The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-06-16
GILBERT WHITES
35-POUND FISH
Returns from Florida With
Interesting Collection
ALLIGATOR SKULL FOR DIR.
BRADY; SEVEN FOOT RAT
TLER, CRANE, ETC.

RranQuauBnter, MISS jessie w nlIe,
recently returned from Crescent City,
Florida, had a pleasant interview
with a Citizen representative on
Wednesday. MIR. White led the scribe
to his cosy den and the first object
that faced them was a large skin of
diamond-back rattlesnake. It's
length was seven feet and on it's tail
were eighteen rattles. The back of
the snake differs somewhat from the
rattlesnakes in this section, in that
it's marks are diamond-shaped. These
large reptiles are shot. In some in
stances they are dispatched by be-
ing struck upon the head with
club.
Hanging alongside the snake was
suspended a beautiful skin of an al
ligator, which was six feet long. It's
age was eleven years. In addition
to this Mr. White brought home a
skull of large alligator, which he
presented to DR.. G. r. Brady.
Mounted upon a standard in his
bedroom is fine specimen of a
young crane. This bird is becoming
rarer every year, it's plumage being
in great demand for decorating
women's headgear. 1t was killed
near Crescent City and is year DID,
according to its color, which is
white. In it's second year the plum
age is of brownish hue, and when
the bird reaches maturity its feath-
ers become dark blue.
In addition to the above mention
ed, Mr.. White brought home several
odd-shaped shells, two fine speci-
mems of the sea louise, besides num-
ber of alligator teeth. The latter
were from two to three inches in
length and were about the size of a
PERSONS thumb
When asked what he did for
amusement during his stay in the
south, Mr.. White remarked that he
spent his time fishing, visiting the
orange groves, turpentine and lum-
ber camps. These camps are be-
tween Crescent City Lake and Stella
Lake. The latter is 45 feet higher
than Crescent City lake and is only
two miles long, while Crescent City
Lake is sixteen miles in length and
varies from four to six miles in
width. A steamer phys from jack
sonville to Crescent City, distance
of about 80 miles.
Crescent City is seven blocks long.
All the business is conducted on
one street. Each block contains five
acres of land, and Crescent City,
during the winter months, has a
population of from 500 to 500.
There are five negroes to every
white person. The people who in
habit Crescent City are principally
nortnerners who own orange and
grape fruit groves at that place.
During the holidays the orange
harvest is at its height. One week
H., la.l G,A
cent City 2,400 boxes of oranges
via steamer besides from 10 to IL
cars by rail. Each orange is cut
from the tree, none are pulled from
the branches. box of oranges in
New York nets from S1.25 to $3.50
and runs from 126 to $50 oranges to
the box. This fruit is considered to
be the best. Other boxes range from
100 to 200.
Speaking of the climatic condi.
tions Mr.. White states that Crescent
City is the incest place for elderly
persons to visit of any place he
knows. Rain fell but two mornings
during the entire stay of six months
There are no dreary days like there
are in this climate and fine breeze
from ocean keeps the place an even
temperature. There was a light frost
at Crescent City upon two different
mornings after the blizzard in the
north last winter, but not enough tt
kill the geraniums and ferns which
were out of doors. Roses were il
bloom the entire winter.
Regarding the negro question, one
will change his mind after he visits
the south. Let the South take
care of them" quoted Mr.. White
He continued by stating that HI
made a study of the problem while
down there and also visited the ne
gro headquarters at Charleston, S
c. The negroes of Crescent Cit!
have some of the incest building
sites in the place, having acquired
large tracts of land from the "tim'
of the freeze" The property wa
owned by northerners but in 1875
referred to as the time of tn,
freeze" it was abandoned and late
was purchased by the negroes 70
the taxes. They are very neat arounC
their homes and the children appea
much cleaner than they do in tn,
mining districts. The negroes haV
their own schools, churches ant
special cars to ride upon. The pres
ent generation down there is lazy
indolent class, but from converse
tions with old slaves, Mr.. White sait
he found them to be honest and on
can believe anything they say.
Before bidding Mr.. White good
bye the reporter noticed fin
specimen of a mounted muskellung
hanging upon the wall Referrin
to it Mr.. White stated that he caugh
it in Wisconsin and that it weighe
35 pounds. Speaking of large fish,
continued Mr.. White, 81 saw a big
mouth black bass at Crescent Cit
that weighed IA pounds. They ar
not as gamey as the small-moutl
black bass that we have around here
but there is some sport in catching
them"