Morning journal and courier., 1884-07-07
Summer Life in FIorida.

Captain George W. Wards Experience
 in the Sunny South = An Interesting
 Letter From an Old Sea Captain.
 Captain George W. Ward. of West Hsven
 writing to friend in this city under date Of St. Augustine, Fla, July 1st, among other things says: ''I arrived here after a cruise of three weeks with a party of two gentle men who are merchants at Palatka. On one trip we hunted and fshed. We killed many wild birds and two deer, so you see we were we'll supplied with venison. We were down the whole length of Indian river. The lower or south end is near Jupiter inlet. The inlet is about seven miles long and very narrow, just wide enough for two boats to pass each other. and quite deep, and we have to pole through it unless the wind is due north, and then it draws through the narrow channel. After remaining at Jupiter three days we went down to Lake Worth inlet, which is
 about eight miles south Of Jupiter. It is a fine inlet and easy to enter and depart from, as large reef of rocks protects the bar.
 The inlet. Is about 8 mile wide and twenty two miles long and the strip of land that separates it from the sea is very rich, all
 tropical fruits growing luxuriantly. The first cocoanuts at this point were started by
 Charles Moore. 4 vessel came ashore with
 some of this fruit and he planted some
 twenty years ago. The trees are now thirty
 feet high and bearing finely. Bananas are plenty at from 20 to 40 cents bunch and
 pineapples are abundant. A great many to- matoes are also raised for the northern
 market. The water in the inlet is as
 clear as crystal, and although
 the water is very deep the concks, starfish
 and all other fish are plainly discernible on the bottom. ] gathered lots of shells, got some fine blocks of large schooner gaf that l had been washed ashore, three large single patent blocks and one ''thrible fold" which was the throat hRlyard block, the other being
 the stpeak" I bought forty punches of bananas and on the 23d of June started home ward At Eden, on the Indian river, l filled up with pinespples and came out of Mosquito inlet last Friday morning, ran up the coast sixty miles and got of the bar that evening. At 7:30 could not get ln as the tide was running out; anchored just outside the 1 lar and in the esening caught violent squall I O. wind and rain. The 'tMerriam'' ran away | with our anchor and we let go the second and l held her to 1t. Soon bad sea got up all at
 one time and I thought I should have to cut | the cable and run for it. It moderated dur l ing the night and in the morning we started 1 in for the bar and breakers. saw boat | in the breakers and stood in as close as 1 dare and went near the breakwater in four
 feet of water I then took the end of line, | jumped overheard and made the line fast to | the boat, hauled out of the surf and cap- | tured her, beat up to town and anchored. l Have sold ont all my pines and am now work | ing off my bananas at 8 fair profit. We had stormy weather on our entire trip
 or we should have gone further, our
 objective point being the Bahamas.
 thank my friends for the kind letters I re- ceive from them and the COURIER is 8 vel come daily visitor.
 ''Now let me tell you about those darling i birds mosquitoes. Language cannot ex- i press it. have thought that had become 1 toughened to them. The night after getting 1 into Mosquito Lagoon I vas tired out and
 went to sleep with my facc, hands and feet
 unprotected, and when awoke what con-
 dition was in. I was so badly bitten by the
 little rascals that could scarcely see out of l my eyes. It set ms into fever and through i the little devils came near having severe
 fit of sickness. If you take a switch and
 knock them down they will lay stiff for It,
 tie time then founder around again and re- 1 new the battle. Here at St. Augustine they l don't bother much except of late when there 1 has been much rain. Now I would like once
 more to shake your friendly hand, but don't think should care to stay with you very long. If was younger man would make boating either. Finally, God bless you all.'