Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-10-08
FROM THE EVERGLADES


while there | met young fellow who told
me the most remarkable story | ever
heard.
"About four monthe ago, or some time
in April, think, he said, four young men
met in Atlanta. My acquaintance, who
was one of the quartetee, was from New
York, another Of the party was from Ken
lucky, the third from Tennessee, and the
fourth was from Tennessee, and the fourth
was Spahiard.
1.-THE three Americans had planed a
fishing and hunting excursion through
Florida, and asked the Spaniard to make
one of the party. They had secured full
hunting and fishing outfits and left for
the land Of flowers and fruits.
They went nearly down to Lake Kissi-
NEE by rail and then took private con-
and fishing for few days in and around
this lake, they launched their boat and
went down the Kissimee river to Lake
Okeechobee The latter is beautiful
body of water, limpid as a mountain
stream, placid as a young girls day
dreams, and smooth as mirror. It
abounds in the finest of fish and is sur
rounded with the forests which are full of
game. 1t lies just on the northern bounds
of the Everglades, that vast unexplored
region of Florida Here the party spent
two weel more in hunting and fishing
The sport grew monotonous and the four
boys longed for novelty.
Zone night while sitting around the
campfire, smoking their pipes and telling
yarns, dreaming of their sweethearts at
home, and yearnipg for exploits which
would make them famous, the Spaniard,
who cared little for those he had
left behind and was more happy in the
haunts of the wild beasts than the
archaeological abodes Of men, suggested
that they explore the Everglades. The
boys jumped at it. What stories of adj
venture they could relate when they got
back home.
"They packed their luggage and set out
through the Everglades. The party was
we'll equipped and armed with Winchester
easy going at first, and they enjoyed the
before then. Beautiful wild flowers
blossomed everywhere and filed the air
with fragrance. Festoons of pretty creep
ers gracefully swayed in the soft tropical
air. The foliage of the trees, rich in tae
green characteristic of the tropics, lent
additional charms to scenery thai could not
be surpassed in beauty.
'On, on into the UNEMPLOYED regions
they pushed their way At times it was
hard work. So dense was the underground
and so closely entangled were the vines
which grow everywhere that progress was
slow, and they had to cut their way
through often to gain an egress. Finally
they reached the tall pines, which grow so
densely in that region. They did not know
what was III front of them. They were
now upon ground never before trodden
by man. They were in the midst
of the forest primeval, IN UNEMPLOYED
wilds. 1t was necessary to keep sharp
lookout for the dangerous rattle
snakes which abound in this section.
Many narrow escapes they had, too,
from these shiny enemies, and often
had to bring their trusty Winchesters into
play
1.-The forest became so dense that one of
the boys had to climb tree every now
and then to see what was ahead and map
out the course. One da yone of the boys
was up in the top of one of the tai est
pines. They wore spikes in their shoes
such as are used by the linemen of the tele
phone companies and never went anywhere
without their big knives Well, this time,
as Jack Lad reached the top OF the pine
and was surveying the landscape over he
heard a scream, followed by a sudden
whirr, just in time to catch glimpse of a
huge eagle coming right at him. He
lodged his head behind the body of the
tree and lowered himself among tie
branches. The eagle had missed him and
went wnirling by, The fight was not over
j
came back. Again the tree saved Jack S
head, but he felt the talons of the eagle
clutch and sink into his left arm. 1t re-
CURED but an instant to draw his big
knife from his scabbard and with one
swipe the head of the eagle fell down
through the branches of the tree to the
ground. The bird did not loose his talons,
however, and it took one more stroke of
the knife to cut the legs from the body
Then the big bird tumbled from the tree,
and knocked one of the boys senseless be-
low. This eagle WAS monster of the air
and measured Is feet and IL inches from
tip to tip. The skin was stuffed and will
be sent to the National Museum at Wash
ington. Jack did not climb any more trees
however. The next time the party get lost
some one else will have to do the climbing.
They pushed their way on through the
dense forest shooting what game they
could, and feasting on the fruits and ber-
ries which abound there. They had been
In the forest for seven days. They were
lost and did not know what was ahead or
them. This time the Spaniard climoed a
tree. He pulled on up to the top OF one
of the tallest pines and rested in the up
permost branches He looked out upon
the wilderness of pines about him every
where. About a mile ahead of him he
saw beautiful lake. In the center OF the
lake was large island. He pulled out
his field glass, and upon examination saw
what appeared to be gardens of flowers.
He yelled to his companions, waiting be-
low, but his voice was lost III the soughing
of the pines. He carefully calculated the
course and fastened down the tree to tell
the boys of his discovery.
They did not lose much time IN reach
ing the lake. After searching for an hour
or more they found rude birch canoe,
such as vas used by the Indians. They
got into the canoe and pulled for the island
As soon as the keel grated upon the peb
bly, shore they saw that the island, as they
suspected, was inhabited Then began the
search for a dwelling. They followed q
small path, which led from the shore on
through vines and flowers. Pretty soon q
small hut peeped out through the trees. Il
was of the Iudest architecture and the
roof was covered with moss. 1t was al
most hidden by the vines that chung ROUND
Its low walls. Everything about the place
showed care, even of primitive pattern
In large hammock made of thongs,
CHI ar