Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-03-18
A FLORIDA CRUISE.

N. E. Wheeler Writes Entertainingly Of
a Recent Trip.
Following IS euuer eceived recent
ly from N. B. Wheeler, In which he
so entertainingly described one Of
their hunting and fishing trips to his
grandchildren here. that we publish
it, thinking it will be of interest to
all our readers.
GROVE CITY, FLA, Feb. 26, 1904.
My Dear Grandson, Chappie.
Must write you of a little cruise
we all took on the fine yacht, Kath.
leen, owned and sailed by Capt. D. NJ.
Lewis, myself first mate.
We left Lemon Bay at $3.50, p. M,
Feb. 10th. Went out of Stump Pass
onto the gulf, sailed down miles,
went into Gasparilla Pass, then 4
miles to Charlotte Harbor, where we
anchored for the night. AS We were
going across Gasparilla Sound our good
cook, Florence, got US fine supper.
At $780,. Feb II, got under sail and
sailed up Charlotte Harbor about 20
miles to Myaka River, went up that
about miles and cast anchor. By
the way we took our launch (Flor-
ence) with us on the trip and soon at
ter we entered the mouth of the My
aka the wind was SO light and we
went SO slow that cast off the launch
and Ruth and got in with my gun
and went on 8 miles ahead and l shot
10 line fat ducks which we had for sup
per. This five miles was as far up the
river as we could go with the large
boat so after supper we bunked in for
the night. Got up early the morning
of the 18th and in company with Mr..
Green and wife, who has just got
launch just like mine, we started on
trip up the river with our guns and
fishing tackle. Went up, about 10
miles and then got our dinner on the
bank in the midst of large grove Of
large Palmettos. After dinner went
up about as much farther. On our
way we shot 3 alligators and, trolling,
caught a lot of bass and Remola, no
good to eat but gave US a big fight.
tell you we got hold Of some big
ones that would tear our hooks all to
pieces.
It is a very crooked river and on
our return .back, one time the sun
would be in our faces and the next
minute at our backs. Think we were
In all, up the river 25 miles, and, my
dear boy, I wish / could give you a
description of that trip and what we
saw. Perhaps grandma can.
i Mr.. Green and wife, Mrs. D. M.
Lewis and Florence, who were short
distance ahead of US saw an alligator
aboutl5 IT long.
/ Well, we did not get back to the
yacht till 8 O'Clock at night, tired out,
and went to bed. Got up before day
light Feb. l9th. 1 took my launch
with Green and Lewis and 2 sets OF
decoys. Put Green on one point and
Lewis on another with them and
run the launch around to scare up the
ducks. In about an hour we got q
ducks. Old grandpap got 10 while
soaring them up.
q Went back to the Kathleen and sci
sail toward home and anchored thai
night right where we stayed the first
night, out near Gasparilla Sound
Feb. 20. AS we intended to take
home, on this trip, some Of our fine
oysters, Lewis and I went a short dis
lance and picked up about 9 bushels
of as fine oysters as were ever picked
off any trees. Took start for hom.
and expected to get there by noon Al
we had fine wind, but when we GO
. out of Gasparilla Pass on the Gulf
found it TOO rough, not for his boa
but for the launch which was hitchee
behinds SO turned back and went int
the sound and cast anchor
Took the launch and wen
across the sound to visit
new town, just started, which will b
: on the line Of railway which I hop
will soon run past my home, and whel
we came back got into a big storm
Got wet some, but felt good whel
safe on our big boat again. Spent th,
!, evening reading and turned in for tn
y night.
Feb. 2lst. The weather looked bat
! this morning, SO took our poles an,
went to the pass and both of us go
hold Of big fish, in fact, too big for u
to handle. We finally landed re,
fish weighing 20 pounds, then wen
I and set sail for home, where We al
: rived at noon, just in time, for a
I. soon as we got in Lemon Bay, q harj
nurth.wsster cams On. elspe IN on