Savannah morning news., 1886-03-20
CEDAR KEY.
A LOVELY IsLET or THE MEX
ICAN GULF.


No Grain suwannee HOtel-Way Key
HistOry-Only One Lawyer-statistics
-opulent Merchants-The Oyster Bus
iness-Fisheries aud Annual Catch
Turtle Shipments-PrOhts of the Bust-
ness Cedar Industry-EagIe Pencil
C0mpanY-PenhOlde Manufac-
tory and Artesfan WeIl-Eire OrgGni-
zstions etc.
My last letter was written from Waldo,
Alachua county. Various adventures
befel me, by the way, on my journey
thither, which cannot be recounted, for
lack of time and space. Two
incidents only will be mentioned. At
Jesup the train was invaded by crowd
of invaiids and tourists from the North
and West, who had been detained by an
accident on the East Tennessee, Virginia
and Georgia road, about sixty miles from
Macon. By the breaking of a rail after
the engine and baggage car had passed
in safety, the sleeper and passenger
coach were thrown from the track
falling on their sides, and creating
the widest confusion and dismay.
Providentially, the rate OF speed was not
over fifteen miles per hour, and the train
came to sudden stand still. The pas
sengers were rescued through the win
dows as quickly as possible, and upon eX.
animation none were found dead or NOR
tally injured. One lady had an arm
broken, and we saw young man with
his face and head terribly lacerated. The
wonder is that the casualties were not
more numerous. AS usual, every one had
his or her experience to relate, and the
other passengers, the ladies especially,
listened with bianched cheeks to the har-
rowing details. One man had a wife and
a large number Of children, all OF whom
were pFecipitated from their berths and
half buried under the debris Of broken
seats and furniture, yetescaped without
a scratch. OF course the usual anethe-
mas we're heaped upon Southern railways
and railroad officials, forgetfui that they
had Jared better perhaps than from the
ordinary upsetting of a'sleighor carriage
on the highway at home. On the. same
train were about twenty emigEant chill
dren apparently just recovering from
measles and chicken-pox, their facesjn-
famed and blurred with sores and erup-
tiOns, and wnooplng cough adding totheir
troubles. How we did pity the poor par
ents.
At Waldo the writer kept straight on
to the terminus of the road on the Gulf
shore, passing through rich hummock
lands covered with blooming patches of
strawberries aud luxuriaut vegetables.
Many of the trees were in full leaf, and
spring appeared to be advancing with
rapid strides.
NO GRAIN.
1t Is melancholy to note, however, all
through lower Georgia and Florida the
absence of the verdant Oat fields which
usually greet the vision at this season.
The entire crop was destroyed by frost,
and even where repIanted is too young
as yet to make any show. So short is the
acreage that even with the best seasons
more than haf average yield cannot be
realized.
1t was after night when the train halted
at
CEDAR KEY
This is an island, and there were no
clamerOus hack and omnibus drivers to
beset the traveller. Handing his valise to
a porter Of the Suwannee hotel, distant
only few rods, yonr correspondent was
soon conducted thither and shown to
large and neatly-furnished apartment.
This pleasant hOstelry deserves more
than passing notice. The clever prOpri-
etOr, Capt. Albert E. Willard, has resided
here for near 80 years, and is identified
imposing structure, three stories high, built
of concrete shells, neatly plastered, and
containing, all told, near 80 rooms. As
many as $50 guests have been provided
for at one time, and over 100can be COM
iortably accommodated. Unlike most
maritime towns, where it has be-
come proverb that the products OF the
sea are seldom to be seen, here they are
speciality, and the hungry visitor from the
H. fos.u IN
style, and the choicest tarpOn, pOmpano,
grOuper, Spanish mackerel, trout, red
snapper, and other fish. Fhe.table is also
supplied with Chicago beef, wild turkey,
and venison, and no pains are spared to
assure the comfort or the traveller. Capt.
Willard is also the lessee of the new and
splendid "Homosassa Inn," and VIII run
the two establishments in connection.
Cedar Key, or more properly Way Key
is one OF group OF small islands desig-
mated as Cedar Keys. They fringe the
gulf, and are, with one or two exceptions,
unInhabited.
WAY KEY,
on which the town stands, is an island
about three miles long and from less than
a quarter to half mile in width. 1t en-
braces an area of 1,000 acres, and fronts
directly upon the haFbOr. The principal
street is we'll paved and about three
fourths of mile long. Vessels drawing
twelve feet can Cross the bar at high
water and come Hp to the wharves. The
harbOr is land-lOcked ana completely
sheltered from the storms that sometimes
rage outside. Cedar Key was first set
tied in 1858, in anticipation of the COM
pletion of the railroad to its terminus at
that point, which occurred the following
year. Thomas Barnes, an oyster dealer
from Brunswick, was one OF the original
pioneers.
During the late war the place was
burnt by deserters, and only one house
left standing. Col. Lutterloh was the
first person TO return. aud still resides
here, and, wonderful 70 say, is the only
lawy er in the town. Some people are ILL
natIred enough to assert that this fur
nishes the reason for the peace and har-
mony that obtain here so universally.
The act Of Incorporation went into effect
in January, 1870, and Capt. A. Il. Willard
was the first Mayor elected. The town
grew apace and soon became an import
ant centre Of trade for this whole region
of country. The present population rs
1000, and il contains four white and sew
eral black churches, two schools, Zone
for each race), that Of the whites num-
bering near 150 pupils, and one sterling
newspaper,
THE FLORIDA STATE JOURNAL
edited by DIR. r. II. McIlyaine, formerly of
the Beacon, and veteran and accom-
plished journalist. To the Doctor the
writer is under many obligations Tor val