Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-31
LEGEND OF THE OCKLA WAHA.

Through the sunny land of Florida runs
the Ocklawaha river. This name, which
means Crooked stream" was given 1t
by the Indians, because ii winds and
turns and curves like a gigantic serpent.
A most romantic aspect is given by tall
overshadowing trees hung thickly with
gray southern moss.
''Afoss-veiled trees. like nuns enshrowded,
All in gray in silence stand"
Here and there are seen the palmettoes,
growing down to the waters edge, some
times singly, sometimes In groups and
sometimes in groves, to the exclusion of
everything else.
No river in Florida is more widely
known than the Ocklawaha, and tourists
throng the boats that wend their slow ana
winding way up this tortuous stream
Many affairs de occur" are said to have
resulted from these trips, and certainly
no surroundings could be found more
suitable for the tiny god
Starting from Palatka, one has a voy-
age of Is miles on the sunny st. john
before the boat, making an abrupt turn,
enters the Ocklawaha, river that is
narrower and more tortuous, along which
the vegetation is thicker and more tropi-
cal and the scenery much wilder.
The sun, sinking low in the west casts
a glamor over the clear sparkling stream
-
and the dense forests extending to right
and left. broken only here and there by
the logging hut and camps of fishermen.
When the sun has sunk to rest his glory
is scarcely missed, for suddenly great
blaze of light throws all the surrounding
country into bold relief. This comes from
a huge fire of pine logs built in an iron
receptical on the top of the boat. This fire
is kept burning all night. and, while 1t
adds much to the beauty and wildness of
the trip, also allows the pilot to guide his
boat. in safety through the many RATS OF
logs that are moored to the banks.
Negro boat hands furnish music for the
amusement of the tourists. They gather
on the bow of the boat, and suddenly the
silence is broken by the melody of their
deep. resonant voices singing darby love
songs.
Every one rises early on the first morn
ing out, in order TO miss none of the beau
tiful scenery, which constantly grows
more wild and tropical.
The river lies like a silver ribbon, and
down in it's depths may be seen number
less fish swimming calmly about, but lit
tie disturbed by the passage of the
steamer
AS the sun rose higher and his rays
became warmer the much-looked for alli-
gator might be seen stretched lazily on
favorite log or sunny bank, basking in
the genial warmth. Many water fowls
have built nests in the lilies and river
hyacinths that grow so thickly near the
banks of the stream. These BIRDS seemed
quite fearless and sat quietly on their
nests undisturbed by our passing.
All too soon, Silver Springs is reached.
There rises the bubbling spring that feeds
the Ocklawaha. The boat passes directly
over It and many feet below in the beau
tifully clear water may be seen the crew
ice in the rocks which have given rise to
the legend that write of.
ese
Near these celebrated springs lives an
old negress, known to the entire surround
ing community as Aunt Silly" and whose
claim to being one hundred and ten years
old is borne out by her appearance. Aunt
Silly is wrinkled and decrepit, and the
wool peeping from her bandannaed head
is white as snow, while the blackness and
weirdness of her face is intensified by a
heavy crop of snow-white beard.
AS long as the oldest and surrounding
vicinity can remember, Aunt Silly has
! looked just an she does now-identiied
always with Silver Springs. and hobbling
about them from morning until night,
and leaning upon her short thick staff.
That she was participant in tragedy,
| is known to only a few of Ocala's oldest
citizens, and seldom referred to by any
of them.
In the near vicinity of Ocala when first
! IL was settled. stood splendid old man
| sion, owned by Captain Harding Doug
lass, a South Carolinian of considerable
wealth. Capt. Douglass only child was a
son, who. with his mothers beauty Of
countenance, had inherited her tender,