The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-03-24
UP THE ST. JOHNS.
Jacksonville to Magnolia Springs. A Pleas
ant Sail on Florida Chief River.
CORES pondence of The Journal. |


NJ AGS"LlA offiNGs' La, GU. 20
1904. Az Jacksoh'llle we eilio" lhe'' VII
Tie atauich niue STEAMER May u"iAei
d-vII Iie SIZE u ','o o.e",i,
hoH. ioI UP up .iie 81 o'i'i,'
ne san - ''le VI ~. Aio'' =.
'-ll'e III NV ''"'i' nv
'''''i 90 .,o4 :; 49, A.
'''1'e any ~ 49, .'.' a4 r;atu ~
'''i''''' ,''''' l''e''N-''> ,,;,,o
"'1' d'I'' - '''
'O 'i'' l'o'i'' y ''''s .'',''''''>0
'It'- Ii'IlS'' '''0 - 40
ana l'.e course seileI"iiS "'ieO'' i-es'
il2 Jach'olVIIle az 2.'' T. H. i''i 'i,e
Thermometer DIT ~ ues eeS III VIC ,,''V'e
w We're IishI giau " "oo d oo''''iel II
expression, 10 Welcolhe San oll INC
ilEel, VIII us coolills pieezes' "o'ills
up cAf0ugA the lallToau olluSe ol lhe
last coast Rallroao we soon leaNe lile
lustling city behind. Small poats ana
NaPHtha and sailing craft are numeI-
Gus. The steamer glldes swiftly along,
crossing and recrosslng the river from
pier 20 pier as the landings are maze 10
leave freight and mail matter. ne
piers are very crude affairs, consisting
Of an abutment with a few piles driven
iusAore. over which plank walk is laid.
Sometimes a car truck runs on a modest
wooden track. for the piers are not
built strong enough for team and
many have hardly planks enough to
walk out on. The steamer leaves mall
morning and afternoon each way at
these landings, which are small settle
nents located some distance from each
other and not easily reached by rail-.
The scenery changes rapidly along
the river, and palm, pine, magnolia,
and live oak trees shade the banks. AT
times the river narrows and again is
broad sheet of water resembling a
large lake. There are many headlands
which stand out IN bold relief and clus-
tiers OF tall pines marx tne entrance W
creek. secluded bay, or the mouth
OF some tributary stream. There are
attractive villages and winter resorts
on each SIDE OF the river ana the ladlng
rays OF a winters sun, which favored
us on the UP up the river, added color
and beauty 10 the picture Inc sunsets
III the south are dl11ereht from those OF
dear old Name 1hey iiame IN richness
Of color and the soft tlnts blend beau
tifully i'll the mirror-like waters of the
river.
We passed the villages of Lancaster
Point, Christopher's Point, Black Point,
Piney Point, Plummer's Point and many
other POINTS, but are interested in
the little settlement of Mandarin on
the east side of the river, some fifteen
or twenty miles below Jacksonville,
which became notable as the former
winter home of Harriet 3eecher Stowe.
The place has many pleasing memories
Of that famous author. The tide in the
river here rises and falls but little and
the water is not salt but merely brack-
ish A1lioa+ors arc ouita nrmarons
f"''o ''
freQuentlng the creeks and entrances
to the tributaries as well as the little
lakes along the way, but are not often
seen from the steamers as they are
easily frightened. 1t is not considered
safe to battle in the river as they are
quite likely to attack you in the water.
Sharks also inhabit these waters and
bathing is chiefly done III improvised
pools on shore, supplied with good
spring water, which can be had by sink
ing pipe a snort distance IN the