrounding marsh. The expedi-
tion is now within half a mile
of great saw grass, and going at the rate
OF u quarter OF mile per day. There
is neither water to float canoes, nor land
TO stand on, nothing but mud and march
grass ten feet high. We are gong
through If it Is in the power of mortal
man.
However, a subsequent dispatch from
Fit. Meyers indicates the, expedition in
great danger, if not lost, because of
great fire IN the saw grass This iniqr-
nation comes from a gentleman who
accompanied the expedition to the edge
of the saw grass region bordering the
lake.
The telegram is as follows:
FT. MEYERS, Fla. Nov. 19.-I accom-
panied the Times Democrat expedition
nnf II II Houcl flarOIHrh
the border of the Everglade. The sec
Ond day after leaving the party and
while sailing on Lake OkecchObee,
discovered that the marsh grass had
been set on fire and the country for
miles is now one raging fire. Ii the
expedition set fire to the grass purpose
ly before getting INTO it they acted wise
ly. II done 10y some Rccideat entering
it, or il 1t was set on fire by the Indians
not one of the expedition will ever live
| to tell the tale.
Signed s. ii. MARSH
The Times Democrat telegraped the
DistOn company, now dredging alOn g
up the border of Lake Okeechobee, to
send relief party in search OF the eXpe-
ditIOn and TO discover If IL has been In.
jured by the fire.
Important Land Decision.
WASHINGTON, Nov. ia decision
was rendered by the supreme court of
the United States in the important
| "Mercer colony" land case, w. q. Walsh,
commissioner of the general land office
OF the United States, against VIM. bIer-
| Ger. This was a suIt originally brought
| by Preston upon an alleged contract be-
tween the republic of Texas and one
Chas. r. Mercer, by which The latter
agreed to bring into Texas large num-
her of immigrant families and settle
them upon unoccupiei public lands, and
the republic of Texas agreed to give
Mercer and his associates, by way of
compensation for this work, $40 acres OF
land for every family thus brought with
in its limits. The court holds, mas
much as there ia no proof that Mercer
ever brought enough settlers into the re-
public OF Texas to constitute even a
shadow OF compliance with the terms of
the contract on his part. the state is re.
leased from ali obligation which the
republic of Texas may have assumed by
virtue Of such contract, and that CON-
plainant has no valid claim TO equitable
relief. The judgment of the United
States circuit court is reversed and the
case remanded with directions to dis
miss the bill. Opinion by Justice Mil
Il l0T, j uSIIcp I1hfld1
The judgment of the supreme court OF
Louisiana is affirmed, with costs, in the
suit of Folsom Bros. to compel the city
authorities of New Orleans TO provide
for the payment of two judgments re-
covered by the former against the city
as indemnIficatiOn for damage done To
their property by a mob in 1873. The
decision of the court below was adverse
to the Folsoms. The court also decided
that the Alabama & Florida railroad
company, which, through successive
transfers, has come into the hands of the
Louisville IL Northern railroad company
is liable TO state taxation, and the pres
ent owners cannot claim immunity.
A Giant Wedding.
PTTTsBURa, Nov. 20.-Pattrick Will
liam O'Brien, the Irish giant, and Chris
tiana d. Dare, the German giantess,
/ were married in this city to-day. The
ceremony was Performed in the German
Evangelical church, on SmIthfleld street
by the Rev. Frederick Roulf and was
witnessed by an immense concOuFse OF
people, including Mayor Lyon and the
council of Pittsburg; Mayor Peterson,