West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1886-04-07
WEST VIRGINIA FREEMAN
ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.
Our Special Correspondent in the
Land of Flowers.
ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA,


ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA.
ED. FREEMAN:
AS every person who comes to
Florida must enter its limits by
way of Jackson Vile, 80 it is not con-
sidered the correct thing to leave
the State without view of st.
Augustine. With us it was CON
sidered indispensable. The Phi
losopher and your correspondent
commenced the pilgrimage one
bright day by going to the ferry
boat to cross the St. Johns. 1t is
very much like other ferry boats
dirty and disreputable. In few
minutes we were landed at South
jacksonville. Here comes an ex-
cellsnt narrow guage railroad,
which runs to St. Augustine. 1t
has fine cars, and each express runs
a parlor car, although the ride is
only for thirty-two miles. 1t IS
said this road cost but 10000,
and its net profits last year were
$50 900. Perhaps this is the ground
of he rumor that the hand OF the
Standard Oil Company is visible
here. The trains make rapid runs
and without stop, until st. Angus
tine is reached.
Here we are at the ancient
City" No doubt, in most winters,
the surroundings would be found
more attractive; now the orange
trees are devoid of leaves, and sor-
ny looking, indeed. They are not
dead, however, and will soon be
in all the glory of new foliage and
sweet flowers. In the distance we
see hotel flags waving, and now
that we can find rest and refresh
ment in that direction, we pass
along a road that follows the
line of an ancient stockade and
moat, constructed by the Span
iards, and running across the pen
insula on which the town stands,
frora Fort San Marco to the St.
Sebastian river, we soon reach the
gates, the first sign of the early
days. Soon we are lost in the maze
of odd, narrow streets and then
emerge upon the beautiful bay,
brilliant with the southern sun
light and the white sails Of many
boat conveying passengers to the
ocean beach. [ propose to the Phi
losopher that we take sail. Some
other friends Join us, and on board
q small sail boat, and with a stiff
breeze, we make quick run to the
peninsula, which slints off the
bay from tie ocean. We quickly
cross this on foot through the white
sand, sea weeds, old shells, and
other debris. which show that in
times of storms the waves dash over
much of the ground. At last the
vast expanse of troubled waters
is before US. We have the ocean
at our feet, and now know that the
rushings of the train is but the
continual sweep of the surf on this
beautiful beach. 1t is always
sounding in the ears of the visi-
tors to the town as rushing rail
road. 1t is we'll worth while to
take lunch and spend the day on
the sea shore in the salt air and
warm sun, as we did, even if we
find at the close of the day, we have
walked eight or nine miles and
close it with getting lost in the salt
water marsh on the peninsula,
this latter performance with its
scramble through saw palmetto,
thorn bushes and treacherous mud.
But to most persons the princl-
pal attractions are found in the old
fort, the cathedral, and quaint old
streets. The fort completed by the
Spaniards in its present form, in
1856, marks the spot where they
built notifications, as early as 1865.
1t is constructed of coquina. This
is soft stone, formed by deposit
of very small shells, and the action
of the sea water upon it. Some
suppose it to be an artificial con-
crete. But this is not the case,
although the new hotel now being
built is constructed of a concrete
made from sand, small shells, and
Portland cement.
IL