Ingraham Expedition: March 25, Friday
Project Information
Ingraham Expedition: March 25, Friday
Original Source
Encoded texts are derived from three typescript accounts of the 1892 Everglades Exploration Expedition found in the James E. Ingraham Papers and the Chase Collection in the Special and Area Studies Collections Department of the University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries. Digital reproductions of the typescripts are available at:
Moses, W.R., Record of the Everglade Exploration Expedition
Church, A., A Dash Through the Everglades
Contents
- Front Matter
- March 12, Saturday
- March 13, Sunday
- March 14, Monday
- March 15, Tuesday
- March 16, Wednesday
- March 17, Thursday
- March 18, Friday
- March 19, Saturday
- March 20, Sunday
- March 21, Monday
- March 22, Tuesday
- March 23, Wednesday
- March 24, Thursday
- March 25, Friday
- March 26, Saturday
- March 27, Sunday
- March 28, Monday
- March 29, Tuesday
- March 30, Wednesday
- March 31, Thursday
- April 1, Friday
- April 2, Saturday
- April 3, Sunday
- April 4, Monday
- April 5, Tuesday
- April 6, Wednesday
- April 7, Thursday
- April 8, Friday
- April 9, Saturday
- April 10, Sunday
- April 11, Monday
- April 12, Tuesday
- April 13, Wednesday
- April 14, Thursday
- April 15, Friday
- April 16, Saturday
- Back Matter
Electronic Publication Details:
Text encoding by John R. Nemmers
Published by John R. Nemmers.
George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
2015
Licensed for use under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License.
These manuscripts are available from this site for education purposes only.
Encoding Principles
The three accounts of the 1892 Ingraham Everglades Exploration Expedition have been transcribed and are represented in Text Encoding Initiative (TEI) P5 XML encoding.
Line and page breaks have not been preserved in the encoded manuscripts.
Text: 
CAMP NO. 9, Island No. 24, Friday, March 25th, 1892.
Surveyors got away first, balance following about 7 A.M.
This was one of the hardest days yet. Water on our course, sufficient for the boats scarce and saw grass very plentiful. Made the longest portage yet over one of the saw grasses, over 2,000 feet. Abandoned the smallest of our wooden boats and threw away some of our impedimenta before crossing. Arrived at Island No. 25 about 3 P.M. the prospecting party reported good showing for tomorrow, which means that sufficient water courses through the saw grass was visible in the direction we wanted to travel.
Island No. 25 has not been visited by Indians for a long time, as we found it occupied as a rookery by white herons, principally, who flew away at our approach, leaving their nests occupied by many young birds.
No cypress timber could be seen today from either island 24 or 25. From the top of a tree a large body of timber is reported visible 6 or 7 miles to the south west, but no one is able to say whether cypress, hammock or pine but presumably cypress. March 25th. Went on to island #25. Camp #9 [#10] at 3:30 P.M. One mile today; heavy wading all day through saw grass. Had to abandon one wooden boat, also one canvas boat. 4 Georgia men rescued canvas boat. Extra clothing, tools, cooking things, etc. abandoned today. Soil very rich. Island #25, 20 miles S.E. Ft. Shackleford, 1/2 mile south of our course. Broke camp 8 A.M.
Mr. Chase and Mr. Newman did very heavy day's work looking up route free from saw grass. Saw grass impossible to get boats through without too heavy work, or by abandoning boats. Packing supplies on men's backs found impracticable on account of bogging.
Island #25 is a white heron rookery or roost.
Islands frequent; from 12 to 20 visible at all times; - some over two acres. Islands seem to be formed by assimilation of vegetable detritus, and are extraordinarily rich. No evidence of frost having ever been felt here.
(N.B. Frog jumped into Syd's plate of rice last night.)
Land. Hard rock bottom underlies the whole Everglades so far, being under the surface from 3 inches to 4 and 6 feet. Water varies in depth above the muck bottom from 6 inches to 2 feet and more, adinfinitum.- Next morning, Friday, March 25th, our Secretary was seated on a convenient root, writing up his notes, when a snake, evidently much frightened at so many men, saw a nice hollow up his coat sleeve, and thinking it had arrived a place of harbor or refuge, attempted to enter. Moses discovered it at this moment, and sending his note-book and fountain pen one way abruptly took the other himself, not apparently desirous of making any close acquaintance with his morning caller.
We left camp very much cheered, as our scout had reported that from the top of the tree he could see clear water ahead, but we had not gone a mile when the saw grass barred our further advance. It was then decided to abandon one of our wooden boats, and such baggage as we could dispense with, so we left the smallest wooden boat, loaded with tents, a lot of spades, shovels, axes and cooking utensils that we did not need, but which I hope have been useful to some Seminole brave before this.
