The Republican journal., 1906-01-18
FROM 7 FLORIDA,


north in large numbers during the pas
week and the hotels are fast filling
While the number of guests in the city
is not as large as last year at this time
due, perhaps, to the warmweather which
has prevailed in the north, and the whole
east coast has felt its effects. Mex
week will see the opening of the beauti
full white rock house, Halcyon Hall, just
completed, and which is one of the
most attractive houses in the south.
The travel to Cuba and Nassau has
already begun and there are indications
of very busy time. Changes have
taken place and Capt. White, formerly
of Belfast, and his steamer, the Miami,
have been transferred to the Miami
Nassau route from the old route to
Cuba. This arrangement will bring
Capt. White home to Miami oftener
and will last during the winter season
Biscayne Bay affords very inviting
sight with its great fleet of power and
sail boats. Many of these boats, in.
Guiding some excellent households, have
been brought down by northern visit.
ors who are to spend the winter here
and who use them for cruising or as a
find great variety of engines. At
Palm Beach there are a few Knox en-
gines, which are made in Rockland and
they have received great deal of
praise among the boatmen. There are
many boatshops here and power boats
are in great demand. The Palmer en-
CINE. so familiar at home, is little used
here.
At Palm Beach next month comes
the annual Motor Boat Carnival and it
will offer to the lover of the power boat
one of the greatest displays of these
popular boats ever seen in the south.
| Some of the fastest boats from New
| York will be sent there for the races
and large number of classes has been
arranged.
Biscayne bay is bit of sheltered water
and affords excellent boating facilities,
protected us it is from the ocean. The
! first record of the early settlement of
! land at Miami was in the years when
the Spaniards held sway over this sec
ton and one John Eagan was granted
by the Spanish government a tract of
one hundred acres of land on the north
/ side of the SWeetwater river which is
now known as the Miami river and
where the present city is located
There are still many evidences of those
early days.
too1v drie- 70
several miles down the coast where the
seen on every hand, and where grape
fruit and orange trees hung full of
fruit. We passed the beautiful resi-
dence of Kirk Munroe, the author, who
| has done SO much toward recording in
pleasant stories the pictures of Florida,
and the adventures of his boys are al
WAYS read with interest. | had the
pleasure of meeting Mr. Munroe and
| enjoying a long talk with him and
found his home very attractive place.
| Mrs. MuDroe is also writer of some
note, In story on the Florida Reyes
Mr.. Munroe has given very interest
| ing account of life among the Reyes
where the new railroad is now building.
| His home, at Cocoanut Grove just be-
low Miami, is of artistic design, and
the grounds, which are hedged in with a
| high rustic wall of native rock. are
rich in their growth of tropical shrubs,
trees and fruits.
visited the "Punch Bow" which is
owned by Mr.. Bolton who is the
manufacturer of q great variety Of
fruits and preserves. The "Pench
Bowl is a cavity in a rocky cliff on the
shore Of Riscayne bay just below the
city and was evidently dug many years
ago, either by the Indians or the Span
ish. It is filled with cool, refreshing
water. and is favorite resort for tour.
lists, 1t is said that all who drink from
the punch Bowl will return to drink
again.
During my carriage drive l saw a
number of banana trees, some IN
blossom and others bearing green fruit,
but it is a little early for the ripened
fruit. The trees have large leaves,
which put one in mind of donkeys ear
and the blossom is very deep rich red
There were pawpaw trees laden with
fruit and which looked rather attrac
tive.
After John Eagan settled in Miami
there was little change in the condition
} of affairs The Indians lived in that
vicinity in large numbers, but wert
semi-friendly. Today the streets are
not in natural order if you do no. SEE
Indians moving along the walks. II
; costumes of rich colorings, and having
neither covering for head, feet or legs
to their knees, they come to the city
from the Everglades to do their trad
r ing. AS to the days of old the ''red
| skins are in love with the taste O.
whiskey and are too often frequ enter
of the saloons, much of their earning
from the sale of skins, baskets ant
) meats being disposed of in this manner
, In the year 1919, when Florida wa
coded to the United States by Spain, ,
, greater interest was taken in the liant
l where Ponce de Leon had found "th
r fountain Of eternal youth" Soon afte
r this event an interest was awakened il
Florida by the passing OF an act by Con
: gress providing for the donation of GA
p acres of land to any settler who woul'
= settle on and improve tract of lam
, in South Florida, and defend it from
:, the Indians for certain length o
l time. John Eagan was then living il
! St. Augustine and he took advantage o
the offer and made his way down tn
coast and settled on the site Of tn
present city. The ground where hi
first home is supposed to have been
now tho ate of the Hotel ROYAL Palm