The weekly true Democrat., 1907-12-27


cblain y. A. HondEy, one Of FiOri-
ds h ltlrenss vino Is wen known and
over he State, writes the fol-
R n re Times Union
lbaes Union have Just read
1sQ ne able pen of Mr. Sidney Her
8 very intervening letter, Prog
of t1A kiort4a b ReilrOeds, = which
NHt ne INTO 4 very reminIsceut mood.
elioY very much the writings of
t3lc oI timerp. Their writings are al
4s4 fnH Of interest 70 me. It is hard
t1l tlle present generation TO realize the
itudes, trials and Inconvenience
h which the Old-timers have
lt Is these old-timers who can
fully realize the marvellous changes du-
tie long reri0d of half century. It
9es Ia Tire winter of 1860, my father,
Jameb N. Hendry, moved from Thomas
enllnty, Georgia, 20 Itillshorough county,
Florida. ct that time, was q vigor-
C1e ypefh o. ~ years. and acted in the
fcgpnsible position Of engineer and con-
aletor Of ell OK team. and ha6 the right
1f way the entire run Of about Ave
hundred miles. The schedule was 80
Vell arranged that there were no COLI
alous, 10 break downs OF smash ups.
Ire goods were ell delivered IN good
order "a the terminal There were no
bills Of complaint or rebates. This was
hfkfrpeven years ago. There were no
railroad crossings, no sign boards with
the Warnipg, Look out for the engine
when the whistle blows"
Leaving the little town of Thomas-
vIllof Goorgia, the first point Of notO-
riofy WA Madison Court House, now
the beautiful, hourishing city Of Madi-
son. The next point OF interest was old
ColunihuS, on The old Suwannee river,
yois neaf the present site Of EIlaviile.
Ih tarne the little town of Alligator,
neslltpg among the lakes, now the city
Of Lake City. Then came the little
town ~ NeWnansville, the county seat
ef Aiethua county. IN this quiet town
Uncle Sam kept his land Office. The
next point Of Interest was the famous
Paype'P pfairie, having driven ovsr the
present Of Gainesville. There was no
Galoa8ytlle there, not q shop or hack 70
BE- seen, ae ! now remember. Payne's
pEalFie WAS indeed q point OF interest TO
the AZ Car as the eve could see WIS
level eNpanae of. open prairie, clothed
with grass, .the most Iuxuriant, all dot
Ted with herds Of fat cattle and horses.
and clouds Of ducks and wild geese. To
= youth as was, Il was captivating he
y0nd my power Of description. Next
point In order was MicanOpy, a pretty
little town among the shady oaks, and
q Indian war notOFiety, town with a
history. II was N this vicinity the ad- |
mirarion Of the beautiful and the gran
deuf Of natures haiidiwork was felt Ia |
my young breast. The rich, undulating |
hauainoek lands, the beautiful silver |
hkes with their green borders Of spat- |
teldocks or bonnets, was inspiring.
Big Orange Lake was the next point |
Of interest, and Il was q sumner. Il |
was there saw my first orange grove,
not tame and cultivated as now, but |
wild, lust as nature planted them. |
Passing through the dense hammock |
lande bordering that grand old lake, |
these Wild orange trees were most
beautifully fntefspensed. Look where |
you would, and there the deep yellow |
oranges hung like apples of gold. They I
were tho bitter-sweet variety, good |
enough Tor anybody. My pen Is not able |
g describe the scenery as / saw it in
that day.
Ocala was the next point of interest.
II, too, waaa very little town, city in |
now the Brick City Of our
State, situated there among the tall |
oaks, hickory, beech and magnolias.
The next point of interest was Dade's |
Massacre. The signs Of mortal strife |
were not old. There slowed down and |
tFOd lightly upon that memorable and |
sacred spot. II did not, / should have |
barred my head, bowed In humble re-
8pect 20 the noble patriots who sacrificed
their lives upon the altar OF their eoun-
tFy. No other points Of much interest
id We pass. except the crossing Of the
famous WithDaeOochee and HiIlsbOrouRh 4
rivers, until we reach our destination, ~
niles east Of Tampa on the AIa6a river. /
There We settled In q wild wilderness
sOunkfy ard began life anew IN q wild
sountfy. To give only q brief sketch u
~ 1pa aud downs during this long ps-
nod 0f 81 years, would Iill book 0f
many pages, Ia reviewing the condi-
ions thel and now, our MINIS naturally
nm % railroads and what they have
lone kof eur fsir State. During the latter
6O'sI heard my first railroad speech. Il
gng mlnd9 II Tampa by Goorge Cali,
! con8ln, Ihelieve, Of cur beloved Wifk
nDOp Cal. He was z brilliant man and
Itirred up Tampa on The railroad Quos.
Lea. / IfemembeF well that n,ans meet
". Our dear old lnndmngk, James Ne
Kay, 8r., praelded at that meeting,
fhns famous cd Fnilroad charter. from
AmalIa Iuland % Charlotte Hartor, with
|, kfenSh 90 Cedar Bsy and Tamna. Wa
- .Iln s.,n1 ahnas t..t.,95 sls..s,.,-.,4 ~.