The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12

John. Some years before Capt. W,
then master of the Hattie, had brought
from Sanford to Jacksonville the first en-
CINE of the South Florida railroad, and he
described with enthusiasm the scene when
the headlight of the first locomotive
| famed over the waters of Lake Monroe
and the excited people gathered from far
and from near to welcome the coming OF
the iron steed. The first mate, Mr.. p, is
sometimes the captains assistant, some
times in the kitchen, sometimes in the DIM
ing room, sometimes elsewhere, but al
WAYS indispensable. The engineer, whose
face Is as black as the machinery which he
handles, completes the complement of Off
GERS. The passengers are MIR. and Mrs.
Il, the happy owners of one Of the
prcttest groves in the country. In state
where captains and colonies flourish like
blackberrlcs Mr.. II. is proud to bear
simply the honorable title Of honest Ben
H. Mr.. Douglass seeks IN Florida air the
balm for lung trouble which Illinois de
MED him, and, judging from appearances,
Is rapidly becoming a robust invalid.
! Mrs Prot Stones name is well known
and honored one to many Ottawa readers.
! Her long residence in tropical lands has
made her very familiar with their charac-
teristcs, and she gives US graphic intro
duction to the birds and flowers of the ST.
John. Misses d. and 5. are lady relatives
| OF the commodore and our hostess. Their
thoughtful kindness brlghtens the eXcur-
SION, and their guests feel that what New
York has lost for the time being Florida
has to their advantage gained. Mr.. f.,
though bearing the same name, is not at
all related to any Of the finDy families of
the St. John. He perhaps Is thinking of a
rare and dainty dish to set, not before the
king, but before his boarders, as his keen
ly alert eye scans the waving grass OF the
marshes in search Of an alllgator's form.
At last young and foolish alligator lifts
Its head from Its secure green fortress for
one glance at the passing wonder. 1t is
all over with it now; flash, a report, the
rapid strokes of oars upon the waves, and
its dying form IS lying upon the bottom OF
} our life. boat, a trophy Of the proud hunt
er's skill Mr.. Hart N. has shaken out
with sklllful hand the long trolling lines
determined tO add the growing grace OF
g., to11 M fro n
ing cords form an attractive fms to the
rear of the Spring Garden. The record OF
!, our fishermen fell somewhat below that OF
the president of the United States. HIS
; trolling line drew in fourteen fish, they
were happy IN securing but four.
Through the bright and sparkling
) waters of lakes Woodruff and Dexter We
passed into the st. John, and our entrance
into this stream brought US to the dinner
hour and the hospltable table of the cabin
! While giving the savory dishes their just
, deserts, the whistle of o boat was heard
and stepping on deck we bcheld the Anita
rapidly approaching From the open
door Of the pilot,hOuse Capt. NJ. politely
bowed, and it scarcely needed this remind
er to bring back the delightful memory OF
our first ride over the waves Of the ST
John, and the generous way in which
Capt. NJ. had suJtrdcted from our lgno-
rance OF the famous river and ddded to our
enjoyable knowledge Of It's history and
: beauty. On the forward deck two white
hapdkerchicfs were responding vigorously
to our emphatic greeting, and in their
owners we recognized our friends Mr.. and
Mrs G.. Unhappy people! They were
hurrying toward Iowa, that luckless state
ter and summer cyclones lay low the pride
of Its fair towns.
Later IN the afternoon the De Baty
swept by. Capt BIS hat was lifted, show
ing that he had not forgotten his former
passengers, though his great boat now
looked down On our little one like goCC
natured giant on pigmy. -Four O'Clock
brought Us to De Land landing which, by
mule conveyance and in a straight line, j:
,, about five miles from Grand Avenue
: Spring Garden Center. We had journcyet
over forty miles of creek, lakes and per
verse river to reach this point, but rs com
pensauon had had an extra day of picnic
D., thrown in. At De Land We received GU
. last pass, niger, u lady whose garden Is thu
pride of the Center, and whose luxnrian
, sass might well open j. D. H.o sharp eye
to the possibilities of Florida pine bar
rem.
The boats Of the De Barry llDc ha'
passed US a; respectful distance, but tn
Fanny Duggan, Of the Centennial line
n with feminine curiosity approached 50 clos
ly that 1t was possible 20 step from deck L
deck. Strangely enough there were n
passengers to avail themselves Of this cas-
transfer
1t One long, wisttul look at the deep, clea
!. current of Blue Spring as il blended Wit
n the brown ST. john, and one at the gather