Morning journal and courier., 1893-02-16
AMONG THE ORANGE GROVES.

AMONG THE ORANGE GROVES. Coroner MIX Speaks of Life In the
 Sunny Regions of Rock Ledge and
 Indian River-New Haven We'll
 Represented-The Brilliancy of the
 Flowers Palm-Decked Shores-A
 Streak of Silver Sea-The Cocoanut
 and Date Palm Trees-An Eleven
 Pound Bass-The Darkies' Nimble
 Feet.
 ROCK LEDGE HOTEL, ROCK LEDGE, Fia., Feb. 1O.-We have left the ice-bound, wintry north, with it's chilling blasts and blizzards, for summers warm and clear blue skies, and here at Rock Ledge, upon the Indian river, we abide for time to wander through it's groves of golden fruit, to observe the brilliance of the flowers, and to drink in its soft, balmy air laden with health-giving breezes. Every ywhere we look upon the palm-decked shores we see wealth of bright green tropical foli- age and It's waters pregnant with life-giving ozone seem like Ca streak of silver sea" flowing 40 miles in length towards old ocean, It's source, and to whose welcoming arms it returns again. Nestling upon the hhores of this shining river, whose coquina rock banks are gsrlanded with tall palmet- tos, there are number of pleasant winter homes owned and occupied by our New Haven people who have contributed to make Rock Ledge one of if not the garden spots of Florida, and all are interested in it's welfare. Prominent among these are H. F. Shares, whose beautiful house was burned this winter; W. N. Merwin, who has fine place delightfully."- situated near the new Rock Ledge hotel E. A. Chatfeld, whose home we always covet whenever we enter therein, c. W. Blakeslse with his large rew house so desirably located, A. D. Bald win, A. Wheeler, Mr. Powe of An sonia and number of others. All of these gentlemen have 8 number of acres in the rear of their residences thickly planted with orange trees, which are literally groaning with ripe golden fruit, the ground beneath them being fairly covered with the oranges that have fallen.
 This Indian River country seems to be the home of the orange Of varieties almost numberless, and of quality the finest in the world. In these groves there arc also grown the grape fruit, mandarin, tgnge- rine, lemon, banana, guava, paW-paw and some pineapples, the latter, however, seem ing to be more prolific further down the river, where they have large plantations of this fragrant, delicious fruit. The in- habitants of this broad and beautiful river front, as some one has said, seem to be 8 sort of semi, amphibious sst Buggies aud carriages being practically unknown, they shopping and visiting and eend their children to school in boats, and many and varied are the pleasant, delightful trips taken. Nearly every house has it's wharf or pier, and steam yachts, nsphths launches, sharpies, catboats, etc, are con- tinuslly moving to and fro.
 To Messfe. Shares, Chatfeld and Mer-
 win, who have finely furnished and roomy launches, we are indebted for many de- Nghtful ride. These gentlemen take 8 great interest in all that pertains to the growth and prosperity of Rock Ledge and their doors are always open to their north ern friends.
 One of tho most Interesting tsips we have thus far taken was in MT. Shares launch co Georgiana upon Merritt's Island, where we saw the cocoanut and date. palm, tamarind, mango and otaer tropicai trees and large fields of ripe straw berries, together with peas, lettuce, cabbage, rsdIsh and othsr vegetables ready to gather fur market. Apropos of | naphtha launches we are reminded of the ! fact that A D. Baldwin has one that trav- ! els upon land in the shape and form of a ! meek looking mule, which hs has dubbed "Nnphtha Launch." and feeds upon oranges.
 This river is alive with fish of many I kinds and it is said If you wade into it's waters you might kick the fish all about you go plentiful are thay; this statement wa woi.'t vouch for, hut it IS abandantly supplied with fish of many varieties, among which are the channel bass, pom pana, spotted ses trout, creralle, red grouper, drum aud jsw fish, mullet and sailors choice. About two miles iron, tbis hotel, in which we are nicely taken care of and recommend to sll tourists, are where fine fishing may be indulged in Starting early one morning in company with Messrs. D. A. Blakeslee and E. H. | Sperry of New Haven we took a mule team l (of which we will hereafter write) and ac compAnied by guides We made a trip to one \ of these lakts where we enjoyed half \ days fishing and succeeded in capturing a
 number of fine pickerel and bass, one of
 the latter weighing eleven pounds, the
 largest captured here this eeason. We
 confess to degree of pardonsble pride
 turn to the hotel, and HOW word con
 csrning tho mule team of which ws made l mention. MT. Blakes!es occupied the front | ssat and begged the privilege of driving
 those mules, and how he did drive them. 1 The colorad driver and the guides showed l tho whites of their eyes in utter astohish-
 ment and called him ''heap powerful l driver" The mules wsre old, having l grown gray in the service, and from time immemorial had never been known to travel faster than a walk, and & slow walk
 at that yet BlakesIee, by his persuasive l ways and whip, actually made them trot, causing his reputation as a sktllful driver of mule teams St least to be firmly estab- l lished; the darkies and mules now bow to him with reyerant awe. We have ire quently observed the majors manly, mar tisl bearing as, at the head of the Horse Guard, he rode on his fiery steed down Chapel street. He has now added fresh lau- rels to his equestrian faue, if he did Isot get any fish.
 Of the evenings at the leige they seem ss short and delightful ss the days that pass 50 quickly by, and the music of banjo, the melody of old plantation and quaint religious songs and hymns SD sweetly and plainiively sung, and the shuttle of the nimble feet of the darkies are heard all about us. We have vieited many pleas ant places in this sunny south land, but the memories of this delightful Iudian river and Of our nojourn at Rock Ledge will ever abide with us. Of it's glories upon moonlit night who can describe them9 We entered our boat few evenings since and listening to the roar of old ocean as 1t
 beat upon its shores few miles away, we watched the moon and stars shine out, and | waiting and watching those lines of Long, fellows involuntary came to our lips: ! 'The night is calm and cloudless,
 And still as still can be;
 And the stars came forth to listen, To listen to the music of the sea. They gather and gather and gather Until they crowd the sky,