Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-05-26
A STRANGE PADDLER.
AN oCKLAWAHA RIVER STEAM
Err A QUEER CRAFT.
some OF the Beauties OF the Little Florida
River That Steals Along Under Dense
oVerhaOglng BOughs of Palmetto,
swamp Oak, and Cypress.

S""hF oaNs anu cypress.
The state OF Florida produces some
queer Things, but nothing in it,
borders, not even the alligator, is
queerer and more ungainly than an
Ocklawaha river steamer. Whom
one tirst boards the little craft with
its odd succession OF coop-liSe decks.
the thing seems ike a toy. and why
II doesn't turn over you can't
imagine. They say down there that a
heavy dew would float ii. and probably
It would. The narrow little tub suits
its purpose so well, however, that
captain and crew are rather proud Of
its looks, and will brag that there is
nothing like ii in the country, ii you
let them. They will be glad to brag
-capn's always are. But they had
much better brag about the beauty
OF the tropical solitudes through
which they sail.
The little branch OF the Ockla-
waha, known as Silver Springs,
which extends about ten miles in an
easterly direction before meeting the
river proper, affords perhaps the
most interesting features OF the en-
tire trip, says a Philadelphia Times
writer. At the source OF these
springs the peculiar formation OF
rock. shell and sand at the bottom
makes the water as clear as a MIR
ror, and every object, animate and
lnanimate, from the surface to the
lowest depths-a distance in some
places OF over eighty fcet--is plainly
discernible. From the silver floor
below the water bubbles up with such
force in places as to make a most ap.
preciable current Here and there
the banks OF the narrow stream are
hidden from view by cIumps OF water
cress and wild flowers. but in the ABB
sence of this verdure one can sec the
abrupt shelving sides iulaid as
though by the work OF human hands
with the most exquisite shells and
stones. The suns rays reflected
from these mosaics OF nature suFuse
the clear waters with every prismatic
hue and leave picture on the mem
ory that is not easily effaced.
Between Silver Springs and the
point where the Ocklawaha empties
into the broad waters OF the ST.
johns the streams makes over $50 [
turns-some so abrupt that the stern /
OF the little steamer will strike 4
against the yielding, spongy trunks .
OF the palmetto trees along the bank
while the bow is in mid.strearn.
From the upper deck one could cas-.
lily imagine that the boat was now
ing its way through a forest. for In
some places the trees, branching
from either bank. overlap and form
a yeritable bower. Whore the
stream runs comparatively straight
for forty or fifty yards these trees
present beautiful picture. The
green branches OF the palmetto
mtngle with the swamp oak and e..
press, and they are Invariably dccked
with long, waving lines OF silver
moss. From the deep and seeming
" uninhabitabIe solitudes tho boat
Will make one Of its sudden turns
and disclose to the astonished view
little orange grove in all its beauty
ot green leaves and golden fruit.
Here, while the steamer Is taking on
% cargo OF oranges. the passenger
las the opportunity OF roaming AZ
will through the grove, and. N the
'wner shares the usual Southern
generosity. or is not on the premises.
he additional opportunity Of eating
he luscious fruit fresh from the tree
Once more the little craft resumes
IS tortuous journey, and as the dav
vanes and twilight creeping M
'asts the shadows Of the many trees
Icross the water the scene assumes
. new and weird aspect In the graz
ight OF the early evening the over
hanging branches, with their long /
ines OF waving moss. seem 10 move A.,
o and fro like SO many grotes0ue
lgures and even beckOn the boat on.
then, as the shadows lengthen and
he night comes on. the pine fapots
n the little chimney over the pilot !
Iouse are lit and send broad glare
i light over the water and through
he surrounding woods. So strange
nd novel are the scenes presented ,,
nder these conditions at night that
ne Is tempted to stay on deck until
late hour Even when sleep does
ssert its sway in the little 6xlO
tateroom the brushing OF the u
ranches OF the trees against the 9
or the humping from stem .
stern as the boat is checked in its !
desire TO take shorter cut
yerland. are not infrequent means c
keeping one aroused Gradually. j
1e stream widens, however; these i
mall inconveniences are left behind, y
nd daylight finds the odd little
aft putting along through the wide t
aters Of the st. Johns o