The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-03-10
FROM THE TROPICS.
DIR. r. w. Hazlctt Returns After a
Sojouru In Florida.
TELLS OF MANY INCIDENTS.
TT an Enjoyable Trlp-OrInndp Tow"
That Tia. LO,t4 900 OFItS Population in
Two Yoars-Tho sFrsszs Of 'O5" Is an
Epoch somsthing Like the "FIood OF
'sI" In tho ohio VallOy-ThO Natives
Llyo ON the Yankee, In the Winter.

two months sojourn in Florida,
whittier he went early in January last
with his wife and daughter in quest OF
health for the former. The two latter
have remained behind for yet further
sojourn, because OF the good results
thus far experienced. and win come
gradually north as the season id
vances. The doctor IS looking as though
the trip had agreed with him, and
speaks In glowing terms OF the delights
OF the climate as Il resort for inva-
Ids, us also for people in good health
HIS sojourn was divided between Or
lando, In the interior, and DaYiona, on
the Atlantic coast. Both places are
pleasant localities, but the former is es-
peclally attractive during the colder
weather It Is prominent CEN
tire In the orange belt and Is IN the
locality where ex-senator Camden ana
Colonel Chancellor. OF ParkersDurG.
have orange groves. Two years ago u
claimed to have six or seven thousand
people, but to-day 1t would hardlR
claim over two thousand. The eXpla-
nation, in the fewest number Of words.
is the great frost, or freeze rather. OF
February s, 1895, whereby about five
millions OF valuable property were
practically wiped out, and an Impulse
given to emigration quite as strong as
that which had formerly attracted i'm
migration. People down there no long.
er speak OF the war as "the lIlad OF
their woes" but rather OF "the great
freeze OF 49," just as at Charleston, s.
c., for several years following 1885 they
spoke OF the earthquake of that year as
the Cap-sheaf OF their Calnmities. As
an object lesson Of the ruin me freeze
had wrought at Orlando, the doctor
was pointed to an old gentleman VINO
on February 7th. 1895, the day before
the calamity. had been offered $4,000
for his crop OF oranges, on his trees
tust as they hung on that day--(he nav
Ing an orchard OF 40 aCres) but he
stood out FOR $3S.0OO. That night
north caster blew up. and the thermom-
eter dropped to Is above zero, and was
as fatal as the wind that blew OUT OF
the sea chilling and killing Annabel
Lee" ]. swept the country as with the
besom of desoiation. leaving practically
nothing TO represent \ crop valued
that year at half million dollars IN
that particular county, and, as was re-
marked. wiped out trees valued at nVe
tnlINOUS Ing Olu HIAll lGlCllS ~ w. ""F
posed 60 be worth say 100000 over and
above all his debts, was sold out after
wards to satisfy bank debt OF $4,000.
and his 40 acres did not bring the
amount OF the debt. In fact, the bank
failed, not only that bank but other
banks throughout the belt, for they AL
had debtors like the old man. and oil
their bills receivable had been blasted
By the north easter that blasted the or
anges. When the sur rose on the sth
Ihe fruit began to drop. and IN Two days
II covered the whole belt-hundreds OF
square miles IN eStent-two or three
layers deep. with what was once gold
en-, but now blackened oranges. Al
once the heEIrA began, Just aS II oid
when the great Bonanza mine gave out
In Nevada. The sale Of property for 4
song also began. A place for which
Colonel Chancellor had offered $4,000
cash sold for 81. 500. The fine property
In which DR.. Hazlett and family had
rooms and choice accommodations this
winter, which had cost (the house
aloneD several thousand dollars was
sold for 1000. In fact, values went all
to pieces like fancy stocks in a panic.
The Juror was 10 sell and get away
Just what the freeze actually COST
Florida, has perhaps never been accu-
IuNtlN htlDNus buk III ltAllhNA'fN sN'''if
mounting up to tens of millions, much
OF II northern capital invested like that
Of Alessrs Camden and Chancellor.
These two, and many others like them,
who stu had means left, began at once
10 cut their trees off pretty close 10 the
ground, In order to let them grow again
to the best possible advantage, and
hence the country Is now a land OF Or
nnge bushes rather than of orange
trees, as 1t was two years ago. The
trees that were not thus cared Tor, put
abandoned, sprouted near the ground
| and are growing wild and worthless to
a large extent. They have probably no
future. As 20 tho others. 1t Is yet a
problem as TO Just what they VIII
amount to. Meanwhile there Is an APP
narent compensation coming to the res
cue OF Florida 80 the shape OF the pine
apple, which Is giving former areas the
appearance OF cabbage gardens rather
than groves OF perennial green. The
opinion IL gaining ground that the pine
apple will more than take the place OF
the orange, and VIII be q more reliable
crop, because It can be protected. A
good large head sells for so cents by the
lot, and there Is an active shipping de-
mand from the north for oil that are
raised In and around Orlando.
But for the north. Florida would be
poor indeed. Somebody told the doctor
that at LEAFS; part OF the natives lived
on fish In the summer and on Yankees
in winter. Northern capital get the
country in orange trees and IS now set
ting It In pine apple. II also built the
railroads and the hotels. and Keeps thc
country in circulating medium by the
expenditures OF visitors who oVerrun
the country from Jacksonville TO Key
West durins the tall, winter ana spring
THE unprecedented sale Of DR., Bulls
Cough Syrup prOvOkeS competition;