The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1900-03-23
Florida.Letter.

We started last Monday, March 4,
from Lemon bay on q trip to Punta
Gorda, from there to Mangrove point,
thence to Captiva pass and thence
home Wheeler, from Cresco,
Mack Lewis and myself. Wind north
east, nearly dead ahead, but having
faith in the staunch sharpie, All There,
and cou6dent that we should reach
our various destinations. We ran
out of Stump pass about 9 q. M, and
without presumption I may say we
did it we'll, our friends behind US wav-
ing a table cloth and ringing the din
ner bell.
At IL q. m. we ran into Little Cas-
parilla pass, and after beating our
way fairly into the sound of that
name, that legend tells us was the re-
treat of old Gasparill, the noted pi-
rate, and where parties hunt to this
day, hoping by the aid of divining
rods and 'aguardiente to find hidden
treasure, dig faithfully, but SO far,
without success. We laid our course
fairly down the sound and with a
smart breeze made Carryhower island
at l p. m. This island is crescent
shaped, and in northeast wind makes
good sheltering anchorage, there
fore we cast anchor, made coffee and
had dinner, Mrs. Wheeler, who wa
to leave us at Punta Gorda, otficiat-
ing as dispenser IF our sumptuous re-
past.
After dinner we reefed foresail and
mainsail and stood out into Charlotte
harbor, the sun glinting, the waves
crested with foam, our sailor captain
at the helm and the good boat fairly
dancing with delight as she laid her
lee gunwale to the crested waves aud
leaped over the water. We made Cape
Hayes at p. m. and laid our course
for PuntA Gorda, sheets we'll aft, a
rattling breeze and a tumbling sea, our
lady passenger enjoying the sail as
we'll as the rest of US. We ran up to
the dock at Punta Gorda at 1880.
Here Mrs. Wheeler left us for Day.
tona and after coffee we took hunks
for the night.
Tuesday morning we got up to a
northeast wind and a bright sun. We
had taken our stores aft the fashi ON
of seafaring men and now started for
MangrOve point, about seven miles
southwest from Punta Gorda, a very
comfortable breeze at starting and all
sail set, but as We went down the bay
the wind Increased until all around us
was Il tumbling mass of foam, wind
on our port quarter, and the good
| boat rolled, washing the deck ON both
sides of the cabin. She tumbled along
in great glee, Wheeler, of Cresco, at
the helm, Mack Lewis looking large
but saying little, while 1 looked on
breathlessly, hoping that the masts
would stand the rolling pressure, and
they did until, at about IL u. M, we
whirled through narrow passage
and lutfed to our anchorage in little
bay as smooth as if it had never been
/ Auh1Co Wy d OICCzO. uS Cdpbdlu tAIcW
over the anchor and proceeded to
make things snug. While I drew q
long breath, Wheeler, of Cresco; ejac-
niated: II tell you, did you say
wouldn't make a sallur::' We had
come here for duck shooting. The
ducks that we were after were the
"Blue Bill" of the New England coast,
known rs "Shuffler'' on the Potomac
and Chesapeake, and here called the
Raft duck" on account of the great
numbers that frequent these waters in
the winter time. We had passed grea,
shoals of them on our rua down from
Punta GOraa. /, anticipating good
| sport. put out Off point in this little
bay eighteen jecoys and waited for q
dart, aud SO we waited, but no duck
to GLADDEN. our hearts and quicken
our pulses, came darting to the de.
cOys. Finally, after about an hour
we started with the small boat bach
for the sharpie and dinner. We had
gone about one-third of the way wher
black specks began te show from the
horizon, and the whirring of wings
as the ducks dashed By, told Us thai
luck had turned, and SO did we. They
pulled down to the psint and left me
Stocking At the decoys again, while