The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-03-12
Communicated
IN FLORIDA.
Interesting Letter From Col. Cole
He and Party Enjoying a Visit
In The Land Of Flowers

Jacksonville. Florida March Sth. 1908
We took the Florida express at Freier
ieksburg Tuesday March Bird. at l2.23
o clock the party including nv wife and
daughters. Alice and Mira Branuan. Miss
Wilma heeler and myself We made a
run OF $50 miles arriving at Southern
| tlnes y e., AT niue O'Clock that night
aud stopped at the southern Pines hotel
| W. + titles. proprietor. Southern Pines
= q very delightful place IL il hirh and
drl with sandy soil and viOlets aud flow
ers growing IA theyar'is. Tue next morn
'og We took the trolley ear and went over
To Pinehurst. y G. This is beautiful
place About six years ago MIR Leonard
iuits. ot boston. purchased six thousand
acres ot land AT this place and has built
| the "Carolna hotel. one Of the finest in
! the country. There are four other lar,,,.
hotels. but the Carolina is the best A.
TINS hotel We met our friend and towns
man, Mr. Andrew ii BOwering who il IA
member oi the orchestra at this hotel
We were glad To SEE ham and he took NJ
ali over the grounds and thr,nrb tL..
hottis. which made our stay very plens
aut This entire place is owned hS MIR
TUFTS. vi
We returned that evening to Southern
ines and spent the night and left thu,
next morning by the Se0board ENpress
Tor Jacksonville. Fla This run wa.
about four bundled and twentv-six miles
We passed through Columbia. :. T. Sa
Vannah. ga. and other smaller places ali
OF which were interesting. When We
| were about 20 miles from Jark.onvill,.
our train slowed up and the Pullman con
| unctor told Us We could see the wreck of
tue Florida special train which occurred
| the day before. The engine and tender
| We're turned over and the Pullman rars
were OF the track laying to one side
new track had been laid around tn,
| wreck Tor other trains to pass About
i've hundred men were at work clearing
up the wreck. This sight made US all feel
a little anxious. but in a short while
aoout $50 / VI we arrived at Jackson
VILE We went 10 the "Duval House.
which Il one OF the incest hotels here
FRIDAY morning we drove around and
took IN all the sights in Jacksonville
Drove out To the ostrich farm and saw
one hundred and twenty.six ostrichas in
| one lot. Some Of them are driven like a
| morse 20 vehicles young man rode
one OF them for our entertainment
When they are caught they are
blind folded by putting a cap over
their heads. then the man gets ON
and takes one wing in each of his hands
the cap Il then removed and away the
I
than horse. The only way Won can
dismount i To jump or fall of There
was quite large number az other ami
mails on this farm such a. alligators mon
KEYS deer etc
Jacksonville il a grand place. most of
II newly built by Northern people since
the fire two years ago. The streets ar.
laid with vitrihed brick and cement pave
ments All of the pnhlic buildings. like
the postoffice. are built Of marble The
drives. parks and flowers are beautiful
| the thermometer today il about -
his morning we went 10 the First Ban
tist church and heard Rev MIR Uolson
preach IL was very warm there and
1 every one used n fan
Yesterday Saturday we went To -
| Augustine, which il the Oldest city in the
| | nited states. Ii is the most beautiful
! place ever saw. Here are the finest and
largest hotels aud the flowers. palm
trees. parks and grounds are all lovely
After looking through the hotels and
public buildings. we drove ont to Fort
Marion. When We arrived at the tort
| told Sergeant Brown who had
charge of the fort. where was from and
iie at once told me he had been To Fred
erlcksburg and was in the battle there
dee. ). g.. also 63. when he was wound.
ei. which think must have given him
this good job He inquired after the Kel-
| ~ family. who used "a live in Falmouth.
IN the brick house near the river where
he stood guard; also the Scott house
Also asked alter MIR Morrison who lived
on the flank road and said he stood
guard there also. He showed Us all
through the fort and the prisoners dun.
geon which did not make me feel any
TOO comfortable. but the girls seemed to
enjoy themselves Ii is very dangerous
az times 10 90 in. as the air is foul. and
was willing to stop about half way.
ana let the young people take il in This
| Tort was built in lI56 and was called
san Marco, bat now Fort Marion A"
IL II grand To stand on the walls OF the
old fort and look down the st. Johns
river The sea walls. the beautiful resi
dences built in the stately Southern Colo
nial style, the beach, the charming drives
are all features of interest
The three great hotels themselves-the
hnest group in the world Of their kind
are enough To occupy your attention for
several day and amply repay you Oi
these the largest and most famous is the
Ponce de Leon" The Others. though
worthy OF admiration, are projected on
less magnificent scale. They are the
"Alcazar' and 'COrdova"
We arrived back in Jacksonville the
same night, as il il only rs miles tn
10 this time have had one of the most
delightful trips of my life The weather
las been fine We expect to leave here
Tor Tampa and other points along the
coast am taking things easy ard
having good time All that il needed
il plenty of money. With kind regards
to all my friends,
Sincerely yours.