The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1900-03-02
Florida Letter.
TO the GRAPHIC:

10 the GRAPHIC:
We left Pass View February II,
about 8 a. M, light air from the south,
but before We got to Grove City two
reefs were needed so we only went as
far as Bocila Pass and watched the
| Cherub sloop] GO out AM try to
make Boca Grand; she had to give it
up and run back to Stump Pass.
Before 1 GO farther [ will tell you
who our party consists of. There are
Mr.. and Mrs. Wheeler, of Cresco, Ia.
Mrs Mac and myself. While at Bo-
ella Mr.. Wheeler and / caught sever
| al fish, among them two bass weigh
ing about Is pounds, and the ladies
gathered shells.
The next morning, the wind having
moderated, we went out of Bocila and
| into Little Gasparill and beat down
| against south wind, increasing all
the time, rounding Caraway island
ran for Cape Hayes, nor'wester strik-
ing us just before we got there, but
made good harbOr and laid there
till next d. N. catching quite string
of fish among the oyster bars.
About nine o'clock the following
morning we got under way and ran to
Punta Gorda and laid in some neces-
sary supplies, and then back to an
inlet behind Mangrove Point, on the
My acca where we laid two days and
had very fine duck shooting, killing
30 one morning before breakfast and
where | picked few red bugs.
Leaving Mangrove Point about a.
NJ, headed for Matlasha. Pass. When
just below'Cape Hayes light house.
seeing nor'wester coming, took in
main sail then double reefed fore sail
and had all [ could stagger under,
but scudding be ore it We soon found
ourselves among the islands in Mat
lasha.
We put, in three days going through |
this beautiful pass, Mr.. Wheeler in
sisting on stopping at every oyster
bar, more or less, and picking up
oysters. We certainly got as fine oys-
ters as 1 ever ate; they are very plen-
" and fat. Coming out of Matlasha
we ran up the Caloosahatchec river
20 Fort Meyers, arriving about p.
H., February 20. The ladies went
ashore to do the city while Mr..
W heller and laid in water, grocer
es, etc.
We laid at anchor until O'Clock
he next morning then getting under .
Tay, close reefed, wind southwest,
'eat down the river about five miles
hen it smOthered us and we came to =
,nchor on the Hats. About 3 p. IN.
quail struck us from the northwest,
IS that was fair wind we up anchor
nd ran as far as Red Fish Point be-
ore dark, where we came to anchor
Or the night. Not having had any
sh. for several days we concluded to \
o spearing, SO after supper hung the I
lght on bow of row boat and pushing g
long the shore soon had about
oxen mullet and one saw fish. the +
after about four feet long. L cut the
aw off of this fish to prove the story,
es, and have it with me
This a. M, February p, we worked y
long down the river to Punta Rassa,
here we now lie at anchor. We went
shore on one of these islands this
forming and saw cocoanuts growing :
nd gathered about a peck of lemons.
hey are loading cattle onto schooners
ere at Punta Rasa and it's quite a n
light to see the men crowd them in be- O
ow decks, then put on the matches, 7
kept one for ventila alton, then fill up s.
he deck. Some of our western cattle n
len could get pointers, out then the i,
argest of Dthese cattle wont weigh e.
Yer 600 pounds Will send balance ID
t this trip later. tt
Yours etc. "
MAC LEWIS. fl