The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-01-14
Especial Correspondence

the popular Florida East Coast railway
on Saturday 1 found myself in "Ye An
Gent Cite" Of st. Augustine which g
said to be Americas old town. Getting
of the train at an up-to-date railway
station 1 was soon conveyed to the Mon
son House which is delightfully."- situat-
ed. overlooking both the bay and the
ocean and only forty feet from the sea
wall and a few minutes walk from the
old Spanish fort Marion. After being
assigned to my>room and getting din
ner L called on Mr.. J. D. Rahner, as
sistant general passenger agent of the
Florida East Coast Railway and his
chief clerk, Mr.. z. NJ. Williams, both
OF whom trated me very courteously
and whom 1 found to be very obligingI
railway officials, furnishing me with
and mailing for me a quantity OF highly
valued illustrated publications for
friends in North Carolina, and showing
me other favors.
Returning to my hotel l was ready to
start on a tour of sight seeing, which !
Gid by strolling among the great hotels.
narrow streets, etc, of a city whose
~ - AON SOIllllLcu 10 Tie UnlIe0I
States but spread all over the world,
till night drove men in.
Here 1 VIII say that my tour of the
West Indies was changed as to routes
from that by way of Port Tampa and
Key West to that by. way of Miami to
Nassau, on account of finding that the
Miami and Nassau steamers of the
Peninsular and Occidental line were
now running for the season, which fact ]
did not know before leaving North Car
oolina.
Having had a good nights rest, and
finding myself in this unlike any other
city, in some respects, in the world, on
Sunday, 1 was ready to attend some one
of the many churches. L was directed
to the Memorial Presbyterian church.,
Rev. John n. Macgonigle, pastor. On
entering I Don realized that was in
10 ordinary building, but in an un-
usually fine structure, being built in the
style, it is said, of the Venetian Renais-
ance and that In exterior decorations
surprising any thing in. the city of ST.
Augustine. On the front of the pulpit
are the following words in large bronze
gold letters: This church was erected
by Henry NJ. Flagler in owing remem-j
brance of his daughter, Jennie Louise
Benedict, who died March 25th, A. 4
1887"
After dinner 1 directed my steps to
the bic historic Fort Marion, q fort
which has been in existence, it is said
for more tina three hundred years,
having hppn p0Tnnlpfp6 in the wear 175s
This was my second visit to this cele-
brated fortress, having been here in
1856 or 1877, while the Indian chief.
Geronimo, and his band, who were cap
tured by the late lamented General
LaWtOn out west, were confined here
We were shown through the fort by Mr.
G.. NJ. Brown. ordinance sergeant, u. S..
A.. who is in charge. He charges moth
ing for his services. but one can show
his appreciation by purchasing one of
his books, Ponce de Leon Land" for
80 cents. Following my tour of the fort
1 walked on top of the great sea wall
nearly its entire length, then through
the beautiful Plaza in which is situated
the slave market, four fountains and
two These monuments are
% or 80 feet high. On one is inscribed
in marble the words: PLAZA de la Con-
stitution." 1t was erected i'm 1913 by
the SpaniardS to commemorate the
adoption of a liberal constitution by
the Spanish cortes. On the other one
are the names of forty-six soldiers and
the words: "They died faraway from
home that gave hem birth-by COM
rades hOnored, by comrades mourned'
and, They w crossed the river AND
rest under the shade of the trees This
was erected by the Ladies
Memorial Association. I finished the
day, never to be forgotten, I hope, by
walking round about and through tho
narrow streets of the strange hut beau
tiful town. 1 walked around the great
Ponce de Leon hotel, looked at and
much admired the beautiful private
residence of Mr.. H. NJ. Flagler. which
is closed now as he is at present living
at Palm Beach, lower down in the state
was pointed to a large two-StOry brick
building near the Ponce de Leon and
was told that it Is the laundry for thu
hotel.
This morning, in company with MI
and Mrs. George w. Lake, of NORTH
Carolina, who are travelling extensivel,
in Florida on their wedding tour.
again visited the old fort and following
TINS we strolled through other paris q
the town seeing many strange sights
Mr.. and HIrs. Lake came mere from
Tampa and Jacksonville and will leav
for Savannah tonight. while / will leav'
for Palm Beach. my next stopping plac
Tt made me feei much more at hom
down here by meeting these two note
End very pleasant and kind North Car
olinians 81 really regret that the
wera not sning my way.
Among the fine hotels in st. Angus
tine are the Ponce de Leon, AlcaZal
COrdova, Florida. Magnolia. with per
haps 4 half a hundred more not S
large. including beoarding houses
The oldest house in the United States
it is claimed. is here. The old part of tn
city contains the most curious, crooke
and narrow streets. There is whst
called new ST. Augustine where stree:
etc. are modern. Then there is tn
light house; the barracks and man
other things of interest to be seen herr
which I cannot describe in this shoI
letter. Respectfully yours.
J. A. CREWS
A Day at the Beach.
West Palm Beach, Fla, January O..
n-1. nAnnh Last Mol