The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1884-05-09
EXCURSION TO LAKE WEIR.
of the Florida Southern
Railway to the Confederate Home
Grand Picnic.


destitute Confederate soldier, both North
and South are contributing Of their album
dance. In sympathy with the move
ment. the Florida Southern Railway
management offered to the citizens Of
Palatka a train of cars for an Excursion,
the gross proceeds to be given to the
fund Our citizens caught the idea I'M
mediately, and the committee with ). }.
KennerIy, Chairman, have been at work
for some days perfecting the arrange
ments. At seven sharp, on the morning
of May 7th the train left the Depot of
the Florida Southern aud glided merTily
away to the cool depths of the green
woods The party was composed OF
large number of our citizens who took
their families as we'll as many of our
young people, who took their best girls,
and a party of bachelors who work hard
in dingy offices and felt the need of lit
tie recreation by way of preparation for
the coming summer. The whole was III
charge of that experienced railroad man
and most popular gentleman, Major Hol-
lister. who gave a day of his valuable
| time TO insure the success of the eXpedi-
/ ton, and the committee brought up the
rear with minds intent on heaps Of dellcar
cies. substantials and ice deposited in
/ another car, for the comfort of the inner
man. The strains of the Palatka COrnet
! Band rose above the steady clatter OF the
machinery and the gay tones OF the
guests as we ran swiftly from the noise
and dust of the town; over the cleaning
rails, in and out of the cool shadows of
| the musical pines and empowering oaks,
past the bright orange groves and thrifty
! farms of people reused to new life by
the advent of a road bringing to their
! door the news Of the great world, quick
markets, and all the manifold blessings of
communication with the business inter-
ests and the best thought of the century.
| But a few years ago and the Florida COW
was as truly the queen Of this land as the
! feecy staple was King of the Cotton
States But the horn of her power wax
eth weak exceedingly, and the first shrek
of the engine was the trumpet annOunc-
| ing the Inauguration of a new era. Every
! few miles our party was swelled by new
! corners with happy faces and holiday
garb, who joined us, and added new life
to the good humor of the merry makers.
! At Gruelle we were joined by the boss
engine. John w Gambler. leading spec
| ial palace car filled with railroad officials,
| the guests of the Florida Southern.
! Among them were representatives Of the
| F. S. & W, Messrs. R. G.. Fleming, Su-
perintendent; Geo. w Haines, Assistant
Superintendent; w. II. Reed, R, NJ; Jas.
L. Taylor, G. F. & P. A.; w. NJ, David
son, Florida Traffic Agent; Geo. w. Riley,
NJ. of NJ; A. A Aveilhe Pur. Agent; II.
H. Mckee, Assistant Auditor; also Messrs.
! S. c.. B0ylstOn, g. F. & P. A, of the G.
& S. RBilway; D. F. Jack, Sup't of So.
Express Co., and Mr., Drane. These were
royalty entertained by Messrs. S. Conant,
Jas. d. HOLSTER VIM ?. Copper, and o.
| w. Bromwell, of the Florida Southern,
and after a careful inspection of the route
from Gainesville to Leesburg, expressed
supreme pleasure at the perfect order,
solid equipment. and elegant accOmmO-
dations of our beautiful pioneer road.
The splendid engine, as perfectly in trim
as a bride at her wedding feast, was in
| charge of Wilbur Baisden, young man
! who was born with us, and in whose rap
| id progress to the top of the adder every
citizen of Palatka takes pride. That he
should be selected by such experienced
eyes as Major HOLSTERS to run such a
train is a new proof of the estimation
he has earned, especially gratifyin to
his friends.
On again, at the rate of thirty-fve
miles, and the rails fled away into the
! distance like racing rills of mountain
brooks, and the cosy cottages and hand
some villages greeted us with shouts.
and sent crowds to join us. while within,
the magnates discussed the possibilities
of FlOrida's future. the lassie blushed and
| dropped her head to catch the low tones
of the enamored swain, and the old citi-
zen expressed loud ast0nishment at the
| rapid growth of a country so different
only a half-dozen years ago. Occasion
| ally we could hear "There is a piece of
land sold to John Smith four years ago
for two dollars" and his neighbor would
say-"The present owner has refused
seventy-fve per acre for the virgin for
est"
We passed Ocala, the Phoenix city, ris-
ing so proudly from its ashes, where we
were joined by DR.. Moody and Gen. Bull
lock, of the committee, as we had already
greeted DR.. Montgomery and other local
members.
At - m. we reached the bright expanse
of Lake Weir, and EXPLANATIONS of aston
ishment arose on every hand rs its clear
waters, under the impulse of a brisk
| breeze, broke in silver on the beach at our