West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-02-06
DOWN IN DIXIE.
Another Interesting Letter Prom the
Rditor Down In the sunny
South
Editorial corre,ponaeOee Of ruu Anooa

We arrived here Yesterday morn
ing from the Suwanee River, where
l wrote my last letter from. aud
have spent two delightful days here.
| wrote at considerable length from
the Springs and about that won
derful place, but cannot refrain
from mentioning another matter in
regard to it. The Superintendent
claimed that the place was so
healthy and the medicinal powers
OF the water aud air so great that
they had only had four deaths in
eight years, and all hopeless inva
lids from the north who came there
seeking relief. He declared that
two of them had the death rattle in
their throat when they were carried
from the cars to the hotel, ana the
other two had been given up by
seven doctors before leaving home.
To prove conclusively the wonder
full powers of the water there, they
had a big buck negro, who was so
black that charcoal would make
white mark on him, and who pick
ed the banjo in the Mocking Bird
Glee Klub, to stand up where all
could watch him closely and break
lamp cbimneys and deliberately eat
them. Chew up and swallow the
pieces, Washing it down with the
mineral spring water, and appar-
emily relishing it and keeping fat
on that kind OF diet. The idea was
that you could even eat glass with
impunity and keep healthy on it by
drinking the water from the famous
Ponce de Leon Spring. 1t was
good advertisement.
Well, we pulled in here early
Sunday morning and are quartered
at the most magnificent hotel in
the world, the famous new Tam pa
Bay Hotel, built and furnished and
owned by Commodo Ii. b. Plant,
the celebrated millionaire who has
done SO much for the development
of Florida, with his railroads, steam.
ships and hotels. Every thing here
is as fine as unlimited money can
make 1t.
Shortly after our arrival and as-
signment to rooms, the western
special train with about three hun
dred pulled in, making our whole
party near five hundred, all quar-
tered at this hotel, which can easily
accommodate thousand. There
has been many happy meetings and
pleasant greetings between d
friends from the east and the west
and the north aud the south since
we all came together here.
We had only been here short
time when young Cuban called
me to one side and gave me press
ing invitation to attend cock
fight on the grounds in the rear of
the hotel at 3 o'clock that after
noon. He had evidently sized me
up for sporting man, and / didn't
know whether to feel compliment ted
or not, but in few moments a
clerical looking young man wearing
gold trimmed glasses handed me an
invitation to attend services at the
Episcopal church, 80 that evened
the matter up all right. AS
couldn't attend both, and the read
or is probably curious to know which
invitation ! accepted, will say that
! got out of it by going out on the
bay to see the steamship Olivette
come in from Havana and unload a
lot Of Cubans, who we're fleeing
from the ravages Of the war IN that
country. Everybody was anxious
to get late news from the seat OF
war and talk with the people just
over. There were some English
and American passengers, and some
of the Cubans talked English. ]
had talks with several Of tho pas
sengers and with the captain of the
steamer and some Of the other off,
GERS, and gained some valuable and
interesting information in regard Ia
the war over there. ] find every.
body here in strong sympathy with
the insurgents and enthusiastic for
the freedom Of Cuba. There arc
many Cubans here, engaged in
bushes and employed as cigar
makers in the big factories here.
They are sending all their spare
money to Cuba to assist the strug
/ Cling ualriota ovor fhara % ,..s.