Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-09
1000 MILES IN A BATEAU.
The Florida Experiences and Curious
VOyaging of Mr.. George lies.

FoyaEing OF Mr. George Hes.
81 built that boat myself in Sanford,
Florida, last December, and since then
have travelled fully 1000 miles in it. /
have lived and slept in it, and there is the
sleeping apartments Of myself and crew."
As he said this to a Baltimore Sun re-
porter, the speaker pointed TO two small
covered apertures on each side of the
centre board of a cat-rigged bateau lying
at Waters wharf. The bateau was but
19 feet long and feet 10 inches beam.
''She draws seven inches light, but when
we are in she goes down to eleven inches"
continued the speaker, who was Mr..
George lies, a builder, of Akron, Ohio,
who went to Florida last fall to escape the
figors of Western winter. He was ac-
companied by Walter Scott, of Mystic.
Conn.,, who was sailing-master of the
frail-looking craft, in which Mr.. lies,
Scott and reporter stood yesterday, with
barely room to turn around in the stern
sheets.
Mr.. Hes gave an interesting account OF
his travels. ''In FlOrida,' said he.
transportation lines arefew and far be-
tween, and specially so If you want to
thoroughly penetrate the interior water
ways with which the State abounds. 1t
was because of this that l built this boat
l started from Sanford last December, and
followed the st. Johns river to Lake
Harvey. l then had the boat hauled
overland distance of eighteen miles to
the Indian river, which runs parallel with
the ocean. | struck the Lucia river, and
thence through Jupiter sound to Jupiter
inlet. There | procured the services of a
half-breed Indian to pilot me through the
everglades, a distance of twenty-eight
miles, to Lake Worth. Progress was
slow, for we had to pole all the way. |
spent three delightful weeks at Lake
Worth in the month of January, where
we were daily regaled with ripe tomatoes,
cucumbers and other vegetables. re-
turned by the same route back to Rock
Ledge, on the Indian river, and again l
had the boat carted three miles across
the country to Lake Poinsett, the head of
navigation on the st. Johns river, and
1O5 miles from Lake Harney. The only
Inhabitants of that section were alliga-
tors. Not person or animal were to be
seen in that vicinity. L then returned to
Sanford. l again left it on March IA for
Baltimore. The st. Johns river was fol-
lowed to the bar, and after passing
through Mud and Nassau sounds ] ar
rived safely at Fernandina. | then
skirted the coast to Cape Roman, in South
Carolina, and then had 100 miles of the
open sea to contend with. OF this stretch
we made 76 miles in one day. We crossed
heavy breakers at New Topsail inlet,
which was the most dangerous of our
whole experience, but were repaid by a
good haven inside the mouth of New river.
Passing through Pamlico and Albemarle
sounds we entered Dismal Swamp canal
and reached Norfolk. On the route we
spent several days at a time in various
places, sometimes wind-bound or MAX
ing investigation of the country"
Mr.. Hes will sell his boat here and leave
for his home in Akron. He has on board
some beautiful specimens of preserved
pelicans, water turkeys, cormorants,
ivory bills, curlews, pyles and looms, ali
of which he viii have stuffed upon his
arrival home. He has besides many
curiOsities gathered on his long trip.