The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-08-18
oCALA AND SILVER SPRINGS


ping at the Colonial hoted in the his
toric little city of Ocala. It is beau
tiful for situation, built upon a high
elevation and sheds the water from
every angle. One might call it forest
city with a population of about 5000
The town is surrounded by beauti-
full forest Of live oaks draped with
long, green hanging moss. There are
four banks, four large hotels and
live board of trade, and two weekly
and one daily newspapers. ocala is
| the prettiest. most up-to-date little
town that | have visited since / have
been in the land Of the roses. The
very best accommodations can be OBJ
tanned for the travelling public. The
Colonial hotel is near the union sta
ton, and if you stop there once you
win go again. The proprietor is a
zeal Chesterfield and his wife is the
luncrowned queen of the house.
| There are many things of much in
lterest in and around this little city. 1t
Il Has a AAiAG LdItllA11S LOAIiLL4 D61Gh III IT,
Anything can be grown here to per-
lection. But the most interesting
thing is Silver Springs and the trop-
ical scenery there has no eqHal in.
North America. A wealth of legend
and words of beautiful memorials left
| by these path-finders of the red man,
cling around the very name of Flor
ida. Here in Ocala and vicinity they
have made the Indians immortal by
attaching the names of Oklawaha,
Osceola, Tuscarora and Tuscawilla to
some of the streets. Perhaps there
was no spot in all Florida that was
more beloved by the red man than
Silver Springs, beside which many
an Indian maiden has strolled with
her forest-born lover and over whose
CLASSY waters their swift canoes
have glided.
Once there lived in the forest near
Silver Springs Oklawaha, the son of
the mighty chief Ilustee, and the only
daughter of no less powerful chief,
lSuwannee. The two old chiefs hated
zach other bitterly and never met ex-
lcept in bloodshed. although their
tribes were neighboring ones. One
day while hunting, Oklawaha came
upon Wenona as she gathered herbs
in the forest and fell deeply in love
with her His affections were returned
and the two spent many happy hours
together in the great dim forest. They
feared to tell the implacable old chief
tains of their love, knowing that it
would bring instant separation and
possibly death.
The lovers, after several weeks of
lperilous happiness, began to suspect
THAT they were being watched and
they at once planned to escape to the
tribe of Chattahoochee. One night in
response to a boot owl Wenona stole
from her wigwam and joined Okla
waha in the shadowaof live oak tree,
and silently they Set forth on their
fateful journey which would lead
them to life or death. Suddenly rife
shot rang out of the still darkness
o fthc forest, and instantly the air re-
sounded with hideous cries. Knowing
their flight was discovered, Oklawaha
and Wenona made a desperate dash
for freedom. Back and forth they
darted until at length they found
themselves on high bluff overlook
! ing glistening stream. As they
stood there for a moment the moon
emerged from the dense clouds by
which it had been yelled. The mo-
tionless pair were clearly outlined
against the sky. A yell of triumph
told that they were discovered, and
their pursuers broke from the edge
Of the forest few feet away. Turn
ing the lovers gazed deep into each
others eyes, then Oklawaha seized
Wenonah in his arms, saying: ITO
gether we have sweetly lived; to-
gether let us die" And they made the
leap into the boiling spring ninety
feet deep.
The union of Silver Springs and the
, Oklawaha and Silver rivers typifies
, the union of the two lovers in death,
and it is said that the green waving
, moss at the bottom of the stream is
, 1.-THE lost Wenona's hair.
The water in Silver Springs is
, Iclearer than atmosphere. One can see
dime at the bottom, where the water
is GO feet deep. This spring prob
ably has the largest flow of any
spring in the world, namely, 368, 913
gallons per minute or 22,134,789 gal
, Ions per four / hardly believe that
the mind of man cas- grasp this wonder
of wonders We can see its beauty
and feel its power. Silver river is
nine miles long. The level nature of
the country makes it difficult for the
water to find its way down hill. AT
times the river almost doubles on IT
self. This is very narrow and deep
stream, not wider than an average
street.
Here in the thick forest near Silver
Springs, OsceoIa, the great Seminole