Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1897-03-19
RIDE ON THE MANATEE
That Beautiful River Named
for that Monster Fish,
the Orange and the
Pineapple.

JNNNtN satt ttOAD'h WV iSH,1 ahN -
the Manatee river, $50 called from
the Manatee, which formerly in
habited its waters). The sail was
delightful, so we sat on deck on
the beautiful steamer Margrette,
famed by the gentle breezes, lad
Ell with perfume Of orange BIOS
SONS from groves on the shore.
Broidentown, the county seat,
Manatee and Palmetto are the
principal towns. The river is bor-
dered by pretty residences, en-
powered in tropical trees, or sur
rounded by orange groves, that
wholly escaped the disasterous
freeze Of 1895, and where Jack
Frost's whitening arm has never
reached. 1t is said truck farmin g
is increasing in success and impor-
lance here yearly. A few miles
below Broidentown is a handsome,
picturesque castle surrounded by
tropical plants, and.shaded by pal
mettoes, pines and live oaks, q
terraced lawn reaching to the
waters edge, that is known as
Adams folly, built and owned by
a wealthy New Yorker, who, with
his family, spend most of each
year at this eden home.
A few days before we made the
above mentioned trip, we went
with another party of tourists on
train to Clearwater and Belleair,
the later Florida's latest cities, and
winter resorts of great charms,
which has been created within the
past year, by Mr.. Plant. 1t is on
an elevated plateau overlooking
the Gulf OF Mexico, near Clear
water and between st. Petersburg
and Larpon Springs. The hotel
Belleyiew, is said to be second to
Tampa Bay Hotel, and is located
in such a way, that from every
room, one can overlook the broad
expanse of Clearwater Harbor,
and the picturesque keys beyond,
that serve as q break-water.
Winding, terraced driveways con-
form with the curvature Of the
shore. The town is laid ont with
broad, well graded streets, and
has complete electric and water
systems.
Clearwater is about one and one
half miles from Belleair, situated
on q bluff; there are many hand
some homes along this bluif, with
beautiful terraced lawns overhang
ing the sea, leading from which is
docks to coy bath houses and pa
villions, which luxury the owners
enjoy TO the fullest extent. Among
these charming homes is to be
found Col. Frazier's, of Memphis
Tenn, where we called and were
cordially greeted and Delightfully."-
entertained by Mrs. t., her daugh
tiers being absent, and we renewed
the acquaintance begun at White
Sulphur Springs last summer
The vertiable pet dog, Click, whose
tail they say, "wags the family
was the first to greet us. Theirs
is a typical Southern home, whose
broad verandas, coy seats, ham
mocks ETC., were peculiarly invit
ing, and we sat for sometime re
called by the lovely breezes an(
grand scene stretched ont before
us.
Yesterday we visited a pine
apple farm Of several acres, where
we beheld the novel and beautiful
sight Of thousands Of plants in fnl
bloom, which is a bright red in thu
center of the plant, where the ap
pie forms, grows and natures; tbil
crop will pc ready for shipping il
June. Near by was n tobacco
field, with young plants just Sc
out. The owner said IL was hi
first attempt at tobacco culture
but, with the aid Of several Gu
bans, whose labor he had secured
expects TO make it very profitable
On our drive home to the hotel
we passed several huge mounds
composed entirely Of oystershells
supposed to have been made b,
Indians. There are many conjec
lures as to their motive in doins
so, some say the oysters were
buried there in heaps for use
others, that they were only The
shells deposited after eating the
oysters, but it seems rather in
,rnIr1oup fnp II ,rnu11 ho,n foJ,o