The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1911-08-18
OCKLAWAHA RIVER.
A Brief History of the Famous Hart
Steamboat Line, Plying Between
Palatka and Silver Springs.

Palatka has been known to tourists
throughout the English-speaking
world as the starting point of the
famous Ocklawaha River Line. This
water journey into the interior OF
Florida is rightly considered one OF
the most unique and beautiful trips
that the American continent has to
offer The preeminence which Pa
latka has held as a travel center for
so many years has been due in large
measure to the location here of the
wharves and home offices of the nav
igation company operating the Ockla-
waha River steamers.
1t was the late Col. H. L. Hart.
a native of Vermont, who organized
the enterprise in 1860, and after
spending considerable time and money
in clearing the river channel of logs
and debris, began the running Of
steamers regularly between Palatka
and Silver Springs upon the close Of
the civil war. Since the year of its
Inauguration up to the present time
the Ocklawaha trip has grown in
popularity until no visitor to Florida
during the winter season considers
he has really seen the state unless he
has included this wonderful water
way in his tour.
Two well-built, safe and comfort
able steamers of this company, the
Hiawatha and the Okeehumkee I'd,
with accommodation for seventy-fve
and hftyfour passengers, respectively,
are used exclusively for irst-class
passengers. These steamers were
specially constructed under the per-
sonal direction of Col. Hart and the
present manager for the peculiarities
Of this most tortuous of American
streams, have two saloon and OBJ
servation decks, and are equipped
throughout in the most modern, san
itary and convenient manner. The
boats are almost entirely free from
the disagreeable vibration common
to other river steamers. All meals are
served on board, the cuisine of the
Hart Line being an attractive feature.
A large number of visitors to the
great hotels of the state make it a
point to visit Silver Springs via the
Hart Line each year, and come direct
to Palatka for that purpose. The
steamers start running the first week
in January, and the season closes for
them about April 10th. Each steamer
makes three trips week, the round
trip covering about two hundred and
seventy miles.
Some magnificent orange groves
and rose gardens are located along
the river, and passengers are given a
chance to visit these and pick all the
flowers and fruit they wish. Many of
the finest hunting grounds in the
state are also on the Ocklawaha, and
quail, deer and wild turkeys are found
around the remote landings. The
use of firearms is very properly pro-
hibited on the boats and as a result
the wild denizens of the woods have
become exceedingly fearless. Large
alligators lie on their favorite logs
along the banks undisturbed by the
passing steamers, and water-turkeys,
heron. eagles and semi-tropical birds
are nearly always in view. Grace
fully plumed palmettos, swamp-ma-
pies. ancient live-oaks, immense cy-
press, gums. magnolias and bay trees
line the banks OF the stream, as well
as blossoming dogwood, rhododen-
dron, woodbine, wild prim-roses,
sweet-scented jasmine, pitcher-plants,
orchids. vines and other beautiful eX-
otto growths. The yellow sweet
scented bay leaves are gathered by
the passengers as the branches brush
along the sides of the observation
decks.
The river is constantly changing its
channel, and navigation over these
shifting sands requires the constant
attention of skilled pilots.
The Ocklawaha trip by torchlight is
an experience never to be forgotten.
All night a great torch OF resin
Gus pine is kept in a great iron basket
over the water tank on the metal
roof of the pilot-house. Under its
wierdly beautiful radiance the dark
waters of the stream wind away be
fore the PROV of the Smooth-running
steamer. sparkling with a million
points of iridescent light The great
forest seems to draw closer about its
visitors and peer with all its curious
and iurtive eyes. The noise OF ami
mails is heard moving along the edges
Of the stream. the screams of night
birds and occasionally the cry o
wandering wildcats. Osceola's Ole
Field. where the heroic Seminole
chicfta;n made his last stand a'gains
the whites, is passed on the way, ant
this brings to mind thoughts that ado
10 the strangencss and magic Of tn,
Gene. But the rendition of clever an'
humorous old songs and plantation
b,1l,Je b,, the negro bOatmen keel