The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-01-22
ON THE RAGING oKLAwAHA
Special to the ocala Banner:

Sparklets Of golden sunshine pic
tured her serenely as she gracefully
and lovingly noses her mooring. Her
pretty nose was gently touching the
great dock t:mbers, and her graceful
form sat the crystal waves of Silver
Springs very becomingly. 1t was the
Oregonian, Capt. Henry Mason On
board were a party from Connor.
They were Misses Rebecca Counts,
Edith and Margaet McIlvaine, Emma
Mason, two little tots and Mr. Half
fey.
A north bound s. A. L. train pulled
out as we cast anchor and swung
around over the great, deep, blue ba-
sin of water. Instanter a sleigh bell
jingled on the boat II was full speed
signal Gently her slender hull ca
ressed the silver stream and her nose
was very sweet and girlish amid the
pretty arched rainbOws made from
the spray which vas thrown up ahead.
Aft the waves gracefully rolled.
The sun peepe5 now and then, while
the cypress and palm and other trOp-
ical trees ever nodded greetings.
Schools of mullet, gar and trout
swan with us for a few feet, then the
swift launch left them. Along the
timbered banks, alligators, birds and
cooters were alarmed at us, and scoot-
ed. Great hawks and cranes followed
us like sharks-to see if we would
throw overheard one of the tots,
guess.
A swift craft is the OregOnian, but
her make is ideal and she can turn
any of the bends at full speed. The
Devils Elbow was rounded with ease,
and also were TIE sand bars and the
short bends in TIE Angels Garden of
the Woods" near los Kiss.
We spent the evening and night
with the "Ola folks" and Thursday
morning the Hart Liner Hiawatha,
Capt. Harrison. came up on her 1909
maiden trip. We would not be salts
fed, after the Hiawatha blew at Los
Kiss and Petersburg. until Capt. Ma
son consented to take us down in the
Gardens" to meet the big. palatial
Hart liner. And SO about half past
nine the Oregonian dipped her flag to
Captain and Mrs Randall and got
down to business" and it was in lit
tie or no time ere the big. white
floating palace hove in sight She
was coming with a bone in her
mouth" The captain halloed; the
boat signalled and passengers waved,
and our little dug out" shot by her
like a torpedo, then turned around
and beat the steamer to ConnOr, We
were southern and acted il the best
we knew how.
On board the steamer were several
pretty ladies from New York City
and other northern cities.
Chief Oklawaha and his help-meet,
Silver Springs. introduced US, and
tell you the many happy hours were
ours"
The party spent a very gay half
hour at Connor in Mr.. Patrick Todd
RandalTs orange grove.
We had a grand trip to Silver
Springs, but not an alligator made his
appearance on this trip, and We re-
GREETED il very much. more for the
young ladies than all else. There was
a very prominent New York City fam
lily on this trip. They were Mr.. and
Mrs. Frank Joseph Banmert and their
three very winsome and pretty daugh-
tiers, Misses Mary. Christina and Vir-
ginia Banmert.
Another party were Mr.. and Mrs
Charles Kirkpatrick of New Rich
mond.. Indiana. Mr.. kirkpatrick is
the president Of Che Corn Exchange
State Bank of Indiana. They stopped
at the Ocala House for one night and
proceeded the next day for ST. Peters
burg.
ALBERT ANsoN GRAHAM