The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-25
THE FLORIDA FREEZE
A PEN PICTURE OF IT'S RESULTS As
SEEN BY a CRACKER FARMER
Much Distress Among Nonresident La
borcrs, bat Natives Hopeful OF
Good Crops Next Year.

FlVenlng POST
Hello, Capn Bill" says F., stopping
short on Bay street.
Hello, yerself.''
They shake hands, the countryman leis-
urely, the city man if he was really too
busy to take time for such foolishness
This is Cap'n Bill, says F., introduce
ing him. HE is the original Florida
cracker. You needn't ask his.other name;
I've forgotten it and 1 think he has too.
How's the freezer"
IF, it's lucky you wern't the next one
to ask me that. said back yander I'd
answer it nine more times an kick the
tenth"
.All right, I'll watch for him. But seri-
ously, what is the prospect in south Flori-
da? We hear such conflicting stories we
don't know what to believe
They're all true however. The ice
king didn't treat every section alike. He
blowed his breath heavy here, lighter
there, an no man can judge his own loss
by his neighbours Two connectin groves.
two lakes in a few miles of each other,
wouldn't always be hurt alike. But were
comm outen the kinks. The damage amt
more'n half. an We'll have plenty oranges
next winter with better prices. Truckers
are replantin'. You won't get your peas
and Strawberries so early this year'-turn-
ing to me-"but your own crop is apt to
be late, too. So We'll get some Yankee
dollars after all. The pineapples amt
bad affected as people thought. But, 1
dad, the country looks lonesome. AS fur
as you can ride in the orange belt it's
yeller an yellerer, like burnt woods or the
yeller fever. It's leaves above an oranges
below. Yes, SIR addressing me in man
ner boastful, but not in the slightest de-
gree offensive, there's million of dol
lars the Florida sands to-day Can you
match that in your State?
1 say Il cannot and thinking give-and-
take only fair play, get off good one on
Florida weather. He takes me up quick as
: lightning.
s.Oh. it's Florida weather. only it's got
Northern principles this year.
A commotion causing US to turn. we find
a policeman gathering in disturber OF the
whats the trouble. Fritz asks F.
20. fancy drunk. He will argue the
case, when he hasn't got any; not leg
left to stand on.
I'm done gentlemen says the prisoner,
breaking into tears. I'm object O. pity.
Hear my tale m profit b. m sperience. Ten
thousand dollars in pineapples-three years
in Florida-froze up-jus' money nough
set t. Jax-drunk-take me T. the station
house,
Just what I'm tryin to do; come long"
THAT makes me feel bad says Cap'n
Bill. as the others pass out of sight. That's
a pretty good sample of affairs in the fruit
region. Lots of the growers and truckers
are furriners (by which term he may mean
New as well as old Englanders) who think
they're rufnt for ever It's no sorter use
don't believe it. They sell out for what
they can get go growing about the
country lille the native who's seen this
don't understand Florida, an then they go
back North an give her bad name"
''Are many leaving the State?"
EVERY train is loadened down with dis
couraged growers. The woods are full of
pic1ers an small truckers trampin to the
towns in hopes of findin somethln to keep
,em till spring. Here's one of 'em, now.
give him a days keep, an there's plenty
more in the same fix"
STRANDED CRACKER.
The man referred to speaks to Cap'n. Bill
and eyes. us duly He is TALL gaunt and
colorless, and, We're he disguised ever SO
well, would still bear the mark of the
molintaineer.
Found anything yet?' Cap'n Bill asks,
genially.
Found err wood pile down the lane"
pointing to Main street Il say, where do
all the people come frum at lives in this
many housens? / didn't know there wuZ
ez many people in the worp ez they is in
Jacksonville. lighted right onto er North
Callinian. I'm err guneter stay with him
ter-night an start the freight fer home
in the mornin' work my passage.
you're the right sort; no whinin' beg
81 dunno ez I'm Untitled ter any credit
fer it, he answers philosophically. EFF
hadn't er found work friends | reckon
I'd err whned with the rest NV 'em. Fifty
more on is scattered bout town an er
hundred err two on the road. Some on ems
got money 'nough ter pay Their way home
an some hain't; sent it all ter Their fam
bles. not expectin this slam. But you kin
bet thet them out en- pocket'n count cross
ties faithful tell they reach OF North Cal
liny,''
''What the dickunce brung you to sech
a COMPOUNDED country, anyhow" asks
Cap'n Bill, his wrath overwhelming his
Sympathy 1np2 fYt,s eno oont :, t,a ,o 49,,
pays US ez much wages in er week we
make home in month. We lay by the
crap an leave. the women an child en- ter
gether it. while come ter Flurdy ter
yearn our cash money fer the next year
pickin' oranges an strawb' ries.. This here's
er slam: the maister. kind Nv er slam But
around and goes awav
Yes says Cap'n Bill, 81 Jest know them
Tarheelsll give Florida a regular calamity
name"
I cannot help remarking that this winter
has so eef + proved calamity to them
Frightening: But not to those who know
how to look to hereafter. Yeller Jack may
have had us in his eye, only for next sum-
mer. Now he's frozen out; not a grin nor
a threat left in him. An oranges'n bring
splendid prices next winter Oh you'll see
Besides, everything isn't killed. The south
ern counties escaped the freeze an are only
frost, bitten; They're still snippin', an
there'n hardly be less than 100, 900 boxes sold
fore spring Many of the larger growers
haG their packin'- houses full, an they, of
course Sound.''
'T should hardly think it would pay to
market them. with California fruit forging
to the 'front.'
"Caliaorny oranges are good-foy Ca ifo-ny.
But, dad, sir, they can't compare to Flor
ida oranges, even after the fire of a freeze
has passed over them.''
Progress is stopped for the moment by a
strange group of men who meet us; forms
wasted by want and disease. faces pinched
and wolfish, and teeming with the menace
and despair of evil circumstances.
PATHETIC SIGHTS.
20, Lord, I can't stand this" said Cap
tain Bill, diving into his pockets for all his
loose change. "Take this, fellers, an don't
give Florida any worse name than you can
help
The astonished creatures seize the money
supplemented by contributions from the
rest of the party-and make break for a
cheap restaurant across the way.
1T wouldn't do for you to live in large
city" / say to the impulsve Cracker you
would soon be forced to join the army Of
the impecunious yourself
II dad, sir. | don't intend to trust myself
in any larger city than jacksonville; the
fuss an the cheatin' and the choked up
streets confuse me enough If you'd seen
IL Ill -