St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1894-08-18
aLlnda,s., Trip TO Florida.
PoRT TAMPA, FLA, Aug. 9

among my different relatives and
friends, that l have scarcely been
settled long enough to write any
thing; but now that / am in the
land Of fruit and flowers, Florida,
and for a few weeks no duties OF
any nature surrounding me, shall
give a brief account of my trip from
New Orleans to Port Tampa, Fla.
The route / mention, from New
Orleans to Port Tampa, / know
will of itself suggest to you trip
by steamship, which will be correct.
At New Orleans, on Tuesday, at
s o'clock q. m., / took the Morgan
ferry boat and crossed over to Al
giers, was landed atthe ship wharf,
and passed through the immense
shed, containing freight of every
description, from foreign ports and
elsewhere. I saw whole heaps of
Cuba sugar, as red and sweet as
molasses; yes, it was, for l stopped
and tasted it myself.
No, was not alone, for had / been
/ can not say | would ever have
found Gin time for that days sail
ing) the stea1efhip Aransas to sail
at $50 for Port Idnapa, Fla. The
commercial agent for the Morgan
line of ships was with me. He
met me at the ferry boat, and saw
me safely over and on board the
AransaS.
There was a large cargo of freight
to put on, SO the ship was an hour
late in leaving, which gave me
time to meet the captain and other
officers Of the vessel.
At last "all aboard" was called
out, and ] saw the stage being
raised, and knew then we were out
for sea.
1t was in the afternoon when we
passed out the jetties and glided
out on the waters of the grand old
Gulf of Mexico. / was not long in
perceiving the difference in the
ships motion, for the waves came
high, and the ship rocked from
side to side.
Supper was over early, and then
i went up on deck with the cap
tain. For the first time / watched
the sun set at sea, and it was a
lovely scene. The clouds were
light and fleecy, and in all the
beautiful tints and hues imagina-
BILE, and / sat there till bed time,
so completely spell-bound did |
feel. At ten / went down to my
state room, and to bed, then to
sleep; but several times / awoke
and got up and looked out,
through my open window, on the
great waters of the boundless gulf,
and on the starlit Heavens.
Morning came, and was up and
dressed and out on the quarter
deck, when the captain came down
for breakfast. i think / have
failed to mention / was the only
lady passenger. The morning was
very warm, so / went with the
captain to the top-deck, where ]
could be more comfortable in his
bourdoir, and in the pilot house
The pilot stood at the great wheel
with the mariners compass before
him, and the captain remarked;
tsThis compass is all we have to &C
by; there are no trees, no land,
marks, &C., as pilots have on the
riyers.p
Friends, ] know you are waiting
to hear if ] was getting sea-sick
I can not say / was real sick, but
/ was feeling somewhat dizzy, ant
/ told the captain | would takt
possession of the lounge for a while
until my dizzy feeling passed off
When dinner hour came / politel.
declined taking any, for | was
Quite sure | would not be able tt
get down stairs. / remained there
perfectly quiet until 4 p. m, wher
/ felt better, then ate an orangt
and got up and went out on decI
with the captain. So you see yol
can hardly say got sea-sick.
Next morning Thursday W.
were entering Tampa Bay, and a
eleven o'clock We're nearing tht
port. When / say the port / de
not mean the shore, for the lant
is ten or twelve miles away, a.
Tampa City. The wharf is bull
out in the bay, and the vessels art
anchored in numbers. There is {
lovely hotel, built in the bay OF
piling, called the '1nn." The raj
road runs out to the port on tres
sci, and you walk through th'
wharf to the ears. Before we go
in port that morning, there wa
quite gale came up, and fearful
rain, although the early morl
seemed clear and beautiful. Whel
/ was first up / saw large rain
bow, and at breakfast / mentione'
it to the captain, and he said "Yes
j saw it also, and the old adage i
that a rainbow in the morning is
sailors Warming So / expect W
will have bad weather.
/ had dinner on the ship, an
then it was time for me TO tax
the train that would take me fuI
ther on my journey. The captain
saw me safely to the train, and wa
clad enough the distance wa
short, for the wind and rain wer
at full play.
Now / will leave you, for fear
am taking too much OF your space
and next week will finish my tr1
to Avon Park. LINDA.
LIST or LETTERS.
Remaining in the Post Office at OPP.
lousas La, for the week ending Aug. l
ront ,..4Sah if naf called for within