Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-11-04
THE AUTHOR and THE HOME OF
"'WAY DOWN ON SUWANNEE RIBBER"


IFoster, writer Of many popular negro
melodies, was proposed and accepted,
In the absence OF more authentic in
formation But there never was a
greater mistake or greater injustice
done to the true author; for / have
seen with my own eyes, and hunted
over the old indigo fields and planta-
tions, now grown up with huge forest
trees and iungles. Of one LaFayett,
sather OF the girl Marie" the author
Of this song. The old indigo troughs.
Gag from the huge live oak trees or
logs, are yet to be seen, as are also
trenches picked with AK and chisel
in the large boulders Of rocks of
ages" living witnesses, many Of
which lie on the surface Of the
ground, having been upheayed by vol
canic disturbances in by-gone days.
Here this Frenchman cultivated and
pounded his indigo in troughs, which
was sold and used for dyeing pur-
poses. The father and all HIS chill
dren, save one, succumbed to dead
Iy malady- swamp. OF African fever
leaving the poor widowed mother and
daughter, Marie. broken-hearted and
alone -separated by ocean from rela-
tiyes-stranger IN strange land.
Mother and daughter ultimately re-
turned to France, bidding d fearful
adieu to the sacred graves. and leay-
ing the murmuring winds Of old
ocean to sing a sad requiem over the
precious bones Of departed ones.
Such are the sad facts as remem-
bered and reported TO the writer by
the old settlers and neighbors Of
this unfortunate French family. You
readers, interested as to the precise
locality, can refer to any map of
Florida. and between 20 and 40 miles
nom the mouth OF the Suwannee will
discover Clay Landing, Fort Fannin,
and Old Town. Just northwest Of
Fort Fannin are the memorable old
indigo fields, troughs and other evil
dences. convincing Of the former set
tiers One OF the Oldest settlers and
dearest friends Of the French widow
and beautiful daughter claimed TO
have received as a souvenir direct
from the girl author, one OF the first
written manuscripts OF this world-re-
nowned song, before II ever found It's
way into print, which, with It's pathos
and soul-stlrrlng expressions. made It
such a worldwide favorite melody.
While the writer was recently
camping and hunting with a party
lover this memorable spot, beneath
huge, towering eyergreens Of magnolia
and live oak trees, which with out.
stretched branches embracing each
other, as II to AFFORD more comfort
able shelter and shade for We wan.
derlng Nlmrods"
birds Of beautiful song and plumage
sing,
And with wooing. graceful motion,
STOPPING, make love to the ripplins
spring.
Which sparkled back devotion.
In appreciation OF which our camp
hunting party replied by chanting IN
sweet solos. duets. trios Away
Down On the swannoe RIbber." which
was caught up by oarressing and
balmy breezos from Old Ocean, and
gently echoed over the placid waters
OF the river. and re-eohoed back from
the elevated banks Of the opposit,
shore.
OF all the beautiful, limpid. life
giving rivers. which ripple Mime
haha.ike." forming in les course
laughing rlnkles over its placid sur
face shedding crystal tears OF io'
IN To onward course TO refresh IN
bnny waters OF The great Gulf o
Mexico. Il Is Florida's suwannee Riy
er. for methinks
iof an Gods glorious streams, there
scarce a lovelier sight.
Than this SuWanneo River fair
| hathed IN the soft moonlight
And sure Il there Is stream on eartl
nearest Heavens gate.
It's this Utoplan stream, IN on
fair tropical State.
There - bat one conclusion con