The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-02-25
FLORIDA.

An extract from the log OF the gOOC
yacht ''Ah There" now cruising on
the west coast of Florida, captain and
crew being D. McLewis and wife, l.
E. Holman and T. V. Donnell of Ed
wards county, Kan, and G. H. Bur-
CESS, wife and son of Cleveland, Ohio,
all experienced navigators of Prairie
schOOners.-Ed.
Feb. 3, 1898.-At 2 p, m. the "Ah
There" left Pass View, the home of
Col. J. NJ. Lewis) sailed to Stump
Pass, took aboard the rest of the
crew, six in party, with string of II
sheep shead, half dozen channel bass
and couple of trout, the mornings
catch, and then sailed for Bocilla pass
where we anchored for the night
Feb. AFTER breakfast the ladies
were put ashore and walked to Little
Gasparilla pass and gathered shells
while the ''Ah There sailed out
through the breakers from Bocilla
and in again at Little Gasparilla.
One of the party shot pelican on the
wing, with a rifle, 15O yards. Fished
till dinner time, rescued the ladies,
pulled anchor at 2 p. M, sailed down
Gasparilla sound with light north
wind, rounded Cape Haze at 6, had d
beautiful sail by moonlight to mouth
of Myaka, anchored for the night.
Feb. ga bright morning, very
still, drifted up the Myaka Il mile.
Our three sports rowed ashore,
speared two sawfish and whifferee.
About noon came light air and we
sailed up river couple of miles and
found ducks by the thousands, put
our decoys on different points and
had good success. By moonlight a
blind was built on one side of the
channel and decorated with tall swamp
| grass woven on SO as to completely
hide the hunters.
| Feb. 6.-At day light our hunters
were stationed at different points and
shooting began, the result was twenty
duck and twenty willett. In the after
noon the captain took the ladies up
river to stir up the ducks which had
settled like black cloud in about the
islands. 1t was a beautiful scene; at
shutdown we turned reluctantly back,
picked up the rest of the party and
| anchored at a dock where there was a
pretty cottage, but unoccupied. On one
side was an orange grove, on the 9th
er a pretty bed of ferns and violets,
a most romantic spot to look at from
the water, with the tall pine trees for
a background.
Feb. Tt was so pleasant that af-
ter the morning shooting, when the
hunters brought in fifteen ducks, we
stayed on until noon. The men
dressed the game, the small boy kill
ed his first duck, and the ladies took
kodak pictures. After dinner sailed
up the river a couple miles and anch.
ored. Hunters soon left the boat and
music began. Result was twenty
duck. The ladies fshedsand prepared
the evening meal, mainly of duck
breasts, after which all hands played
pitch until time for retiring.
Feb. S-Coffee at $50. Shooting
again began, result 30 ducks and good
appetites for breakfast. At 1920 we
leave the islands and sail down the
beautiful Myaka, with light breeze
from the north. One of the party row
ed ashore and took bath, another
walked down to lower point and was
taken aboard as we came along. FAN
wind for Punta Gorda. Anchored al
main dock at dark. All went ashore
took in the city. dined at the hotel an6
laid in supplies for the lardcr.
Feb. 9.-Gentlemen went ashore tc
look for hunting dog. Found brown
and white pointer which seemed per
fectly at home on boat. Went OF
board a schooner loaded with cora
and shells from the south coast. Sh.
had ia fine collection, from which q
few were selected to finish out thos.
the different ones had gathered. 10 a
m. pulled anchor for the south, fail
wind. sMade Cape Haze at noon
About half way across Charlotte har
Dor the cry "boy overheard" was
heard, and sure enough, on top O
out-rigger was clinging Master Bur
CESS. No time was lost in hauling
him in. He looked little pale, bu
was none the worse for his. dip, ex