The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-17
JAKYL ISLAND.
The Sylvan Retreat of the Modern
Monte CriStoS
From The Brunswick (Ga,) Journal

forest the graceful towers and gables of the
Jekyl Island Club House come into view.
A short distance farther down the creek
and the landing is reached, in front of the
Farm House. and in full view of the pa
latlal club house.
JEKYL ISLAND
is located on the coast of Georgia, IL miles
from Brunswick, 215 miles from the main
land, so miles south of Savannah, % miles
| north of Fernandina, Fla, and 81 hours
from New York by rail.
The island is about eleven miles long two
miles wide, and contains about $4,000 acres.
The land is divided as follows: About $500
acres of heavy oak and pine timber, $500
acres of sea island cotton land, $500 acres
| of hummock land, 1000 acres of dry savan-
ma land, 1000 acres of hard black marsh
| land, $500 acre, of salt marsh.
The beach on the eastern or Atlantic
ocean side extends around from north to
south 1915 miles composed of clean
white sand, without a stone, creek, quick
sands or obstruction ofany kind whatever
averaging about $50 feet wide at high water
and $50 feet wide at low water-hard and
firm and affording one of the finest beaches
for driving, riding, racing and bicycling
| and bathing on the North American coast.
The inland is separated from the main
land by a ship channel two and half miles
wide, forming a perfect barrier to the eS-
cape of stock and game The island is
shaped almost like crescent, and between
! the horns there is a perfectly sheltered
anchorage for the deepest draught yachts,
with thirty miles of smooth water for in
| land sailing and b ating. As far back as
1898 this magnificent principally came into
the possession of the duBignon family, and
| has so remained ever since. 1t was named
| by Gen. James Oglethorpe, the founder of
the colony of Georgia, for his particular
friend, Sir Joseph Jekyl.
In 1859 Gen. Oglethorpe, from his gar
rison town of Frederick, on ST. Slmon's
| Island, went over to Jekyl on an exploring
expedition, and located settlement there,
and later induced his friend and junior i'll
command, afterward his successor, to per-
manently locate there. The walls of the old
tabbv building then erected and occupied
are still standing. Here Maj. Horton
planted rye, barley and other grains, and an
orange grove. which was in tlourishlng
| condition until the cold winter of 1887 de-
| stroved it. 100 years after it was planted.
| Here a brewery was erected, and his
majesty's troops and the good people
| of the colony were supplied with
their ale and beer. and other malt
liquors, said to have been as fine as any
manufactured in England. The well then
dug on the bank of the creek is as firm and
! solid as when lined with brick over $50
y
cry walls, built of tabby at the same time.
! The fresh water in the well rises and falls
with the tide, but the water remains per
| fectly fresh and pure, phenomenon not
uncommon on our coast. The bluff on
! Jekyl, on which stand the remains of this
settlement, and the well is plainly visible
from the mouth of Jekyl creek.
The following kinds of game abound on
the island and immediate neighbOrhood;
| Deer wild turkeys, wild hogs, four varieties
| of curew the pink the white the Spanish
and the stone; rice birds, doves, plOver, few
| snipe, quail and woodcock. Among the
ducks are the malard, black duck, red
head, widgeon, blue and green teal, bull
! head sheldrake and summer duck; AL
the varieties of singing birds known in the
South are plentiful including the knocking
bird.
In the creeks and harbors, may be found
in their proper season, the drum fish, chan
mel bass, sheepshead, sea trout, blacktish,
whiting, CROKER, yellow tail, skipjack,
founder and mullet the latter, delicious
| pan fish, and caught in large quantities by
net. Also clans, shrimp, prawn, terrapin,
both diamond back and box back; crabs,
hard ana soft shell; green turtle, soft shell
| and loggerhead; turtle eggs, also Spanish
mackerel, all in their regular season.
! All the fruits and vegetables usually
| found in the South can be raised here in the
| greatest abundance and variety nearly all
the year round, and with little cost or
| trouble
In February, 1885, Mr. John E. duBignon,
! the sole proprietor, conceived the idea of
organizing a club and making Jekyl the
rendezvous of millionaires. With the as
! siStance and cooperation of his brother-in-
law, n s. Finney, of New York, now sec
rotary CT the club, plan was matured for
perfecting an organization and interesting
a number of wealthy men in the project.
| A charter was obtained under the laws OF
the State of Georgia with the following in
corporators: Oliver k. King, Thomas
! Curtis Clark, William B. D'Wolf, Newton
S. Finney, Richard L. Ogden, John K.
duBignon, Charles L. Schlatter and Alfred
j. Crovatt.
The price paid for the property, including
| the entire island, live stock, game and fowls
| was 1925, 600 The terms of purchase were
| $50, 0OU cash and S75, 900 in twenty years at
AZ per cent coupon bonds interest, payable
semi-annually. The capital stock was S60,
| 900, divided into 100 shares of 5000 par
value. Each and every share represents
one membership in the association and is
| entitled to a vote.
The entire cost of property and improve
ments up to the present time is over S25O, 600.
From beautiful eminence, 500 feet from
| the Jekyl creek landing the new club house
rears its majestic proportions 1t is an ele
CANT and substantial brick structure four
stories, 1875 feet 'front.' running back 1lS
feet 1t contains seventy eight rooms, net
including basement rooms. There are large
parlors, reception rooms and dining rooms,
all furnished with large, old-fashiOned open
fireplaces. Ample accommodation is pro-
vided for the members families, guests and
servants
The house is fitted with every modern
| convenience that comfort demands or taste
could dictate.
There are for the entertainment of the
guests a number of horses and dogs.
In addition to the already great album
dance of deer, turkeys and game of all kinds,
about 5000 quail are being placed upon the
island. Mr.. w. A. Dolby, an experienced
gamekeeper, has charge of this department
and will, among other things, begin the
propagation of English pheasants, rufiled
! grouse, etc.
The club owns a fine steam launch, the
| Rowland, named in honor of the President,
| and two naphtha launches of beautiful
| model. At the extreme southern point of
the island there is res rvation Of 80 acres
| for the future park, lookout and picnic
grounds.
At the mouth of Clam creek, near the
north end of the island, a reservation of
| twenty acres has been made for another
park, lookout and observatory, AID small
| club house This will be especially conve-
| nient for VachtSmen, as the mouth of the