Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-02-22
LETTER FROM FLORIDA.
More About the RazOrbacks and
other Staple PRODUCTS.
CIermOnt, Lake Co., Fla,
Enh - InnN

req. ! 7, l9oE.
Mr.. Editor-I received your kind
letter of Feb. s, asking me to give
you description OF oul alligators
and the way we captured them, etc.
We were not out for the purpose OF
hunting alligators. We were all
invited from the Markham hotel to
a picnic party on the lakes BY one
of our merchants, who owns and
runs steamer more especially tor
the men who are engaged in the
turpentine camps. The day was
warm and the alligators were on
the shore in the sun. The small one
was on Il log and the large one was
in the water near the shore. The
small one died as soon as we shot it.
We shot the large one in one eye,
and as he turned over we lassoed
him with Il rope, shutting his jaws
and tail together in such manner
that he could not move, SO of course
he could do no harm. lie meas
ured 9 tect :, inches. We brought
him 20 miles alive and let him live
about SO hours, so that people could
see him. We have different, parts
of him to show our friends when
we come home. The rifle we used
| bought of Chas. Cox ust before
started. 1t was il 81 and 10.
imagine the Vermont girls would
have been more frightened than the
southern girls, for the latter are
used to this sport.
| have been up on the lakes ten
trips and enjoy it more each time.
The scenery is just grand. AS you
90 from one lake to the other
through the channel the reflection
of the trees and vines in the water
is beautiful to see. | shall ever
look back in memory over all these
scenes of the winter of 1902 with the
greatest of pleasure.
The horses and mules were quite
Il novelty to me. The colored men
drive four mules, sometimes six, and
the mule on the near side next to the
wagon has Il saddle, and the colored
man uses one line and an immense
whip that he cracks, and you can
hear the echo for mile before you
see HIM and wonder what it can be.
| shall bring one OF the whips home
Tor inspection.
The much abused razorback hog
is also "staple' article in Florida.
1t is found in every section of the
state, therefore it IS unnecessary to
say that it thrives in the northern
counties of the east coast. Lots of
stories are told OF the razorback.
Perhaps the best is this:
A Florida real estate dealer was
driving prospector through the
woods when hog darted across the
road like streak of lightning.
"What is that?" asked the surprised
"Nolhing but razor
back" was the reply. The two
drove along for some distance in
when suddenly another
shadow darted across the path.
"There goes the other half of that
Florida hog" remarked the pros
pectol.
1t cannot be denied that at GER
tam seasons of the year the ordinary
Florida hogs are shadowy affairs,
for the reason that they receive no
and nothing t" eat save
what they pick up in the woods or
purloin from farmers truck patches.
But when they are brought in to be
tattened for market they assume i'm
mense proportions and become very
respectable looking porkers. They
make excellent bacon and hams.
There is money in curing these
hogs, as they furnis h sweet. firm,
tender meat.
ANY man can SuSCce' III t'lo
country by industry, economy and
to business. Whatever
substance he needs he can produce
at home, and while doing this he
can care for his orange grove. The
Florida orange crop OF the year be-
fore the freeze was five million
boxes in a radius of 20 miles. Now
is the time for moneyed men to
buy, for we don't anticipate any
more freezes. The people have
found other things they can cult
vate that they would never have
known OF if had not been for the
freezes. And one could make
money by building saw mills-lots
of timber, pine, cypress, etc.
There is no healthier climate in
the world than right here i'll Cler-
mont, and the society of this COM
muntv is all that could be desired.
ISAIAH BENSON.