The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-08-17

River is but short distance away
Yes, sure enough, there it is, and
nice long pier on which to sit anc
fish, bateaus in which to row, anc
logs on which to undress before taking
delightful salt water bath. The
first Impressions are beginning to loose
their sharpness.
This is another day. We wake ur
to find it chilly. We expected to find
it hot. Some one again says that the
sulphurous taste in the water is not
from impurities, that the water is
from an artesian we'll 800 feet deep
and has the same medicinal properties
of the famous waters of Virginia.
Another death blow to first impres-
sions. The sun climbs up it's steep
ascent and sends down it's burning
rays. Our minds salter, and we are
again prone to censure our new home.
But in the shade it is delightful.
There is a strong seabreeze combat
ting the sunbeams all day long, and in
the existing GOODNESS between them
humanity is benefited. All day hard
work is done, Sunday though it be-,
and by nightfall our camp looks more
inviting. Some of the boys who have
been on the river return with strings
Of ish, crabs and other tempting crea-
lures Of the deep. This is better than
we got at Chickamauga, and is free.
Methinks first impressions have been
outdone, and dissatisfaction gives
place to contentment. All in all, we
are more satisfied with Panama Park
thar with Chickamauga.
Twill tell some reasons why we like
this place better than Chickamauga,
FOR / think we now do.
We are nearer railroad, and con-
sequeutly nearer Jacksonville. 1t is
but half mile to Panama station,
while up yonder it was three miles to
Lytle. The trains go right by our
camp, and we can see the very coaches
which but few hours ago passed by
our homes. There is a telegraph
Office at Panama, and au express office
has been established there since our
arrival. These latter privileges we
enjoyed at Chickamauga.
We are now in Southern country,
where Southern people live and South
ern hospitality warns the heart.
Every day numbers of visitors come
into camp, and many Of them are
ladies. Then, too, there are many
Carolinians around here, for Florida
has adopted many Of our best citizens.
Our highest officers here are more
pleasant and more unbending than at
Chickamauga, though '6nnicky"
about the red tape Of Office work. We
cannot forget the handsome and gal
liant Wiley, who commanded our bri-
gade at Chickamauga, but even he was
not SO friendly as the officers in charge
here. Gen. Sanger is not man Of
friendship. While we chafed under
his rigid discipline, yet it made SOL
diers of us, one Of the best at Chicka-
mauga, and the best in this place.
Gen. Hubbard, our present division
commander, is not so severe as Gen.
Sanger. 1t remains to be seen if he
is good general, for Gen. Sanger is a
fine commander, though better fitted
for the regular army than for volun-
teers. AS yet we have not been bri.
gaded here.
Then the water here is better and
more plentiful. For should the taste
Of sulphur water nauseate any, they
may drink water as pure as the purest,
each company being provided with a
portable filter and supplied with ice
daily. Chickamauga Greek was con-
demned for bathing purposes, as so
many thousands were daily using its
water. But they cannot in reason
condemn old St. Johns. There is too
much of it.
Then for pictorial reasons this
place is more to the taste of crowd
of young fellows. For hours they sit
or stand on a log, intently gazing at
some evidently very interesting OBJ
ject, while his arms make a slow and
cautious movement, as ifpulling some
object from the water. Directly he
makes swift dash at that spot in the
water with small net attached to a
short stick, and quickly lands at his
side wriggling creature of pretty
notified green color, but with horrid
claws. That's what they call devil
crab. He is about the size of ones
hand. When boiled in salt water his
green shell turns red. He is excel