The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-11-07
PALATKA REDIVIVUS.

One year ago to-hiShI oiehtei
flame burst through the roof of a
small storehouse on Water street,
and, ever growing fiercer, more ea-
ger, more powerful-higher, hotter,
rushed forward on its path of des-
truction till all the business portion
of Palatka was laid in ashes. The
picture of desolation spread before
our tired, aching eyes the next
morning was enough to appall the
stoutest heart. No moaning suffer
er from the fiery ruins added fresh
horror to the scene of desolation, and
no wintry cline could thrust icy fin
gers into the bleeding hearts of the
homeless, but the work of hard
years and slow perseverance seemed
blotted out easily as child effaces
from slate the record of an honr's
study. Eight hundred thousand dol
lars SO suddenly abstracted from a
struggling community so small seem
ed a death blow, especially since it
struck at the root of all work in the
town by destroying the hives ofindus-
try which supported the mansion and
cottage alike. But our character,
brain and muscle remained intact
and the ranks of our business meu
were soon again complete, despite
the fire which oblIterated our stores
and warehouses as well as the great
hotels of Orvis and Larkin.
And the Palatka of Old has alrea
dy passed into history, giving place
to features which are scarcely re-
cognizabte by old friends who come
to renew acquaintance as well as to
congratulate our city on the orna-
ments with which she is newly deck
ed to receive her guests. Still muir
murs at her feet the broad St
Johns in unceasing homage-still
her guardian Heights watch her
sleep and rouse her from slumber by
throwing hack Cha FIRST bright smile
--of dsy by way OF rcmIn,ler THAI
none but necessary rest can come to
tired hand or brain till her destiny
is accomplished. Still in country
hamlet, fragrant grove and album
dant fields rest the sources of future
prosperity as they have been found
in the past, and still under the mu-
steal pines, in the shadow of the SOL
emn oaks and in the unknown re-
cesses of dark hammock lies the
virgin soil waiting only the call of
man to yield wealth thrice blessing
the hand of labor. Still the sparkling
woodland lake, the flashing river
and crystal spring return the smiles
of hea. en- which has drawn wan
derers from every other CLINE to
draw health and renewed strength
from its sweet Influences, and in all
these we see good reason for the
hope which revivifies as the giant of
old gained new vigor from the touch
of his mother earth.
Surrounded by these proofs of the
undying benefcence of nature and
the eternal goodness of God, we
have not proved ourselves unworthy
by resting in supine idleness. Wit
ness for us the brick piles which
have replaced the structures of
wood devoured by the fire, the
piles of building material which ev-
erywhere disfgure our streets for
season only to be transformed into
shapes of useful strength and endur-
ing beauty-the throng of visitors
the army of workmen who find in
the new Palatka room for the hand
and heart of honest labor and op-
portunity for most honorable gain.
Into the clear heaven whose soft
fires were one year ago paled by the
blaze of earthly light, carrying in its
train ruin and dismay to the chill
dren of men, now rises the multitu-
dinous hum of industry from the
same portion of the land most
blessed of God, and where echo once
replied of the gasp of over-exertion
and the warning cries of fear, now
ring the two hundred hammers