The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-01-19
TIE EVERGLADES.
Some Information Regarding Little
known Part OF Florida.
ROBERT GRAVES.
LNpeCIAI Correspondents.

known Part OF Florida.
SPECIAL Correspondencc
JACKSONVILLE, Jan. l2.-The everglades
of Florida have ever possessed II peculiar III
tercsJ for me since | saw them on the maps
in tie district school have looked on them
with awe as the abode OF all that is vile and
dangerous il nature, but always wished to
penetrate them. The everglades comprise
an area OF about 900 square mics, uninhab-
liable AT present, out certainly recIalmabie.
They present the appearance Of an aquatic
jungle, wild, weird and tangled in Il wonder
tul mass OF semi-tropic vegetation, inter-
mingled with masses OF chaotic ROCKS. AS "a
pretty extensive wanderer and Mr.. Chauncey
II. Dcpew once facetiously dubbed mo as
1.-THE great American traveller | nave never
met amy area SO intangible and impenetrable.
The New York Herald expedition failed to
penetrate them. Gen. Chllds crossed them
on nearly a southeast line between the upper
and lower everglades from Miami to Wadgy-
Hadjos Landing. The Times-Democrat ex.
petition, projected by Maj Edward a.
Burke, under Maj. A. p. Williams, was the
most successful exploration ever made in
them and was conducted ON n north and
south line which fairly divided them The
middle and southern everglades are most in
terestlnS, presenting the appearance OF wild
inland sea, with innumerable islands and
rocky projections and masses Of floating, in
terwoven vegetation. On the islands are
beautiful cabbage palms with wide, over
hanging tops that look like inverted umbre-
las; wild figs, India rubber trees and custard
apples. These islands are usually mere crusts
rn1arpaath which iS hnttnfnInec mud Tho
sky is almost invisible because of swarms of
noxious insects. Snakes and alligators abound
beyond estimate An entrance to the gladeS
is everywhere cut off by miles Of scrub will
lows, saw grass and custard apples growing
in dense masses and interviewer with gourd
and other vines. The futter OF bird and in
sect life is like the sand storms of the Sahara
in places and in others the atmosphere is
free. The most terrible inhabitant of the
region is the warm pea, which fatally
resembles the water lily. 1t grows thickly
in the water and stings fercely with
burns and pricks whatever flesh comes
in contact with it, even through the
clothing. Vast flocks Of ducks, geese and
other aquatic and edible birds exist here,
never migrating, and are too infested with
parasites and worms to be of value as food
Water turkeys, buzZards, herons and alliga-
tors make the night hideous with cries and
flap of wings Sleep is impossible; mosquitoes
swarm on one, worms crawl out of tho earth
over the sleeper in all forms and descriptions;
bugs, ticks, lice and other animals, small in
size, but terrible in action, drop on the occu-
pant OF the hammock and promenade over
the person while the baying of alligators,
tho boots OF owls, the cries of water turkeys
and the din of insect pests prevent the sleeper
from enjoying an unadulterated paradise of
rcpose Locches by the thousand attack the
boots and failing to reach the flesh crawl up
the trousers for favorable opening The
moccasin snake actively opposes the in
truder; the mud is treacherous and OF I'M
certain depth, and the daring explorers way
is made considerably lively and entertaining
An inland lake with maelstrom is q curl
osity not generally supposed to exist; yet
there is such phenomenon in Florida. Lake
Jackson is a lake six miles north of Tai
lahasSee. 1t is eighteen miles long in high
water and twelve during low water, aud here
is the point and reason of the maclstrom. Tho
legends Of dates differ in time somewhat, but
the first great maestrom is placed in August,
not far from the north end. Suddenly loud
noise was heard, and their little boat began to
move around in q large circle, the center Of
which detected in the form Of cone.
Soon their craft began to rcvolve so rapidly
that the party got frightened and started
for the shore. The negroes had a difficult
voyage, as the maelstrom rapidly increased
in size and power They succeeded in time
and turned to look at the disturbance Soon
the roar became terrific and attracted not
only all the slaves on the great jackson cs-
tateS surrounding the lake, but the ari5to-
cratic white owners as well. 1t was several
days before the waters Gained down, and
then it was discovered that the lake had low
cred from eighteen miles in length TO twelve
Meantime the residents along the Ocloclline
river, five miles away, were terrified by an
tidal wave, as they at first sup
posed it to be, but which proved to DO the
departing waters OF jackson lake. The river
during the maclStrom was swollen to more
than twice its usual size. After the lake
Gained down the inhabitants examined
the scene of the maelstrom. A great hole
was found to have been excavated in the
bottom of the lake in the form Of a cave. 1t
had been clogged with logs, fish, alligators
tuu ueDTls OF alI descriptions, winch proved
as it saved the lake from destruc-
ton. During the next seven years the lake
gradually filed 10 its former level; then for
seven years it lowered gradually To the level
established by the maelstrom. This remark
able alienation has continued regularly
since. | visited the lake last winter and
,pent several weeks hunting and fishing in
the vicinity. The lake at that time was at
Is lowest. was told by the negroes that
The time had arrived for it to begin the first
IL its seven years rise Finally it did begin
20 come up, and before left it had risen two
'eet, which, over . surface If thirty square
niles, must amount to an enormous quantity
II water. w. II. B.