Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-11-23
MAINE TO FLORIDA.
NOTES OF A TRIP FROM PARIS TO
JACKSONVILLE.

NOTES OF A TRIP FROM PARIS 10
JACKSONVILLE.
Editor Democrat:
A few notes descriptive OF trip
to jacksonville, Florida, from New
England, may be Of interest to your
readers.
The kind Offices Of dear friends gave
rs good send-off from Paria Hill on
the 4th Inst, from Portland on the 9th,
and finally from Boston on the 9th OF
November. The steamer Chsttalloochee
Of the Ocean Steamship Co., Capt. Lewis.
Was lying at Lewis wharf and ut twelve
noon was ready to leave. A bunch OF
violets remained asa pledge Of loving
interest after the good-byes Of friends.
and then strangers alone were my COM
psnions. We were n party of thirteen,
and were indeed "personally conducted
by man of large experience.
Saturday afternoon proved hue day
for sailing, and the decks were alive with
ladies and children A well ~ gentlemen.
The various islands and forts Of Boston
hsrbor were OF much interest as We
steamed away from them. The beauty
Of the water, ever changing, yet ever
the same, was fairly captivating, and
then there came the new interest Of the
great stretch OF ocean, with the land OF
Cape Cod growing more and more In
distinct. Lister our steamer WAS alone
v nth the sea gulls, which were innumer-
able, and above and below us. The
play OF light aud shade upon their
there l. little beauty OF shape about
these birds.
Occasionally we saw sails Of echooners.
and there WAS no loss Of interest to send
US below, but the chill of evening warn
ed US. A happy feeling that we were
good sailors possessed US, but dull sp-
petite for our evening meal gave some
iutimstion that We had decided hastily.
Ii was huDiliating TO have To retire 10
ones state-room Immediately after sup
per. The discomfort that followed was
what every one knows who has been sea
sick. No storm arose, but swell came
which pitched the steamer In such = way
as to test every passengers capacity as
q sailor.
Sunday morning three men and one
woman were ready for breakfast. These
four represented the fifty or more pas
sengers. All that day, the social saloon
was deserted, but on Monday the saloon
and deck were Inhabited. The day was
glorious aud the trackless ocean most
agreeable to every one. That afternoon
we saw = steamer which our captain said
WAS Of the Clyde line bound from New
York to Wilmington. n. {. We soon
distanced her, but saw y four mxsted
schooner which interested " much, for
We were briefly near together.
Monday night there came change In
the sea which shook our steamer
nightly. The horizontal position, Nat
on ones back, WAS the one most approx
esi throughout the steamer.
Dinner on Tuesday was OF small &C
count, but Cape Hatteras was rounded
without additional commotion. The
new lighthouse on that point WAS dimly
discerned, and we passed red llRht-ship
bearing la large white letters diamond
Shoal." A red buoy was seen near this
ship. What must life on light-ship be,
10 be confined To IL month after month
Tuesday, about Up. NJ, we entered
Savannah River, and placid waters were
about US then. The water Of the river
l. very turbid and muddy, and 10 Of n
reddish color. As the bright sunshine
illumined Il, there was q pretty copper
tint 10 be seen. The river Is shallow and
has winding channel. There are many
evidences OF the care government takes
OF us all, In the lights at various points
along the river. The banks are not
banks at all, but fat land covered with
coarse sedses and very watery withal.
Two hours were spent working our
way up the river. As We approached
the wharves, the stretch OF bales OF cot
ton Was amazing TO northern eyes. The
amount Of cotton sent North from Sa
vannsh this year IL very great, because
Of the yellow fever at more southern
ports. Large quantities OF beautiful
southern pine lumber also awaited ship
ment on the wharves. A great variety
OF steamers, from the old.time Mis-
sissippi boat to modern ones Of huge
proportions, interested Us. Flat bot
toned boats Of rude appearance were
not wanting, and over aud among sll
these vessels, were darkies Of every size
and age. Such swsrms Of them as the
whsrves presented were entertaining-at
good distance.
Once ut our dock, with the gang plank
In position, the passengers were not slow
10 20 ashore. Maine furnished many
passengers, for we had q minister and
family from Calais, and three Bangor
families and one woman from Oxford
County. IL was our psrty's fate TO
spend the night on the steamer, for we
were too late for our train. II WAS q
Quiet night, though mosquitoes remind
ed Us that we were In the South. On
Wednesday morning We were taken In n
sbus" which was like New York city
stage, 10 the railroad station OF the
Plant system.
The age OF Savannah seemed to i'm
press itself upon my mind more than
nny other characteristic. Venerableness
and dinginess were In evidence every
where. The stateliness OF the castor
beans Of both bronze and green foliage,
drew my attention, for such huge plants
of that kind are not seen at the North.
Palmeftos are very tropical In appear
ance, and these and many luxurisnt vines
gave no sign that November discouraged
their growth.
Our ride OF five hours 10 the cara from
Savannah to jacksonville WAS comforta-
bly made in excellent cars. The greater
part Of the way the land was under
water. and the engineers who made the
road had some difficulties TO overcome.
but not those OF lodges or OF uneven sur.
face. Flatness was everywhere. The
forests were not worthy the name, f0r
there was no dense growth. Pines AID
liy, oaks were the trees without excep'
ton, and the dismal drspery OF gray
moss seemed to be confined TO the lat
ter. In the settlements, We saw sugar
cane growing and very pretty umbrells
trees. These have a beautiful, round
compact top, which makes their name
most appropriate. Black pigs and
blacker darkies awaited Us at every
station. At wsycross our Calais &C
qusintances left our train on their way
to Tampa.
At the station in Jacksonville we tool
an omnibus again and were driven tf
our destination through city much
decorated with bunting, branches Of
pine, etc. The week was gala week Of
merchants week, and every effort Wal
made to attract attention.
Thus ended journey successfully
made, and not without novelty.
Pm. A.
jacksonville, Fla, Nov. IA, 1897.
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RESOLUTIONS