Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1917-02-09
4 LETTER..
Punta Gorda, Florida.
Jan. 80, 1917.

Jan. 80, 1917.
DEAR CAPT. GRABILL - |.
l have just come in from the
fishing dock almost exhausted.
1 think this is the warmest dayl,,
l have experienced in Florida.
Mrs. K. says must stay in out
of the sun. Having nothing -tol
amuse myself this afternoon. II
have concluded to bother you
with another short letter. Wei
have been in Southern Florida
about five weeks-have visited
not only the fruit packers and
fisheries of this town-but have
been to see every place of note
within thirty miles of this place.
There are three classes of peo.
pie in this country, viz: the
Crackers, the Boomers, and the
Knockers. The Crackers are the
old natives. doing business att
the same old stand, are very
kind and hospitable, also veryI
appreciative in showing the tour
ist about their homes. The oxl
cart is still used to some extent.
The Boomers are the so-called
money sharks, supposed to havel
lplenty Of money, sometimes dol
business for the other fellow, are
very smart, tell OF the vast for-|
tune in store for the fellow who
:. Invests in Southern Florida. The
laws of this State seem to be
, good, don't think anyone would
5 lose. but as Mr.. John Boyer re-
5 marked 10 me some years ago,
: there is such a thing as exag-
r geration On facts, not necessarily
el the right man in the right place
e should always succeed, but the
j human eye is prone to be deceiv'
It ed in different seasons of the
: lyear. The Knockers are the
{ common class, that views both
: sides of the situation without
o prejudice, sometimes he loves
= to knock the Boomer and expose
his exaggerations. He is very
el friendly to the tourist and tell:
o facts only, never makes any mis-
= takes, but sticks to it because ht
IS said it. He puts me much il
e mind of an old friend, l have il
d Woodstock. About one-third O
1t the population are colored, thel
J. seem to be unusually energetic
is and as a rule own their homes
VI their work is generally on fishing
boats, unloading fish and load
d ing cars of fish at the Railroad
t, dock. The fishing season is nov
lie in, they transfer from ten t.
n thirty cars, three days in eacl
st week. they claim that the quaint
city will be much greater in Feb
l lruary. There is large monste
J. called the Porpoise, that sur
% rounds, what they call fish
is schools and causes them to he,
J. for the docks, then is the tim
1t they make big catches By drag
o ging the hooks and catching
If them miscellaneously. Plenty
n of fish for everybody and plenty
left on the dock for Seagulls anl
The mullet and trou,
IS are considered the best fish
IL caught at this season of the
ii year. February is the month
If for mackerel, revalue and Je~
IL fish, which are much greater in
e Isize. This State has also a mum.
her of tribes of Seminole Indians
n in what is called the Everglades
It Tor Palmetto Swamps, they. are
not under the Government of the
f limited States and live entirely
S Ito themselves and have Gov.
r lernment of their own, make their
: living by hunting and fishing.
They frequent Fort Myers and
j palm Beach selling furs and
hides and seem to be protected
f by the Government. They are
S Isaid to be honest in their deal
E lings among themselves and also
with white folks that hunt in
their territory, they give them
the best they have to eat and
, say good white man."
The heat of the day is about
: lover and Mrs. 4. is wanting to
take a walk, l will soon bring
my lines to close.
From my way of summing up
the situation, there is nothing
lin it except climate. A ma n can
in ten years grow a fine orange
grove, if he gives it plenty of
work, fertilizer and irrigation,
lit is the history that there after
lit will take two-thirds of the
proceeds of the grove to pay the
,tft - en~ks1soo. Cl~~1a