The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-07

Punta Gorda, Fla, Aug. H-Capt
Floyd, Of the smack Minnie g., came In
the other day from three weeks trip
down the coast In among the Thousand
Islands. and the skipper tells very inter-
esting story Of some discoveries they made
while there.
1t will be rememb bersd that the Minnie
q. was reported to be lost on account OF
her long absence from this port but the
jolly skipper says that he was far from
being lost, and was In such good quarters
that he hated to leave them.
When pressed for his story. he hesitated.
but at last gave it In outline, stating
that he would not givel the. exact location
where he had been. as he was under a
solemn promise not TO do so. His tale Is
as follows:
THE SKIPPER'S TALE.
The third day when out from here he
encountered heavy storm In the gulf,
and ran In to land, hoping to get into
cover Of some of the big keys. Whilst
scudding before the gale. he ran in among
the islands and night overlook them.
Fearing to 20 further he attempted TO
heave to, but the strong wind carried
them insamoDg the islands. and heavy
current impelled them TO go forward.
preventing all attempts at anchoring.
About midnight while drifting In among
the islands and In imminent peril OF
being..wrecked, the captain saw ahead Of
him a beacon fire.
He at once made for this. and by care,
full observation WORKED out channel
and soon moved into long narrow
bayou, with high banks on either side
AS they drew near he discerued n num-
ber Of figures ON the sandy beach around
| the tire.
WARNED OFF.
He started TO launch his boat to go
ashore. but a voice hailed him saying
Stay where you are, do not attempt TO
come seashore until morning" Though
somewhat astonished, he obeyed. In the
| morning glance soon showed the skip
| per that he was In n section entirely un-
familiar to him. He seemed to be on a
large key, very thickiy wooded.
Soon he was hailed from the bank and
| gigantic Indian-n negro, armed with n
rifle, strolled out on the beach. and he
was told to come along. but not TO
bring any one with him, which he at
once did. As soon as he had landed, the
ing lout cloth blindfolded him. The
skipper resisted at first. but the guide
assured him that no harm was intended,
but simply did this for his own proteo-
tion. Taking his arm he escorted him
inland, possibly for a distance Of half q
mile.
FINE FURNISHINGS THERE.
He was then conducted into a house
and the bandage removed. 10 his great
astonishnent he found himself In q very
handsomely furnished room In the
presence OF a venerable-looking white
man, who appeared to be- about 20 years
old his long white beard and flowing
hair over his shoulders giving him u
venerable and aged appearance. although
his bright eyes and sturdy looking form
belied all appearance Of weakness.
THREE WIVES APPEAR.
The skipper was welcomed by this
man, and was given hearty meal. In
the midst of II, three women came In, all
of them light oolored Indians, who were
introduced to him as the wives OF this
strange man. Three slaves waited upon
them at the table; the meal itself was or
the most substantial character. After the
meal was over, the old man, whom the
skipper calls the doctor for want OF any
other name, as he refused to give his real
name, took the captain outside and showed
him around.
The house was located In q wild ham
mock surrounded by a number Of wild
orange trees and was most substantial
stone structure, two stories, and very
strongly built, with loop holes for rifles
on all sides. A short distance away stood
two ancient.looking cannous, both the
brass pieces of Spanish origin. A few
rods away were four or five lowframed
shanties. in which the captain could see
ten or twelve negroes.
WELL-KEPT GROVES.
The old man showed the captain his
we'll kept groves. his pineries aviary and
fishing reservation, where there were
large turtles, scafish and many other
things OF the kind. The captain was very
much struck by all this, and asked the