The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-09-03
Written for the FLoRIDIAN.l


a Rare bay.
On Tuesday last small party of gentlemen
boarded Il e morning train on the St. Marks
Branch of the Florida Railway and Navigation
Company at Tallahassee bent upon a days enjoy
ment on the coast. The little company con-
sisted of Mr. Clarence Maxwell, Master of Trans
porta.on, with Mcssrs w. A. Rawls, J. w.
Coles D. c. Wilson and c. L. Beard as his guests,
accompanied by Mr.. C. A. Choate, Advertising
Agent of the Company, and TalIahassees we'll
known Photographic artist, Mr.. A. 8. Harper,
whose business was TO secure some new views of
scenery along the st. Marks river and the bay
for the illustrated pamphlet now in course of
preparation and to bc isssed by the Company
in October.
The train, manned by Conductor Morrison,
Engineer Pelham and baggage master Basset,
made wonderfully easy and rapid run over the
Branch track, which has recently been put in
first class order, arriving at ST. Marks about 0
o'clock Here the party took possession Of the
swift and elegant little steamer Walkatomica,
whose master and owner, Captain w. p. Slusscr,
was also on the train, and while the staunch lit
lie vessel was being gotten ready for her voyage
by Captain Phillips, pilot, and Engineer Stein
houscr, assisted by the Indispensable Steward
"Unclc Billy" (whose eyes fairly glttered at the
brave show of corkcd glassware that followed
the party ahoard,) the Artist and the Scribe re-
paired in small boat to Captain Phillips hand
some schooner Pierce, which lay at anchor across
the river and from her deck secured most ex-
celcnt view of the landing, the Walkatomica,
with her flags flying and her passengers grace
fully posed upon the ater-deck,) besides a mum
Der Of spongng schooners from Key West and
other ports which had come in for stores and
repairs.
Steam up and all ready, the Walkatomca
dropped quietly down stream half mile to
point directly below the confluence of the ST.
Marks and Wakula rivers, where she was
stopped, and from her hurricane deck was OBJ
tanned fine view of the delta. on which stand
the ruins of the old U. S. Marine Hospital, and
the more ancient ruins of the old Spanish Fort
of San Marco.
Thence to the mouth of the river, eight miles
distant, the little propeller sped swiftly on her
way, and the passengers, now become the guests
OF Captain Slu-scr bcguled the hours with pleas
ant conversation, admiration of the novel seen
dilion OF the glassware. This solcmnily was al
ways performed by the full company" except
on one occasion. where the Scribe and the Ar
list, not suspecing strategy, got left, and blamed
the Clerk therefor, who averrcd that it was the
fault of the Pharmacist, while the Merchant and
the IIunlsman kept still and would not tell What
they knew.
"All ready! Let gow and the pretty little an
Choir which hung jauntily from the stern
spashed into the water and soon brought the
gallant steamer to Il halt. OFF went the entire
company To an oyster bar. where the pleasure
seekers were left to battle and eat oysters and
catch crabs, while the business section proceeded
to the lighthouse, a quarter of a mile distant
Here the Scribe and Artist found Mr. Gibson, the
courteous keeper ready for any kindness he could
offer. Receiving his guests in The full dress uni
form of the Light house Service lie lent his aid
in securing splendid view of the lighthouse
and harbOr after which he extended the hOspi-
talites of tho establishment and conducted his
visitors to the summit of the structure, receiving
as matter of course, and with great modesty,
their lrequcn, ordinations of delight at the mar
Vicious cleanliness and good order appearing
everywhere ABOUT TIC premises, ana tncfr
expressions of admiration for the splendid views
of the surrounding land land water)scape to be
enjoyed from the balcony 90 feet above the
ground.
After pleasant visit with Keeper Gibson and
his hosptabe wife, the business end" of the
expedition returned to the steamer gathering up
the stmgglers on the way. and succeeding, with
the assistance Of "Uncle Billy" in getting them
all safely aboard again without serious mishap.
although the Clerk. who carried extra weight,
Ia big horse shoe crab) and The Huntsnan, (who
had lost his shoe strngs) gave them considerable
tLouble while the Pharmacist would not be in
duccd to sill down during the passage (for fear of
being attacked by the crabs in the bottom of the
boat and the Merchant gave way to grief over
his umbrella, which he thought had been left on
the bar, and which was afterwards found safe in
the cabin.
"Yco heave hop Up came the anchor
scream went the shril whistle, and away went
the Walkatomica-by the way. the owner offers
large reward to any one who will give him the
correct definition of the name-and the voyage
up the river began. There is so much TO be
said about the way it was enjoyed, that perhaps
IL ~ UcSt not W tucHtlOn IL AT all, since the
FLoRIDIAN is not large enough to contain n
recital OF all that occurred
Steaming past ST. Marks. The boat entered
that portion of the river bctweea that village
aud Newport, a stretch of about six miles,
which has been truly described as "the most
picturesque stream in America" Time, language
and present space all forbid any poor attempt
to do the subject justice. The constant success
sion of charming vistas, the endless variety of
the flora covering the east bank-cypress, cedar,
pine. magnolia, bay, cabbage palm, royal palm,
and hundreds of others, appearing mixed in
inextricabe confusion and intertwned through
ont with all manner of vines, presenting the |
appearance Of an impossible and mpracticable |
iungle-alnost drove the Artist mad with vexa-
tion because he had not thousand plates at
hand, and unlimited facilities for transferring
the ever-changing beauties to the glass;
At Newport two excellent pictures were
taken of "Ivy Cottage" formerly the homestead
of Rev. Chas. Beechcr, and now owned by Capt
Slusser, who is preparing to enlarge and re-
model the buildings so as to provide accommo-
dations for the large number of winter guests,
which he expects to entertain during the COM
ing season. It Is grand place. liant pecan