The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-04-06
THE SOUTH IN WINTER.-X.
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla, March 81, 1894.

Our departure in the early morn, re-
minded us OF the above, as eight patrons
of Lake View Highlands Hotel, at an
early hour, began homeward trips aver
aging nearly 800 miles in length each.
Our route for the first 10 miles was via
F. G. and P. r. r. to Silver Springs,
where we took Harris Line steamers for
Palatka scheduled to leave Silver Springs
at 1890, and arrive at Palatka at 7
o'clock the next morning. This trip is
considered one of the finest in this coun-
try, and very highly spoken of by emil
nent travellers. The Rev. DR.. Cuyler of
New York, says: 1.-THE visitor to Flor
ida who misses trip up the Ocklawalla
on one of the steamers of Harris Line,
fails to behold the greatest attraction in
the State"
Beginning at the head OF the river. as
it may properly be called, the spring
comes up from depth OF 100 feet, at
the bottom of which fish can be dis
tinctly seen, and pieces of silver money
thrown by tourists, so clear is the water,
in fact, one seems able to put on rubber
boots and wade. This clear water has
given rise to the name, Silver Springs.
There are two lines of steamers making
this run, one called the Lucas, one Hart.
There is also a smaller steamer, the
''Wahoo," the pilot beiLg a lady, and
the only one in the Uniled States, we he
lieve. This line only runs down Silver
Springs run, some nine miles, and re-
turns. The spring is only large enough
to nicely hold the three boats referred
to.
The river is 1876 miles in length and
passes 81 landings and towns among
which we note: Jacobs Well, Chitty's
Avenue, Brush Heap, Hells Half Acre,
Pin Hook, Sunday Blug, Eureka Cut
Off, Rough and Ready Cut, Forty Foot
Bluff, Hart's Secession Camp, Needles
Eye, Honey Bee Log, Turkey Creek,
Poor Mans Labor, and many other odd
names. The steamers are very narrow,
three deck affairs, and look as if they
were top heavy. Hart, who by the way,
halls from Brattleboro, opened up the
river to navigation in 1860. The new
steamer, "Okeebumkee," accommodates
go first class passengers and furnished
seconds to none The regular rate is
$500 one way, which includes meals and
berth, or $500 in parties of five or more.
This route is perhaps better advertised
than any in the State, and as a conse-
quent result, the owners are reaping a
rich harvest.
Here, as in the North, however. one
finds competition, and rival line, (The
Lucas), claims faster boats. and the ex-
element at the Springs on arrival of
trains reminds one of the city. The
boat or Line starting first, has the best
chance to see alligators, snakes, turtles,
large fish and clear water, and the start
is very interesting. The rivalry is so
great that the first boat to get under
way, after pointing out the gators"
keeps man on pilot house TO throw
oranges and half bricks at them. in order
to brighten them away from the line fol-
lowing. The pilots are very conversant,
with alligator nests and logs upon which
they sun themselves, and one will for
years remember the shout, gator on the
left" gator on yonnor log" gator on
the right" and it soon becomes a by
word with passengers. If one meets
you weeks after he will inquire: Gator
on the left?'' instead of, ibid you take
in the Ocklawaha trip" and is
at once understood. Bro. Harris boat,
the "Okeehumkee" was loaded down
with passengers, and started a half
hour late, however, we counted Is ALI
gators and any number of snakes and
turtles. The Silver Spring Run, nine
miles in length, is very clear water, and
deep, but the Ockhawaha is as black as
ink. Not in the whole length of this
river, some 1875 miles, does the width ex-
coed 100 feet, while in hundreds of
places it does not average over forty.
The boats are 50 feet long, some thirty
wide, fiat bottomed, carry 60 passengers,
and leaving Silver Springs at 1870 a. M,
reach Palatka about a. M, where one
his state room until morning.
Dinner and supper are had on board,
breakfast at Palatka. The boats are fur
nished with compound engines, and
wheel so arranged that one half can be
run alone, or backward. as many turn
in the river is less than right angle, and
the boats nose is held to the bank
while the stern is pulled or pushed
around, as the case may be. The stream
is sluggish, and in the windings many a
letter S is described. While running a
northeast course many mile is in the
direction of the setting sun. At night
pitch pine knots are saturated with ter
pentine and burned in large iron pot
over the pilot house, furnishing the only
light by which to steer, making the trip
weired and uncanny. The banks are
tropical, and dense underground makes
it impossible to see more than 100 feet.
while the shore, so called, is covered
with water, and the home of poisonous
snakes. Palmetto trees are here found
in great numbers, the trunk slim. straight
and running up so feet without leaf,
ending in an immense top. Live oak al
so abounds, and cypress. Ali plants are
very numerous and can be pulled from
the trees in passing
We doubt if trip can be taken in any
part of the State of more general inter
est, and would suggest all tourists in
Guiding it in their list
At Palatka we found much to interest
us, and perhaps nothing more so than
the green grass, so much like our YER
mont grass. Even the streets are mown
with machines during the summer at
the city's expense, as few are paved.
Here we find the palmetto paving as well
as that made by crushing sort of stone,
or phosphate rock. Palatka is a pleas
ing town, having some fine residences;
an A l hotel (The Putnam), we'll known
to many of your readers, formerly run by
0Tvis of Equinox fame, and of whom we
are constantly reminded throughout the
State through daily paper adds"
Equinox Spring water should sell well
here, as the artesian water in daily use
comes from too close proximity to his
Satanic Majesty, and too constantly re-
minds ono Of stale eggs and sulphur
We met with Bro. Perkins,
and through him the father. who has