The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-08-28

Tuesday loru.-g at O'Clock found uz
ou three days ZPld sion TO S liver Spring,
one OF the greatest cuti0sities 10 this or any
other country.
At eight we took the Jacksonville train
for Palatka. This town, like the former, is
on st. Johns river, aud is a quite active
business place. It has suffered much from
p confagration that destroyed its leading
hotels, and for that reason it is 40 home for
strangers.
Here after short delay we boarded a
steamer and the bosom of the St Johns
bore two Steamboats, abreast, their prows TO
the south. The larger one soon forged
ahead of us, and left us plodding on our
way in the Osceols, Capt. Gray, which has
monopoly on its own stream
About tie middle of the dav we entered
the mouth of the Ocklawaha river, which is
on the western side. This is a comparative
ly small stream, and does not increase the
apparent volume Of the st. JOHNS. Our di-
rectiOn up the river was west for some fifty
miles, then south, to our destination.
The distance from jacksonville to Palat-
ka is neatly fifty miles, thence to the mouth
Of the Ocklawaha about twenty fivej and
thence to Silver Spring about one hundred.
l may literally say that this whole distance
was wilderness and nearly all a thicSet. Oc-
casionally IN the distance we would see
what is down here called a "hummock," "
OF elevation cleared and in cutiva-
ton. But all the way the stream. though
we'll within its banks, seemed to I'LL them.
The stream, though apparently sluggish, had
a very perceptibIe motion. Yet not a rock
nor a ripple appeared in its whole distance.
It was as crooked as could be imagined :;
and two colored hands were constantly en-
pIoYed keeping the boat off the shore. The
trees on the banks throwing their bouphs
over the stream, there was almost a con-
slant crashing Of limbs as we passed along.
Many of the trees were the old acquant-
ances we had met with in our Pennsylvania
forests, but there were many others. In
mense forests Of gigantic cedars pervaded the
forest an occasional live oak was to be seen
as different from one in It's appearance and
foliage IS well could be, and the stately pal.
mettO was a common object before Us.
Ard al these trees. Of whatever kind,
we're draped in the tropical moss, which
hung i'm festoons, sombre but beautiful,
grand funeral display. The rich and SOL
emn beauty Of the view battles all descrip-
tion.
Then the mistletOe has established itself
in many Of the trees, and the air plant was
a constantly recurring attraction, attached
to the monaTcbs of the forest. but like the
chameleon, living on air. The magnolia
grandifora was i'm its most gorgeous dress,
while the senses Of sight and smell were
filed to safety with the lovely sights and
fragrant odOrs which permeated the forest
multitude of birds were lowering in the
air, mostly of the aquatic kind ber0ns Of
every variety, and especially a large bird
known then by the unpoetic name Of the
"whangdoOdle." Frequently a monstrOus.
black buZzard swept over us.
But the river monsters chiefly attracted
our attention. At every turn i'll the river
alligators would be seen lying on logs along
side the stream, but they were very shy and
would disappear in the water "as quick as
rolling of a log" Some Of them appeared
eight or ten feet long. Moccasin snakes,
too. were frequent and much bolder: while
the number and variety Of turtles were sim
ply astonishing.
Throughout the whole of the long day our
senses were occupied by these various OBJ
Jects, and when night closed in we continued
20 enjoy our seat on the PROV of the vessel
Stories and adventures amused us tilI time
for tuning 10 and we enjoyed a delicious
repose until after sunrise the next morning
TRAVELLER.