The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-01-01
ZERO TO SUMMER HEAT.
NOTES FROM WAY DOWN IN THE
 LAND OF FLOWERS.
Run About the City os Charleston-- Extraordinary Cold speil-Fort Pierce, Fla.-Sports mans Paradtse-New Hn- von People, Etc.
Fort Pierce, Fla, Dec. %, 1901. PAP Miles Below Jacksonville.

Fort Fierce, Fla-, Dec. ~, l9Ol,
 PAP Miles Below Jacksonville.
 To the Editor of the Journal and Courier:
 From zero weather to summer heat,
 where the roses and other flowers are
 in bloom, is quite pleasant change in
 three days. The weather here is warm
 and balmy and has all the appearances
 of May and June in Connecticut. The
 trip from New York to Jacksonville by
 steam was an exceptionally fine one.
 The weather was all that could be de-
 sired and the trip was one of the fast
 est on record, as we arrived in Jack
 sonville several hours ahead of the usu-
 al time. We left New York Friday,
 December 20 at three o'clock, with two
 hundred and twenty-five passengers
 from New York, and all parts of New
 England including score or more of
 young girls who were going as walters
 and general help to the Royal Poincia-
 na, Palm Beach, and the other we'll
 known hotels in Florida and Nassau.
 The steamer took the outside course
 and at retiring time was out of sight of
 land The weather was cold and the
 wind was blowing strong from the
 nOTIlWSSl. WIllie Oll liiG COdsL .ul V II
 ginia during the whole of Saturday
 morning we passed through quite se-
 ries of snow squalls. As usual flock
 of about thirty sea gulls followed the
 boat all the way from outside of New
 York to Charleston, flying just astern and feeding from the offals from the cook-room. The first intimation that we were anywhere near land was when the Diamond Shoals lightship, fifteen
 miles outside Cape Hatteras, was sighted, but owing to the haze land was not to be seen. The first sight of land was at about half-past eight Sunday
 morning as we were approaching
 Charleston, and an hour later were en- terirlg the beautiful harbor where forty years ago were the scenes of war that marked the opening of our civil war. Sullivan's Island, with Fort Moultrie and its many batteries only mile away from the historical old Fort Sum- ter where the gallant Major Anderson and his handful of men for hours with stood the combined attack of the con federate fort and batteries on Sulli- vans Island Fort Pinkney and other batteries before surrendering. One of our present men of war, the Oregon, for instance, with the heavy guns and projectiles now used in the navy would have levelled to the ground at twice the range the masonry of the old fort inside | of an hour. The boat landed at the | dock in Charleston at 11:30 and four hours were allowed for the passengers to visit the many interesting points | about the city. The fair grounds, the beautiful park and promenade known as the Battery; St. Michaefs church, one of the oldest in the country, erected in the eighteenth century, and which has stood the shock of two lombard ments, one by the British during the war, and by the Fede- rals from 1863 to 1865; also the great Charleston earthquake; after each it had to be rebuilt. Inside the church is quite an interesting sight; in the vesti- bule is large tablet giving the date of erection and history of it's many misfor- tunes and experiences. The pews are the old style of high box and the visitor is pointed out Pew No. 43, where George Washington, the Father of his Country, used to worship. The weather at Charleston was quite cool and over
 
 residents stated that the present cold spell was the most severe on record, the mercury being down far below freezing. We left Charleston at four o'clock and at five Monday morning were at the bar at the entrance to the St. Johns river but owing to the non arrival of the river pilot and later to the fog on the river it was after nine o'clock when we landed at Jacksonville, twenty five miles from the mouth of St. Johns riv- ST. The trip from Jacksonville to Fort Pierce was on the Flordia East Coast -ailway on a slow tran, and it was 9l30 ) m. when we reached our destination Fort Pierce is quite an important rail- ,oad station, as all trains change loco- motives here and stop about ten min 1tes The town has about twelve hun fred inhabitants and is growing fast. Fifteen years ago, when the late Ju- ius Tyler of New Haven first located lere there was only two or three houses, and less than a dozen residents. The town is noted for it's fine hunting md fishing, and is as it is termed, "Sportsman's Paradise" The z Fort Pierce hotel is under the manage { nent of Frank M. Tyler, formerly of ( New Haven, and is one of the most s popular on the east coast, and is fitted ( ID with all the modern improvements l or comfort, and through the season is ! ,atroniaed to it's fullest capacity. The V lsual Christmas tree for the children f vas trimmed on the lawn in front of he hotel, one of the handsome palms ,eing used. The children were enjoying he same without any hats or outside \ vraps One of the peculiar features ere is the celebra tion of the native hildren, and older ones as we'll, of il Christmas, which resembles more the 0 fourth of July in the north, as fire S ra ckers and fireworks form the prin- il ipal part of the celebration. The hotel T ere fronts the beautiful Indian river D nd the scenery is grand, especially by e he moonlight. Senator M. S. Quay is b ow stopping at his elegant winter e ome, St. Lucia, only two and one-half lies from here on the river north. He n as a beautiful place and his son has a mother near by. The Indian river at e his point is about one and half miles W
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