Morning journal and courier., 1894-03-23
Down IN FLORIDA.

1 New Havener,s Pleasant Stay In
the Land Of Flowers-Many New
Haven Faces-Popularity OF tho
Rock Ledge HoteI-The HuntlDg
and Fishing-An Alligator story
FUN In Hunting wild Turkeys-i
New Haven Trading C0mpany-I
Seminole Indians.
rothe Editor Of the JOURNAL AND CouRIER:
We started from New Haven February
| in very hard snow storm, taking
train, arriving in New York in time to
take the Florida special out of jersey. City
ct 1910, having our Pullman engaged and
meeting other friends there to accompany
US on our trip.
We boarded train which IL considered
the finest in the world; which after our
journey we considered it so.
We arrived the next evening to take din |
ner In ST. Augustine at the Ponce de
Leon, which il very beautiful spot; 1t is
second to none in the country, stopping
there short time, then going around and
seeing the old forts and historical build
ings, which are very interesting. We
leave ON the afternoon train for Rock
Ledge, arriving there in time for dinner,
making our headquarters at the new
Rock ledge hotel, which is situated in
beautiful spot near the Indian river.
There we found quite number from New
Haven, among them were Coroner Nix and
wife, ]. Atwster, David Il. Clark and fam
lily, Hart Munson and others.
There are beautiful orange groves around
and near there. Among them are those of
z. A. Chat6eld's, A. d. Baldwin's, Mr.
Blakeslee's and Mr.. Horace P. Shares,
the latter Of which Is free to all the
guests at their hotel. Mr.. Shares is very
great favorits with all their guests, and
furnishes his naphtha lamp and horses
free to the guests of the New Rock Lodge
hotel, of which he is the owner, and which
is leased by Messrs. Treadway and Fender
son, who are very pleasant and accommo-
dating proprietors.
We made several excursions while there,
one an alligator hunt. In the party were
Coroner Mix, Mr.. Shares, Mr.. Blakesles,
Mr.. F. 3. Andrews and guide, who is an
alligator charmer, calling the slligaters out
of their dens and catching them alive in
his hands. He captured three, one over
Eve feet long. There was no inquest to be
held, as the coroner's verdict was that
they were captured alive. We suppose we
will hear more about alligator hunts in
your columns later on.
after very pleasant stay of three weeks,
and with pleasant friends, we move south
ward to Fort Pierce by train over the new
East Coast line, just completed, that point
being the terminus of the road. Here our
friends meet US at the train, Mr.. Julius
Tyler and family. We were soon in their
L., ,,1e ~ how
and nice supper awaiting US.
This place has been built up by Mr.. Ty-
Ter and son, F. II Tyler, formerly of New
Haven, Conn. They have a nice hotel
nearly completed, which will be opened
about March Is to the public. It will be
one of the finest places to stop at in Flori-
| da, and all will be assured of good table
and first class treatment, with the best
fishing and hunting in this section, 1t be-
there can bs fishing to one hearts con-
tent. It is no uncommon thing to see
the small fab boats bringing in from three
to Eve hundred pounds, caught with hook
| and line. Here We also catch the festive
tarpon, which weigh from 80 to $50 pounds
each, and are caught with hook and line.
Here is where Senator M. s. Quay has
his winter home, and he may be seen with
his fine launch at the inlet fishing for tar
pom most any day.
We have made several trips in Mr.
Tyler's fine naphtha launch to the inle
running out Of the same through tn,
breakers into the wide Atlantic ocean.
i At this point the Indian river is about
mile and half wide, the starting point TO
Lake Worth by steamers.
/ Speaking of hunting would say tina
there Ia excellent deer and wild turke,
shooting here.
The first morning after our arrival tw'
hunters came in with nine deer and fiv
I wild turkeys, which started your CORE
| spodsnt on turkey hunt.
Going back with these hunters "
| camped for the night about twenty mile
I | out, reaching their cabin next day at moo
| and staying to dinner; after which We too
) horses. Riding back five miles we reache
> | the hammocks where the turkeys stay
l | making our camp near by for the nigh
. | and leaving our horses secure. I starte
/ | with the guide to locate ourselves when tn
\ turkeys came to roost: after being locate
4 | about one half hour, We had the pleasur
3 of seing Ave turkeys fly up in the high fin
q | trees to roost. Then was our opportunit
/ to get near them, which We did b
Q crouching on hands and knees unit
o the guide said We are where the
; are-under the tree. Looking up
saw one on the branch. 1t bsing yer
near dark at the time took deliberate al,
and had the pleasure Of killing my fri
wild turkey, which weighed twelve pound
d second turkey. 1t was of about the sam
size. 1t being dark then we had to retur
f to camp. It rained all night hard, whic
o is very unusual for this country. My guild
was up before light, starting out to kill
big Robbler which We heard gobble in til
j. same flock. I staid in camp, 1t being e
f wet I did not care to get cut. heard til
;. guide shoot, and soon he returned wit
:, the gobbler which weighed ninetee
l pounds. This is some Of the hunting 70
}. can have at Fort Pierce.
, Going and coming in my hunting trip
saw plenty Of Seminole Indians, dressed
> their native costumes, shirt, belt and tut
= ban. making their way to and from the
!. trading post at Fort Pierce. They
!. | their trading with the Florida Cannin
company, which is owned by New Have
> parties, and of which Mr.. Julius Tyler
the general manager.
Q This place is destined to be an importar
a point, as the country is settling up yer
!. fast and ia the finest kind of country fo
' pineapples. Mr.. Tyler has large plants
: ton near the hotel, also cocoanut tree
Q around the hotel, aud flowers are in blool
8 here all the time.
a At this place they have the finest wate
: in Florida, which cannot be said of q
/ points.
. They will have in the new hotel, whic
] will be called Fort Pierce hotel, all til
Q modern improvements, hot and cold watel
0 baths, etc., and will also have provided fo
: the guests, a naphtha launch, row and sa
, | boats and saddle horses.
MIR. Tyler has just purchased q tract {
Q land south of him on the river front, 81
tending to the old historical Fort Pierc
forts, built and occupied by the Unite
States troops In the Seminole war.
The weather here is perfect, not storm
. day, delightful breezs all the time.
> We leave here to morrow for LAX
. | Worth, for q short stay, returning by tn
way of Ormond. Ashville, N. G., an
Luray Csverns, Va, reaching home abou
April /. F. F. A.