The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-20
THE EVERGLADES.
Canoe Trip Through the Great
Svyarnr, by "a Naval officer.


Lieut. Hugh L. Winoughby, of the Rhode
Island naval reserves, and a well known
yachtsman and winter resident of st. Au-
gustine, having completed his canoe eXpedl-
ton into tie everglades of Florida, writes
the following brief account of the OBJECT OF
making a scientific survey of the unknown
parts Of the Everglades, collecting any OBJ
iect of interest to archaeology and natural
history to be donated by him to the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania, certain lines of re-
search having been directed by that lnstitu-
ton, says a st. Augustine special correspond
ent to the Savannah News.
Lieut.. Wilioughby started from Miami Dec.
%, 1896, in a sloop carrying his two Rushton
canoes "Hissee" and "Coacoachea, convey
ing his stores instruments, etc. The canoes
were canvas covered to afford protection
from dampnesS, and were built especially fer
rough treatment, as the explorer knew not
where he was really going, or what he would
encounter, but as he started out determined
he had ample stores for his survey. After
being left by the sloep near the head Of
Harvey river (Which had never before been
located correctly Lieut.. Willoughby in TIE
Hissee and his companion a white hunter.
E. A. Brewer in the Coacoachee divided the
outfit equally and started jan 8. on the
perlous trip. His account OF the trip to the
Morning News st. Augustine correspondent
is as follows:
Il used a bicycle front wheel with band
of paddles, to record the distance poled. Plat
ted every days work accurately. Took sew
eTal meridian attitudes, getting correct lat-
luQSS anu lOnSttuleS TO cOTTeSl Ine osau
reckoning by. Distance poled. 175 miles.
Route from Harvey river in a general way
was north we'll I'D to James E. Ingrahams
line CT his explorations across the Ever
giadeS from Fort Myers to the mouth Of the
Miami river in 1892. between Big Cypress
and the Big Sawgrass. Then southeast-east
across the north end of Long Key, north,
then east to the head of the Miami, thence
to Miami, reaching there Jan. "a, 1897" Lieut..
Wiloughby says that small allowance of food
was necessary, as in the heart of the Ever
gades no game could be killed but he didn't
suffer want, as his expedition was provided on
! scientific basis, so much food to so much
work. by this precision he had two cigars
over the daily allowance on his return. Many
| difficulties were overcome and lie had to,
after polling only two miles, from a. IN. to
p. m. with hai-hour's rests for dinner
return TO the point started from. Sundays
were passed in repairing canoes and painting,
! and as the lieutenant is quite def with brush
| and paints doubtless some pictures descript-
i've of his explorations will accompany his
reports. He says very interesting island
was discovered in the center Of the Ever
glades which has been an Indian camping
| more than an acre in extent, but is the only
! island with dry land on it in a twenty five
| mile circle. He has named it "Wlloughby
!. KEY as he fully believes himself to be the
! first white man who has set foot on it. He
| slept in dry clothes every night and did all
! his wading in high rubber boots. His health
! has been perfect though he has lost ten
| pounds of flesh. ard is the color of an In
| dian. Lieut. Wiloughby will complete the
survey, charts, ETC., performing the hydro
| graphical work of the southwest coast N
the interest of the United States naval war
college. Lieut.. Willoughby donates all the
| expenses of the expeditions.