New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-03
SANIBEL ISLAND SUNSHINE
MRS. MATTHEW'S. PRESIDENT OF THE
T. s. s. BRANCH, TELLS OF HER WORK.
RAISING TOMATOES AND GATHERING oysrEns
AND SHELLS THE PRINCIPAL occUPA-
TToNs OF THE WOMEN.

Mrs. II. Matthews. president Of the sanibe ISL
and T. s. s. Branch. has, by request furnished
some interesting facts about her island home and
Its surroundings She writes
II your readers will take an atlas they will find
OH the southeast coast OF Florida group OF ISL
- ,ne main settlement, 1t being popular stopping
plaace or the tarpon fisher.
and nm nj De ~ toGnd store posoiee one hotel
Oh ,h's island As most Islands, Pine Island runs
p1 Another of the group is Estero. Just between
Iihe and Estero Islands lies our beautiful Sanbel.
creating beautiful beach Upon an" which h afe cast
some OF the rarest shells.
long on the Gulf side and fifteen miles straight
i.nIough the centre The north side is indented by
heavily wooded. In these groves are found two
species OF the nangrove, live oak. the pretty but
varieties of trees great many ,' Of these trees
Dame Nature has beautihed by drapng them with
one oid maid beard moss and hanging air plants
ana orchids. Beyond are the prairie lands, dotted
with cabbage palmettos and the myrtle tree while
fusion; Conspicuous among these is pretty
sunshine flower, the coreopsis. The weather Is
Gulf the year around
on the eastern point is our beautiful light. The
into the tower to see the big nashlight, and he Is
proud to show as fine view as was ever seen--on
other Is San Carlos Bay dotted with pretty islands.
Just across the bay on the mainland is TO be seen
seen , st James CITY on Pine Island One can also
acres Of Uncle Sans land is put out in tomatoes.
To certain extent we are cut off from the world.
From May TO January we only have mail thrice
a week; but on January | another boat Is put on,
Then We have daily mail. and great privilege II
is, too. The winter months bring the tourists and
health seekers and that IS touch OF the world
for
Only a few years back there were only the light
houses on Sanibe The island belonged to UNCLE
Sam, and In his generous mood he threw part the
| largest SLICE open to homesteaders and as Is al
10
than he staked OFF land for.
One energetic Kentuckan who succeeded In secur-
ing his 100 acres saw the beauties OF this island,
money could be made, he let his friends know
there such place Sanibel. and larger num-
Der and these induced other friends to come.
The wheel once started, has never ceased 10 re-
volve.
As the people came in houses began to spring up,
until now there are some sixty odd homes, one
fees and one church few OF the houses are
punched together. but the majority are from one
10 six miles apart.
from u.s. the next two and half miles, and the
next is four miles away. We are six miles
the boat landing. store and postoffice 1t keeps
dock
Now that is one of the many ways keep myself
occupied. | make a messenger OF myself. 3 not
to stop the work on the tomato farm, We cannot
secure help here the year around, and the women
must take hold and assist and be willing to do what
ever comes up, be 1t cooking washing and ironing
must be ready 10 entertain strangers at any mo-
ment.
and varied We have In our little colony some OF
the descendants OF the most noted and ilustrious
personages Of this country and the Old World.
But most of the year all must work. Yet. strange
You ask why we stay? For the simple reason
that We have that which money cannot buy-health