The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1909-04-23
IaFpOn Ever
aulltOnC Coast OfEIa.


W following fah story was recently
81 the columns Of the Nashville
aozsean. and was written by Mr..
= DnB0se. who once lived IN ITALIA
ee. being known 70 quite q number
OR people.
1hs True Democrat vouehes for It's
hfulness. for the Tallahasseeans
rtned are stiIl residents Of the city,
assure as that the thing actually
rred:
So1oo time since, j. II. Fall & Co
a4efed handsome prizes for the best
ee lish stories, placing no restric-
Sons on the contestants as 10 location
olherWise. There were twenty
manuscripts submitted The following
Won the first prize. The committee Of
Hard was Mrs. John W. Thomas,
~ Duncan Eve, and Mr.. Ben Allen.)
Tho here Of our story Is Major Aus
tn FISHER, Of Tallahassee, Fla. the
time, 1866 and the place, st. Marks
Bay, hear the mouth Of Wakulla river.
At the age Of nineteen Austin Fisher
enlisted h the First Florida Regiment,
and BY his courage be soon rose TO the
rink De Major. Six feet two inches
nl, ~ tipped the beam at 265 pounds,
nor was there an ounce OF surplus flesh
biz big frame. A born commander
81 men, frm as Gibraltar, without fear
5 man or beast, and reveled in daring
adventures. To him the cannOn's call
Nae fascinating call to danger yet
within this great physique there was q
heart a. big as the world and o. tender
that Of 3 woman.
Consider 3 moment the environ
mentg Of the brave sons Of the South
0Ting the rec0nstrue 9n period used
% daring adventure md fierce conflict,
now singing under the lash Of defeat,
ed forced 70 submit quietly TO the ar
fnGy rule Of a horde Of carpet-bag-
Ee and petty federal officers, who
seemed 10 take a fiendish delight N ele.
QallnE the liberated slaves 70 positions
OVER their former masters. These
facts are not stated t0awaken sectional
uosities, which have long since gone
leep. and for which every part Of
great country Is now heartily
ashamed, but 70 show the conditions
ceedinQ the surrender, which pro-
uded q feeling bordering on despera-
Non, when men would face dangers
jill R1i9l WAag ttle bAuNN1N uNol AaAh ~
tun.
BY NATURE A FISHERMAN.
AZ his name might indicate. Major
lsher was By nature a fisherman, and
81 those familiar with the sport Il is
cutie natural that q man Of this kind
would regard fishing tor tarpOn the
dext best thing 20 actual service on the
4FIng line. Hence 10 get q short re-
spite from the painful surroundings and
1nui a. home, Il was any easy matter
Io make up party Of old comrades for
tsaonth's camping on the coast, fishing
BIG game. Besides the Major,
lhefe were III. w Demilly now living
8Nhere IN South Florida Aston
Walker (dead), J, w. Coles. and Frank
Damon, still residing IN Tallahassee.
with the lighthouse as q base. .
week splendid sport had been enjoyed, |
Bot he equinoctial period was now at
hand end for several days a continual
atheast wind had been banking up
clouds. and there could be distinctly !
ld that weird moaning Of the dia- /
0l sea. These Onini0us signs kept |
even che brown old fishermen close IN /
shore. Then came the forrest storm
~ Known % the coast. For two days /
~ INI'I IN41 ~ y - a-AAANAN A0ANN
,Hatd tidal wave, the Ike Of which |
~ feRfF before been seen IN those
ElH For eighteen hours the waves
alIngly mountains high, continued
Ie work % destruction. Then came q |
ln. and he receding water carried
I b eck relics Of The destruction u |
W wrought Riding the waves could
furniture. pianos, bedding. ETC.. /
our nfhGEmeu had become q salvage |
NgthaEIng u not only these, but
eI persons cIinging ~ drifts had /
n Ga4ct 81 their efforts.
ne work was not only arduOus but
Cd with great risk, ~ the wind
now shifted and was blowing al
gale from the land. Darkness
.I1iof Usher and his tired crew
oof Id their ekiH, when q sudden /
Tod 3 osh cf lightning brought |
view q houaetop 6oating out,
H1A uoTe cllnFing q woman and
Even tao Gtnuf hearts 81 /
1aIN tocaUe oick, bat The
O1IIo1Erate olicar gave the
nI|1N the wreck. Inspired
9 lie. og1TF mar bent q be
~ b NH4 3 matter Of 3 few
141ltee the object e their
0 II 44cl needle couId a.
Ne - easily te1n fouBd h
..tIr slflT4tfrR