We had been making for an island almost directly on our course, but in the afternoon Mr. Newman decided to turn back a little, and try for one which seemed a little more accessible. Flying about this island we noticed a cloud of birds, mostly white cranes, and when we reached it that evening we found it was a bird roost and nesting place, and that there were hundreds of young birds in the nests among the trees. The old birds flew away when we landed, but came [back] next morning as soon as we left. We had been anxious to see these great nesting places of the birds, and we had our curiosity gratified at the expense of our comfort, for it was a very uncomfortable place to camp, the odor being of sufficient strength to knock down a tolerably strong man.
When cutting away the grass and brush for a sleeping place we discovered a moccasin nest and killed a moccasin, but that did not disturb us as one of the men slept on the hole and thus kept it effectually stopped up all night. This night three of our men were sick and had to be doctored, Mr Minchin, Mr Handley and Mr Mathieux.
Surveyors got away first, balance following about 7 A.M.
This was one of the hardest days yet. Water on our course, sufficient for the boats scarce and saw grass very plentiful. Made the longest portage yet over one of the saw grasses, over 2,000 feet. Abandoned the smallest of our wooden boats and threw away some of our impedimenta before crossing. Arrived at Island No. 25 about 3 P.M. the prospecting party reported good showing for tomorrow, which means that sufficient water courses through the saw grass was visible in the direction we wanted to travel.
Island No. 25 has not been visited by Indians for a long time, as we found it occupied as a rookery by white herons, principally, who flew away at our approach, leaving their nests occupied by many young birds.
No cypress timber could be seen today from either island 24 or 25. From the top of a tree a large body of timber is reported visible 6 or 7 miles to the south west, but no one is able to say whether cypress, hammock or pine but presumably cypress. March 25th. Went on to island #25. Camp #9 [#10] at 3:30 P.M. One mile today; heavy wading all day through saw grass. Had to abandon one wooden boat, also one canvas boat. 4 Georgia men rescued canvas boat. Extra clothing, tools, cooking things, etc. abandoned today. Soil very rich. Island #25, 20 miles S.E. Ft. Shackleford, 1/2 mile south of our course. Broke camp 8 A.M.
Mr. Chase and Mr. Newman did very heavy day's work looking up route free from saw grass. Saw grass impossible to get boats through without too heavy work, or by abandoning boats. Packing supplies on men's backs found impracticable on account of bogging.
Island #25 is a white heron rookery or roost.
Islands frequent; from 12 to 20 visible at all times; - some over two acres. Islands seem to be formed by assimilation of vegetable detritus, and are extraordinarily rich. No evidence of frost having ever been felt here.
(N.B. Frog jumped into Syd's plate of rice last night.)
Land. Hard rock bottom underlies the whole Everglades so far, being under the surface from 3 inches to 4 and 6 feet. Water varies in depth above the muck bottom from 6 inches to 2 feet and more, adinfinitum.- Next morning, Friday, March 25th, our Secretary was seated on a convenient root, writing up his notes, when a snake, evidently much frightened at so many men, saw a nice hollow up his coat sleeve, and thinking it had arrived a place of harbor or refuge, attempted to enter. Moses discovered it at this moment, and sending his note-book and fountain pen one way abruptly took the other himself, not apparently desirous of making any close acquaintance with his morning caller.
We left camp very much cheered, as our scout had reported that from the top of the tree he could see clear water ahead, but we had not gone a mile when the saw grass barred our further advance. It was then decided to abandon one of our wooden boats, and such baggage as we could dispense with, so we left the smallest wooden boat, loaded with tents, a lot of spades, shovels, axes and cooking utensils that we did not need, but which I hope have been useful to some Seminole brave before this.
We had been making for an island almost directly on our course, but in the afternoon Mr. Newman decided to turn back a little, and try for one which seemed a little more accessible. Flying about this island we noticed a cloud of birds, mostly white cranes, and when we reached it that evening we found it was a bird roost and nesting place, and that there were hundreds of young birds in the nests among the trees. The old birds flew away when we landed, but came [back] next morning as soon as we left. We had been anxious to see these great nesting places of the birds, and we had our curiosity gratified at the expense of our comfort, for it was a very uncomfortable place to camp, the odor being of sufficient strength to knock down a tolerably strong man.
When cutting away the grass and brush for a sleeping place we discovered a moccasin nest and killed a moccasin, but that did not disturb us as one of the men slept on the hole and thus kept it effectually stopped up all night. This night three of our men were sick and had to be doctored, Mr Minchin, Mr Handley and Mr Mathieux.
Text:
CAMP NO. 9, Island No. 24, Friday, March 25th, 1892.
Surveyors got away first, balance following about 7 A.M.
This was one of the hardest days yet. Water on our course, sufficient for the boats scarce and saw grass very plentiful. Made the longest portage yet over one of the saw grasses, over 2,000 feet. Abandoned the smallest of our wooden boats and threw away some of our impedimenta before crossing. Arrived at Island No. 25 about 3 P.M. the prospecting party reported good showing for tomorrow, which means that sufficient water courses through the saw grass was visible in the direction we wanted to travel.
Island No. 25 has not been visited by Indians for a long time, as we found it occupied as a rookery by white herons, principally, who flew away at our approach, leaving their nests occupied by many young birds.
