Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-01-10
THE EPERGL1UE 5.
what the New Orleans 'tTimes. Dem
oerat" Explorers Found There.

/
The New Orlssns Times DsmocrI.
printed Sunday l0-columu repo,t OF
iis florida Everg sdsR expedition. Tn =
exploring psrty consisted Of ~ i~ sons,
six white aud slx ooluTed. lL-y took
with them sig Racine CANOE. They
went by steamer on October l7eb last
from Cedar Keys TO Panta Ressa, Fla. j.,
where they took to their CANOES sud pro-
ceejed mp the CGloosshstchie riTer 10
Lake 0keechobse, dis AHos Of
about 80 miles, arriviag tte.e
on November lat. Sklrtipg tle
western and southern shores of tie 0hae-
chobee, they discovered eight large
streams flowing into the dense esa-erass
swamp thst borders on the Everslades
Entering one of these streams, which was
named the Times Democrat, tho sx paditiOn
proceeded to the head, CONS tl:rdu miles,
on November 10Th, and began tAe teiious
work Of cutting its way throug tilr 3 v amp
to the saw-grass. This denseness Of tai5
swamp may bs imagined from tile fact
that the party Travelled on au average
only about one quarter OF nils g day.
Myriads OF huge aliigators, spskes, ieeehes
aud poi.o4Uus bugs %sre encountered.
The leeones were especially Iouble-
come, covering the legs of tie
men, aud demanding special atten-
ton. Emerging irOm the swamp
they entered ths saw grass, which grows
from 10 10 IL teeS high and which IS very
dense, with sharp edges that cut Ole way
and saw the other. This grRes ti.e party
flied and pushed forward over tie stub
bles, which grew in v ater sblaG three
inches deep, the mud beneath boips
seemingly without bottom. Tbs labUr Of
pushing the canoes over this chRrsetsr OF
country was inoonceivably gresi. After
travelling due south some 20 miles the
party struck an innumerablv AuMber OF
small lakes or ponds, most of Haioh We're
20 feet deep, filled with alligstofs ard
the finest fish.
About 80 miles from 0keechobes the
party entered the grassy waters Of the
Everglades and encampsd on al island,
the first dry land encountered after leav.
ing the lake. The only trees on tais
island were the custard, apple, AID wild
fig. The progress of the expedition fEuua
that time was more rapid. They passed
through thousands OF small islands, some
of which were slightly submerged, and
all of which were covered With large
trees and luxurians foliage. 10 the
southern glsdes there was an abundance
Of wild fowl, deer, and fish. No Indians
were met although smoke from their fires
was Seen, and they seemed TO hover
about il the distance. Near the head of
Sharks river, in the extreme southern
glades, the progress OF the expedition
WAS greatly retarded by limestone
boulders, which cropped ont every
where above the surface Of the
water, and over which it was neces-
sary TO carry the canoes. The
head Of Sharks river was reached on
December 9th, and the expedition, sailing
down, debouched into Whitewater bay,
on the gulf coast, about 80 miles from
Cape Sable. The distance travelled from
Lake 0keechobee to the gulf was about
l40 miles. The whole distance travelled
in canoes was nearly 300 miles. There
no special current in the waters of the
Everglades, but au almost imperc-ptible
flow toward the south. But few flowers
were discovered, and these were of simple
varieties, such as water lilies and other
varieties found in marshes ail over
Florida. The only snakes seea were
moccssins. The mosquitoes were only
trou blesOme at night.
Tho expedition has established the
fact that the Everglades from Lake 0kee
ohobee TO Cape Sable are worthless for
any purpose of cultivation; that they
contain no large tracts OF land above
water; that they cannot be successfully
drained, and that the establishment aud
maintensuos of telegraph line along the
route tfaverEpd would be impossible.
The Evergl lsdes, and especially tie north
ern slsdes, are vast swamp, ir.eolsiln-
able and useless. The OILY portions o
the southern eninsula capable OF culti-
walton lie on the Atlantic aud gulf coasts
with this vast morsss between them.