Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-07
ON THE INDIAN RIVER.
Delightful Scenes in Beautiful Part of
Florida
The Resort OF the Yachtsman, Fisher
man and Hunter-Orange Groves
and Other Tropical Fruits.
Correspondence of The Evening Star.
INDIAN RIVER, Florida, Dec. l. Is

INDIAN RIVER, Florida, Dec. L. 1893.
The praises of the beautiful Indian river
have been sung and spoken of so long that
they are almost familiar to every American
lover of his country's attractions. The
head of the river is about fourteen miles
south of New Smyrna and runs parallel
with the ocean a distance of $50 miles, only
separated from 1t by narrow peninsula
broken at two points by inlets, which feed
the river from the sea. The Indian river
has been made famous by many character
istics. not the least of which are its sources
FOR the yachtsman. angler and hunter, who
here find glorious sport. From the first fall
frosts of northern winter this river is the
retreat of clouds of ducks and is the home
OF the heron, bttern, crane, snipe and peli-
can. On its shores are still seen the turkey,
bear, deer and endless covies of quail. No
fisherman comes home empty-handed, for
channel bass, jewish, sheepshead. drum.
sea trout and hundred other game fish
are found the entire length of the river. In
fact the fish are so plentiful that steamer
seldom makes the river trip without running
into shoals. especially mullet. which frequent
ly jump aboard the boat. At night the
phosphorescent Hastings from myriads of
these fish make a weird pyrotechnic display.
Lined With Orange Groves.
Both banks of the river are lined with
orange groves from Titusville for twenty
five miles southwark. One realizes on reach
ing this section that he is invading the
home Of the Indian river orange, the fruit
of worldwide fame. AS we go SOUTH pass
ing Cocoa and Rockledge, the scenery be-
comes more tropical. and the scent of pine
apples and bananas is borne upon the air;
long stretches of palmettos can be seen
also. We still continue to go further SOUTH
and the regions lining the river become
more and more intensely tropical
The next point OF interest seen along the
river Is known far and wide as the Indian
river narrows. AS the steamer enters the
narrows one can stand on the deck and
toss stone to either bank. Miles of oyster
beds predominant at this point and are
or quality unsurpassed and in quantity
sufficient to feed a generation. The mar
rows end at Fort Pierce. back of which
town is located a Seminole Indian village.
They are frequently seen on the banks of
the river in their picturesque costumes.
They roam the marshes and forests of the
impepetrabe Everglades, living game,
fish and the wild rice of the lakes They
are at the present time on an alligator
hunt. and will soon appear with the hides,
which they exchange for ammunition. &c.
Below Fort Pierce the river banks are weB
populated with pineapple growing. and this
peerless fruit is grown in great numbers.
Jupiter Inlet.
The river continues for miles below, finally
making its escape to the ocean through
Jupiter Inlet. The river again becomes
very narrow Just before reaching Jupiter
and the thick growing mangrove trees can
be seen on either side. The water is so
clear and so shallow here that fish and
oysters can be seen distinctly. Jupiter In
let is over three hundred miles south of
Jacksonville and the climate is perpetual
spring; 1t is an ideal resort for sportsmen;
the scenery is beautiful and the fishing
boating and hunting uneQualed.
| The view from the light house looking
from the one side far out over the ocean,
with the added sight of the Gulf stream,
and on the other. spreading out over the CO.
coanut groves (Which trees, by the way, grow
in great numbers here. the inlets and the
forests, with the Everglades and Lake
Worth In the distance. may well be count
ed an event for tropical beauty Of life
| time. This is the ending of the Indian
river
But seven miles below Jupiter Inlet is
situated Lake Worth, a long and compare
! lively narrow lake, running parallel with
the ocean and separted from it by strip
| of shining beach. This lake, on the shores
| of which is now being erected Mr. Flaglers
| new hotel the Royal Poniciana, which will
| accommodate five hundred guests The
| shores of this lake are certainly replete
coffee, the tamarind. mango. paw-paw
guava. banana, almond. custard apple
maumee apple and shaddock are found
here in abundance. Then further such Bra
!
| eucalyptus, cork tree and mimosa are all
| frequently seen in this delightful spot
i Right amidst these beauties of the tropics
| lining the shores of the lake are to be
| found numerous cottages of wealthy north
! erners. who are already commencing to
| open for the winter season. The fruits
| found here are not merely a collection of
| trees. but collection of groves from the
! gigantic cocoanut to the dwarf guava
| Vaccinations of the Place.
| There is a sort of spell surrounding this
| locality which holds and enthralls one with
| a constantly growing fascination. The sur
| roundings in every way are so delightful
the climate so near perfection and yet the
| facilities for reaching the outside world
so convenient that almost every one who
visits the locality is so charmed that he is
| loath to depart. 1t seems almost an impos-
| sibility that only a ride of about forty
| hours transports one from the cold, icy
north. taking New York a center, to this
spot, where the temperature is at an aver
! age of - degrees the entire winter. Bath
| ing in the surf but a half mile from the
| lake is a daily pastme and the water is
| very seldom lower than 30 degrees. This
| condition In great part is reached by the
| close proximity of the gulf stream, which
| runs but half mile from the coast. The
| Royal Poniciana will be open February I
under the management of II. w. Merrill
1 of New York city