Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1897-04-02
EGMONT LIGHTHOUSE
A Bath in the Brine--The Is
land that Divides the Wa
ters Of the East from the
Waters of the West.

ST. Petersburg, Fla, March %.
Since / last wrote you, we have
taken several excursions; one to
Egmont Key, u distance of about
20 miles from St.Petersburg. This
place is q favorite diversion for
excursionists. Here is situated
one of the most magnificent Light
houses, which it was our pleasure
to enter and ascend the immense
high. of eleven flights of twenty
five steps each. We, Of course,
had to rest often, but were amply
compensated by the grand view
that delighted our visions, stretch
ing out over land and water for
miles. Here, also, is situated the
U. S. Quarantine Service; and
many relies of, perhaps, a pre-his.
toric race, also Notifications, by
some believed to have been made
by the Spaniards, and, by others,
some barbarian people ofantiqua-
ted times.
AT one point on our trip to Eg-
mont Key, a young girl rOwed
out from her island home, to get
the mail. She handled the oars
with skill and dexterity, being OBJ
served by all. Several Of the pas
sengers took snapshot views of
the girl and boat, with their cam.
eras, as she glided away, amid
loud cheers.
A few days after making the a.
bove trip, we were driven with a
party, across the country six miles
to Maxine, % beautiful resort 3,
where are palmetto and banana
groves, alligator nests, and other
tropical attractions. Here we
took sail boat, sailing across
Boca Ciega Bay, $50 named by the
Spaniards, meaning blind pass,
touching for short while at Dis
ston City, the place that was so
extensively advertised in this
country and in Englad a few years
ago, but never developed into the
Magic City it promised to be. We
had q most delightful sail; the wa
ter was just rough enough to be a
little exciting, but we had a steady
old sailor at the helm, who had
spent a number of years in the
navy, who assured us there was
no danger, though the waves
would dash into our boat, wash
ing our faces with The spray, and
frequent orders to tack were Civ
en-, still songs, such as,
"Life on the ocean wave,
A home on the rolling deep,o
were sung, and jokes and merry
making were INDUCED in, until
we scarcely realized the passing
of the swift flying moments. We
landed at Pass Grille City, on
Long Key. Here is narrow island
seveal miles long, with all the bean
ty Of a park dotted with pine, live
oaks, and palmettoes, blooming
oleanders, bambOos and vari-col.
ored flowers. On the east lies the
beautiful bay and west the Gulf
of Mexico, the waters of which
are separated by this narrow is.
land and whose rolling waves
wash the shore, strewing the beach
with beautiful shells. In these de.
lightful waters we INDUCED in an
invigorating bath. 1t is said that
finer fishing can be found here
than exist at Passo Grille,and that
of tarpon fishing is unsurpassed.
Among other attractions here is
the floating hotel, or floating pal.
ace, it is called, built out over the
water, approached by docks and
boats and finished up steamboat
fashion, being a novel and attrac.
tive place. After spending one
hour here we returned to Maxine
where carriages awaited us and
we were driven to st. Petersburg
We leave this place tomorrow
with many pleasant associations,
for Tampa, and thence to the
eastern coast for a few days, when
we will tur ourn faces homeward
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