The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-19
FROM FLORIDA TO CUBA.
Annual Excursion of the Florida Press Associ-
ation--Southern Florida and Havana.

HAVANA CuOa, Marcn l2.-Ine annual meet
ing of the Florida Press Association has just
beer held in Key West, Florida. had the hon.
of attending as . guest of its members. We
left JacksOnvilles on the afternoon of the 5th,
jolly party. which was joined at every station of
Importance by other members. We passed
through beautiful country all afternoon. and
it seems quite unfair to Florida for tourists to
visit Jacksonville and return home with the inn
preston they have done the State. No idea
of South Florida can be formed from the north
ern part Of it At Buffalo Bluff
crossed the St. Johns river on the
lowest draw-bridge yet built 1t is one charm
ing. yet changing. panorama from the car-win-
dow until darkness closes on the scene. a
vertable tropical paradise which grows in avor
the more sees and appreciates it We reach
Tampa at midnight, and Immediately take the
boat Margaret" for the steamship "Olivette,"
some six miles away. bound for Key West An
elegant breakfast is served at o'clock. The
next morning most of the party appear. as the
day is beautiful and the water smooth. It
seems impossible however, after breakfast, to
keep whist table complies. One by one re-
tired, usually in haste, from the card-room, his
place being supplied by another, who in turn
would suddenly lose interest in the game
The Oivette is the fastest steamship flying
the American flag that goes to She
built in 1887 at a cost of $500. 900. Three hun
dred feet long, well built with very little mo-
ton and handsomely furnished it is pleasure
to boon board. Capt James Mckay left moth
those in his charge, and added greatly to our en-
JOY ment. He of those genial, whole
souled commanders often read about. bqt rarely
met with in real life. The Plant Steamship
line gave US a banquet on board. The toasts
and responses were most happy. We ar
rived at Key West az 5 P. NJ, being
The Key West band the
wharf Strains of patriotic airs reached us be-
fore we were near enough to distinguish faces.
Il seemed as if half the population had turned
out to meet us, 80 crowded were the docks. The
reception committee came on board. and warmly
welcomed u.s. The ladies were Immediately
taken, or, as they say, carried" to the hotel,
while the gentlemen attended business meet
ing in the opera-house J. was lucky enough to
nave ASSIGNED me the best room In that very
pleasant hotel, the New Russell Two windows
overlooked the ever-changing blush green water
or the gulf, while others opened on the east bal
cony on the principal street. I eyed
and found during my stay it was quite
necessary. The person who will invent soms-
thing to shut out fleas will have eternal bless
lDgs on his head as well as profitable trade.
After dinner. served in the South in the evening,
the time was passed meeting the pleasant people
OF Key West Wednesday, morning, after eat
ing some of the finest fish in the world were
taken in charge by the committee and shown
the beauties of the city. We visited Mr.. D. F.
Sweeney's private residence and were shown
through his extensive wine cellars to see the
formation OF the rock. The whole island is rock
coral, and one open a stone quarry in his
back yard well anywhere. Kind Mrs.
Sweeney also took into the tower,
where had a 6ne view of the entire
island, one mile wide by six long After bid
some exquisite flowers from Mr.. Curry, who
joined the party here we were driven to the old
tower on the coast The way to the top was up
dark winding stairway During the ascent
there suspicious conclusions, for
which the bride and groom had credit.
The view we'll repaid the climb. Near
stalactites, delicate fingers of white shading into
pink. Next was the convent school, where the
walls, and also the partitions, were made of large
blocks of white stone. This is the interior as
we'll as the outer finish, and looks clean
and COOL The mother superior has
remarkably sweet face and win ming manner.
The old fort which the sergeant showed US
through and the sand batteries came next. The
drive along the beach the pleasantest
feature of the day While the city warm
and dusty, here il WAS cool and pleasant. Hasty
visits were paid to the cigar factories of E II.
Cato and E. Del Peno. the latter gentleman
having the reputation of being the handsomest
Cuban in the city. Cigar-Inaking is the princi-
pal industry. there being two hundred factories.
We we're greatly interested IN the luxuriant
vegetation which. considering the few inches of
soil, is SURPRISING, bearing cocoanut
mamie trees; also chaote. egg-fruit |
royal ponceaaa. sugar apple, guava and lamar
ind flourish. The Hoosier who loves pawpaws
should have from here weighing
pounds. Wherever slip of the banyan is
planted it grows. in one instance a post growing |
into tree IL is often grated other kinds of |
trees Key West suffered year ago from fire.
Several blocks entirely destroyed. with |
small insurance. This par1 is slowly being |
built The yellow-fever scourge OF last year |
was serious misfortune. Tho people are very |
hopeful for the future. and notwithstanding |
drawbacks, is the wealthiest city yet visited. |
The principal ne wspaper is the Equator Demo |
crat. G. B. Pendleton. editor.
In the afternoon q meeting OF the association
was held at which excellent essay /
'.JournAlisnlD was read by the talented young |
editor of the South Florida Sentinel, Mr.. d. c. |
also q poem on Memories" by w. T. |
Furnley Following this was creditable exhi- /
bition by the fire department In the evening /
the press banquet given at the New Rus /
sell No adequate description be given of /
this affair. The handsome dining room was
decorated with flags aud bunting, |
the tables elegantly set Handsome tropical
flowers added beauty and perfume The Press
Association and their lady guests, and a large
number of Key West gentlemen and ladies' who
are handsome aud afable without exception,
were seated in the brilliant room. The menu
was excellent and we'll served At one time
we're my plate six kinds Of fruit had never
seen before. During the early part of the even
ng the famous band stationed the balcony |
outside. added pleasure by sweet strains Later
zane the toasts. which were well chosen, and
The responses eloquent About half /
The party returned north the
ate boat the others remaining
antil last night for their trip TO Havana. The
most generous hospitality and courtesy were ex-
tended during our entira stay. Ih0 ladies are