The National tribune., 1907-02-21
D0INGS IN DIXIE.
A Romance Amid the Orange
Groves of Florida.
By ". H. winslow, late Acting Master,
u s. N.

Black Point projects into the st.
Johns River, Fla, like an index finger.
1t was heavily wooded, swampy in the
interior, and sandy along shore. Dur
ing the civil war it was a pest with a
sting of rifle bullets for the U. S. Naval
men who ventured within range. The
little gunboat in the channel occasion
ally swept its thickets and splintercd
fits trees with hurting grspe-shot and
bursting shell, but the Confederate
sharpshooters seemed to know when to
crawl into their holes or TO be absent
at Gen. Finnegan's camp, five miles
away, and out of range of Naval guns.
The black river was bright with gilt
tering scales and flashing fins of fish
where the sluggish current ran near the
point, and the sailors of the man-of-
war would at intervals become careless.
venture too near the rivers bank, and
receive grievous wounds in punishment
of their tenerity and piscatorial avarice.
An orange plantation lay along the
rivers bank above the point. and its
golden fruit and the hospitality of the
planters family were much appreciated
by the officers of the gunboat An aged
and feeble grandmother asked treat
er discussed water power and wind
mills with the Chief Engineer; the over
seer dickered over exchange of fresh
vegetables and fruit for ship supplies
with the Paymaster. and two beautiful
daughters arranged excursions along
the river and parties on shipboard. To
the storm tossed mariners all women
We're angels, and ten-cent calico dress
looked like a dollar silk. Neutral ma
tives and loyal Northerners contributed
TO each others pleasure and whiled
away the sunny hours in that sandy pc
ninsula, which was too remote from
great armies and populous cities to feel
the victssitudes and terrors of war. Un-
important skirmishes along the rivers
and the coast, and a few mimic con-
tests of arms tumbled Florida into the
Union, and permitted its forces almost
undisputed dominion.
The ships Surgeon discovered one day
a little boat-a dingey-drifting down
the river, and the deck officer let him
have a cutter and crew to secure Ii.
Ever afterwards he claimed 1t as his
property, and used it to make his pro-
fessional visits to the home of the sick
grandmother and the beautiful young
women Ship work and discipline could
not spare boats crew every time duty
called him on shore, and the Chief En-
gineer often accompanied him, to pre-
sent to the planter new ideas of aerial
and aqueous machines 1t happened
one day that, musing upon their free
dom from ship routine, the gracious
hospitality of the plantation. and the
charms of Miss Hattie and Miss Sallie.
the two worthy officers rowed incau-
tiously too near Black Point. They
were suddenly aroused from reverie by
loud hail: "Heyah, yo' Yanks! Come
ashore naew, if yo' knows what's guide
fur yo'"
The startled officers saw log on the
shore of the point, and looked into the
muZZles of half dozen muskets, and
accepted the invitation to land and sur
render to Lieut.. Bradley, leader of the
"Bushwhackers," or FLORIDA Regula-
tors" as they were designated-an ir,
fEefia9llag fE6fia9llaagE dlS 52ElSee akin S.. to home guards
Confederate army The transition rIv...
roseate dreams to the rude reality OF
being prisoners of war shocked the ten
der sensibilities of the Naval men, and
they trembled in anticipation of a ter
rible fate. They were armed only with
paper plans and pill bottles. and claim
ed to be on peaceful missions. The
Chief said he intended to establish a
mandatory of wind-mills at Jackson
VILE The Doctor asserted he had ex-
hausted the ships medicines in treating
the natives from Mayport to Lake
George, and he hoped to continue his
good work after the war. The Lieu
tenant ratified his saber-one he hal
secured after the battle of Olustee-
chewed his red moustache, and kicked
the pine cones; and his squad of men
glowered threateningly beneath their
slouch hats. The prisoners knew guer-
riIlas did not respect the laws of war.
or show much mercy to their captured
enemies. The outcome seemed threat
ening. Bradley was a good natured fell