Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-04-20
LETTER FROM FLORIDA.
Jacksonville. April II. g!

oUcESODUltCe, ApTb IL, 90.
Editor Monitor. One of the most
pleasant short trips we have made in
Florida was to the mouth of the St.
Johns river. Twenty-Five miles from
Jacksonville we came to Pilot Town
and Fort Geroge's Island. This was
one of the first settled places in
America. The Indian, the Spaniards,
the French Huguenots, and the En-
glish have all held sway here. Men
of rank and historical note have
sought repose in this quiet retreat.
The pirate slave trader and the poll
tician have figured conspicuously in its
curious legends it is now wild and
rough but the birds carol and the
flowers bloom the same as though no
knightly sword had ever flashed in
its forests, or a beautiful land like
this had ever been a foot ball for one
nation after another to kick away.
The walls of an old pirates cave
made of shells is seen yet standing
the walks are lined with palmetto trees,
said to have been set out three hun
dred years ago. These walks and
drives are the prettiest in all Florida.
On the opposite bank of the river
stands the little town of Mayport
with it's red lighthouse that shows a
beacon light eighty-four feet above
the sea. This with its sand hills al
most as white as snow are it's main
attractions. 1t is the quarantine
post for Jacksonville and the home
and great resort of fishermen.
Our next trip was up the st. Johns
river. There is feeling of awe and
sublimity as you sail up this mighty
stream. Above Palatka the river
narrows down to about half mile in
width; the trees grow thicker and
more tropical; birds, great and small,
are seen along its banks and the al
ligator, the star of attraction, is now
and then seen lying at rest in the
sun on some projecting log or faller
tree, which overlooks his dark anC
undisputed cavern. But civilization
has thinned their ranks as it has the
red Savage's, and the cruel bullets
of enlightenment and greed threaten
to obliterate both ''gator' and thu
red man. The teeth and skins of th
, alligator are valuable and they ar
killed by thousands every year b.
regular hunters. Alligators are sal,
to live to the age of one hundre,
: years and are very prolific, layin
: their eggs in the sand and sucklln
g their young. AS we ascend the riy
+ er the scenery grows wilder and beat
tiful birds such as the white and blu
D heron, valued so highly by taxidel
mlsts, are now and then seen, an
e quail as thick as chickens in farm
b. yard and nearly as tame. Deer al
e so thick that they are pest. Man
S devices have been tried to keep the
Il out of the vegetable garden, but L
O fencing trapping or snarIng CO
W keep them away. The only su
e method is a steady warfare of do.
a and guns upon them. This driv
:. them back to the creeks where tn,
y feed upon wild timothy grass al
st thorn apples. The panther turks
- the overhanging boughs near the
- creeks, ready to spring upon them
n they come down to the water to drin
ne The woods are full of Wild bees, al
Id down on the Indian river bears a
a plenty, living almost wholly on wi
:. honey. Turtle are very plenty ais
an and are hunted for their nice ste
and eggs. Wild turkeys, partridge