The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-01-15
CAME IN THE EVERGLADES
Experiences of Big Party of Sports
men in South Fiorida's Famous
Hunting Ground
CTainpa TimcS.D

parties that has penetrated the Ever
glades this season just dispersed ana
returned 10 their respective homes.
The party was an honest COSmopOli-
tan one. being an aggregation of
hunters embracing men from several
walks Of life. and one Of the number
came from New York City. This
gentleman is spending the winter at
Fort Myers.
The party was made up as follows:
II. A. Hendry, mayor Of Fort Myers.
who was the leader of the aggrega
ton: +. w Miller a New York bust
ness man, who spends his winters in
Florida because he likes to hunt, and
makes Fort Myers his headquarters
for the same reason; G. y. YarbOr-
Ough. a prominent citizen of Fort
Myers; Il. r. Hampton of Gainesville,
Il lawyer and brother of Hilton S.
Hampton Of Tampa. also one Of the
party; j. &. Wheeler. Of Ocaia, agent
for the international Harvester Co;
Hon. r. 6. Wilson, of Fort Myers, rep
rescntative from Lee county in the
Tampa: :. II. Thompson and Tom
Hand. guides. and Henry Wilkinson,
camp manager. of Fort Myers.
Wilkinson, the camp manager, has
spent thirty-seven years of his active
life in organizing and taking care Of
hunting parties No man in South
Florida knows the business better
than he does, and combining his many
capable traits with his inimitable
character makes him Il most valuble
companion on a hunting trip.
The Party Organized
The party met at Fort Myers on the
afternoon of December 26th. and at
p. m. the start was made. the hunt
ers riding horseback into the woods
over the fine paved road which eX-
tends Il distance of twelve miles in a
sOutheastcrIy direction from Fort My
ers out through the country and be
You'd the town of buckingham. The
guides and camp manager, with the
tents, provisions and other impede
menta, had gone on ahead twenty-four
hours earlier, so that the camp sight
might be in readiness when the hunt
ers arrived, and no delay OccaSioned.
The party rode to the end Of the
paved road, having covered twelve
miles, and went into camp for the
| night. Camp was made in the open
woods. each man using his saddle for
a pillow and blanket for covering. Mr..
Hendry reused up the boys" at 9
| o'clock in the morning for an early
start. Here a certain attorney, who
would have felt more at home in his
own little couch just then than trying
to mount a cow pony, fell asleep for
the short space Of ten seconds and the
| pony took to the woods and refused
to be caught. He caused a great deal
of delay and the unfortunate follower
to "toll'' the pony into an ambush
with an ear Of corn, so that his mount
might be again secured.
| Coffee and bacon and some bread
formed the breakfast. and the party
started out on the remaining thirty
|
the instructions to the camp men to
pitch the camp about fifty miles from
Fort Myers. The party rode forward
through an almost virgin forest. Only
one settlement was seen that day. The
woods are mostly level. with open
stretches Of prairie that give the be-
holder an idea of illimitable distance
Pine Islands," as the wooded portions
are called. because Of the surrounding
stretches Of shallow water were fire.
quent. These islands are the highest
portions Of the fiat country. Switch
grass ponds were to be seen every
where On the higher ground. in many
places, are solitary wild orange trees
in other places are found small or
large groves Of the original Florida or
anges. growing here without atten-
! ton. They are all sour. of course.
At the Camp
Just before sunset the tents were
sighted in the distance. 1t was dark
when the party reached the camp
Here they found a fine supper ready
Including venisOn and broiled wild tur-
key, for the guides had been busy and
there was plenty of game. At the
sight of the deer and the gObler, I'M
mistakable signs Of the game which
the country held. those OF the party
who were not used to the larger game
Of the Florida woods. expressed their