The morning times., 1896-10-31
FORMER CLERK now A BOSS
Joe Gunnell, of This City, Cuts a
Wide Swath in Florida.
Gave Up n Department Position III
Washington TO Seek Fortune in
the South and Succeeded.
Especial 10 The Times J

BOS0 Ratone, Dade county, Fla, Oct. 20. -
Joe uunneil, OF Washington, has become
one OF The puiilicai Dosses OF southeastern
Florida.
That part of Florida in which Joe has
attained eininence is wilder than the wild
est Nest. The panther cries III the jungle;
the gator bellows III me swamp the SNAKE
ra,lies under the palmetto scrub and man
wUrsh,ps God with Il rifle at his side. Peo-
pie live i'll shocks, some matched with
palmetto, some built of slabs, some OF logs,
and now and then one built oI lumucr.
nere ana there, scattered through the
jungle, many miles apart, were rude
churches, some served 10y itinerant pastors,
solne served by settlers who hau learned
Il hymn or text Ill Scripture away back
III other days and other lands. Bells, there
were none 10 ring out their delight, and
Tie blowing oil cunch shell was the signal
that service was about to begin.
1ne wInd mat played III The pine tree
tops, ana the SURF that Doomed and rCileu
was The music that God furnished his
children in the wilderness of Southe Ist
Florida.
Inns was one year ago. The East Coat
raiiruad has been opened since then and
a Lide of pilgrims from the crowded States
Is setting iii. Soon Southeast Florida Will
be The Eden of the Columbian world. Her
pine, sands. hainnIocks ana savannahs Will
leCu lHe ibIlllOHs Ot The North.
Joe GunueiI came down here more than a
year age. He closed his typewriter in
one OF me departments, shoulucrcdAH axe
ana GruUbing hoe aud started life anew.
Roofing up SOW grass from sun To sun eat
Ing cauned goods bought from the Uanuit
stUrekeepcr and sleeping with ccntipedc
anu iheir cCniedcratc,, TIE mosquitoes. was
not such bed OF roses as government
clerkshp. There WAS 10 8 TO business
~ "a ~ 1, IL.
sick leave.
When joe got his patch cleared the
East Coast railroad, owned by Millionaire
Flagler, was built through, and that little
| patch was in the line OF survey 1t would
| have cost that railroad several thousa n.ls
OF dollars Ia have built around Joe's patch
| and the award of condemnation allowed
nun Il good sum for land and i'm provemeIts.
Joe took up another claim. Congressman
Linton. ol Michigan, bought section OF
| land and also bought out Joe He made
money oh that deal When Congressman
! Linton laid out his little town and the
| settlers began coming i'll from Michigan.
| Joe was chosen land agent. This position
Drought him in contact with all the set
! Ilers III the county. He Went to the count '
| republican convention at Juno as n dele.
gate from Linton and pulled the wires SC
| that the offices were divided among hi.
| friends.
There had never been Republican ticke-
| IN The field before. but this time the Rcpui.
licans got all the offices in the count =,
worm having. Thus it happens that mos
| OF the county officials are under oblipa
tions to Joe Gunnell, of Washington. WheI
the town began to lay out streets. buIlt
| water WORKS, electric plant. school houses
| an engine house, etc, Joe was made sI
perntendent of public construction.
| This is why Joe is now able 10 wea,
white duck pants and to sit in the shad,
| when the sun burns hot