Arizona republican., 1891-12-29
correspondence of TnE RrrumucAN.


 held in the stifling atmosphere of lodges, halls or assembly rooms, but of the glo- rious open air fires of logs and cracking branches, sending up showers of golden sparks toward the star studded sky, and prevailing all immediate surroundings with their cheery presence. Such as this is the fire in front of which the camper, sufficiently wearied with his days work to appreciate the pleasure of relaxed muscles and absolute rest, throws him self on folded blanket with a sigh of per feet content It is fire suggestive of story and reminiscence. A fire that forms the nucleus of all the camps life, and without which the scene would be dead and cheerleSs.
 In summer such fires are seen every where. From Maine to Alaska. by river and lake, they dot our wilder landscapes like myriads of glowworms But in the season of ice bound streams and snow drifted forests the places that knew them know them no more, and only soiden ashes remain to tell that they have been. Where, then, during these indictment months, shall they be relighted? Where may those of us who from choice, or at the command of some wise physician, would still sleep in the open, gather about our winter camp fires with the same comfort and satisfaction that attended those of August and Sep tember?
 Carefully we scan the weather maps and their accompanying reports. Every where records of snow, ice, frost or bit ter winds greet the eye as it glances down the printed page until we find ourselves among the twenties in paral- lels of latitude, and discover that but one little corner of the United States is left to us.- We are half way down the Floridian peninsula, but here at last are all the things for which we have searched. Here are warmth, cloudless skies, game, fish, an infinity of navi- gable waters, and here are inexhaustibie supplies of wood that may be had for the taking and burned without stint.
 This, then, is fitting place for the building of our winter camp fire, and having thus decided upon its location, let us touch blaze to its hghtwood knots and, tented by it's fantastic shad- ows, discuss the questions of where to camp and how to camp in Florida, what to seek and what te avoid.
 Florida is big state, being the largest east of the Mississippi. It is as big as all New England. It is 400 miles long from north to south, and has nearly thousand miles of coast washed by the Gulf of Mexico on the west and the Atlantic ocean on the east For boating of all kinds, from yachting to canoeing, it of fers opportunities and facilities unsur- passed elsewhere. For this reason and because it is poor country for walking, and a worse one for riding, the best of Florida camping is always done in con- nection with boat, preferably small one.
 If the campers time be limited to few weeks or months, or even a single season, the question of where he shall go to employ it to greatest advantage is somewhat difficult to answer. There are so many places and all are so attrac- tive. The first question is that of health; and if the would be camper is in the least subject to malarial influences, let him confne his wanderings to the coasts, without penetrating farther inland than he can float on tide water. Adherence to this plan will still leave him vast range of territory for purposes of explorations much more than can be covered in a sin gle season. If he defes malaria and is bent on visiting the interior, he may still do so, almost with impunity, provided he is willing to yield implicit obedience to two very simple rules First, always make camp and have shelter of some kind erected before sunset. Retire to it as soon as darkness closes in and do not leave it until after sunrise. In other words, avoid exposure to the malaria laden daInpness of the night air. The second rule is still more important. Never drink river, lake or pond water without first boiling it. Make it into tea or coffee if you will, and bottle it for use on the following day; but at any rate boil it.
 Of the innumerable fresh water cruises to be undertaken in Florida the most interesting is to be made from Kissimmee City, which is very near the geograph- ical center of the state and is reached by rail. There launch your boat on Lake TahOpekilaga, cross it, enter the Kissim- nee river and follow it's tortuous wind ings for week or so until it leads you to the great Lake Okeechobee. Camp sites on the borders of this inland sea are few and far between, but there is one available sand spit about mile to the left of the mouth of the Kissimmee. After spending such time as is agreeable here, skirt the northern and western shores of the lake until the drainage canal leading into the Caloosahatchie is reached. This can generally be accom- plished in q single day. The Caloosa- hatchie flows with swift current into the Gulf of Mexico-about a ninety mile run from Okeechobee. For this trip at least two weeks provisions should be se- cured at Klssimmee City. The stock may be replenished to certain extent at Fort Passenger, sixty miles (by river) north of Okeechobee, and at several places on the Caloosahatchie. Of these the. largest and most important is Myers, flourishing town twenty miles from the mouth of the river.
 This is good trip to make in Decem- Der, January or February, during which months the weather is apt to be too cold for any enjoyable camping north of latitude 2S degs. No part of Florida is tropical, notwithstanding all stat -'acuts Co the contrary, anG only its 1hL eIle southern point is entirely exempt from frosts. Ice forms in the northern coun-