No cypress timber could be seen today from either island 24 or 25. From the top of a tree a large body of timber is reported visible 6 or 7 miles to the south west, but no one is able to say whether cypress, hammock or pine but presumably cypress. March 25th. Went on to island #25. Camp #9 [#10] at 3:30 P.M. One mile today; heavy wading all day through saw grass. Had to abandon one wooden boat, also one canvas boat. 4 Georgia men rescued canvas boat. Extra clothing, tools, cooking things, etc. abandoned today. Soil very rich. Island #25, 20 miles S.E. Ft. Shackleford, 1/2 mile south of our course. Broke camp 8 A.M.
Mr. Chase and Mr. Newman did very heavy day's work looking up route free from saw grass. Saw grass impossible to get boats through without too heavy work, or by abandoning boats. Packing supplies on men's backs found impracticable on account of bogging.
Island #25 is a white heron rookery or roost.
Islands frequent; from 12 to 20 visible at all times; - some over two acres. Islands seem to be formed by assimilation of vegetable detritus, and are extraordinarily rich. No evidence of frost having ever been felt here.
(N.B. Frog jumped into Syd's plate of rice last night.)
Land. Hard rock bottom underlies the whole Everglades so far, being under the surface from 3 inches to 4 and 6 feet. Water varies in depth above the muck bottom from 6 inches to 2 feet and more, adinfinitum.- Next morning, Friday, March 25th, our Secretary was seated on a convenient root, writing up his notes, when a snake, evidently much frightened at so many men, saw a nice hollow up his coat sleeve, and thinking it had arrived a place of harbor or refuge, attempted to enter. Moses discovered it at this moment, and sending his note-book and fountain pen one way abruptly took the other himself, not apparently desirous of making any close acquaintance with his morning caller.
We left camp very much cheered, as our scout had reported that from the top of the tree he could see clear water ahead, but we had not gone a mile when the saw grass barred our further advance. It was then decided to abandon one of our wooden boats, and such baggage as we could dispense with, so we left the smallest wooden boat, loaded with tents, a lot of spades, shovels, axes and cooking utensils that we did not need, but which I hope have been useful to some Seminole brave before this.
We had been making for an island almost directly on our course, but in the afternoon Mr. Newman decided to turn back a little, and try for one which seemed a little more accessible. Flying about this island we noticed a cloud of birds, mostly white cranes, and when we reached it that evening we found it was a bird roost and nesting place, and that there were hundreds of young birds in the nests among the trees. The old birds flew away when we landed, but came [back] next morning as soon as we left. We had been anxious to see these great nesting places of the birds, and we had our curiosity gratified at the expense of our comfort, for it was a very uncomfortable place to camp, the odor being of sufficient strength to knock down a tolerably strong man.
When cutting away the grass and brush for a sleeping place we discovered a moccasin nest and killed a moccasin, but that did not disturb us as one of the men slept on the hole and thus kept it effectually stopped up all night. This night three of our men were sick and had to be doctored, Mr Minchin, Mr Handley and Mr Mathieux.
Surveyors got away first, balance following about 7 A.M.
This was one of the hardest days yet. Water on our course, sufficient for the boats scarce and saw grass very plentiful. Made the longest portage yet over one of the saw grasses, over 2,000 feet. Abandoned the smallest of our wooden boats and threw away some of our impedimenta before crossing. Arrived at Island No. 25 about 3 P.M. the prospecting party reported good showing for tomorrow, which means that sufficient water courses through the saw grass was visible in the direction we wanted to travel.
Island No. 25 has not been visited by Indians for a long time, as we found it occupied as a rookery by white herons, principally, who flew away at our approach, leaving their nests occupied by many young birds.
No cypress timber could be seen today from either island 24 or 25. From the top of a tree a large body of timber is reported visible 6 or 7 miles to the south west, but no one is able to say whether cypress, hammock or pine but presumably cypress. March 25th. Went on to island #25. Camp #9 [#10] at 3:30 P.M. One mile today; heavy wading all day through saw grass. Had to abandon one wooden boat, also one canvas boat. 4 Georgia men rescued canvas boat. Extra clothing, tools, cooking things, etc. abandoned today. Soil very rich. Island #25, 20 miles S.E. Ft. Shackleford, 1/2 mile south of our course. Broke camp 8 A.M.
Mr. Chase and Mr. Newman did very heavy day's work looking up route free from saw grass. Saw grass impossible to get boats through without too heavy work, or by abandoning boats. Packing supplies on men's backs found impracticable on account of bogging.
Island #25 is a white heron rookery or roost.
Islands frequent; from 12 to 20 visible at all times; - some over two acres. Islands seem to be formed by assimilation of vegetable detritus, and are extraordinarily rich. No evidence of frost having ever been felt here.
(N.B. Frog jumped into Syd's plate of rice last night.)
Land. Hard rock bottom underlies the whole Everglades so far, being under the surface from 3 inches to 4 and 6 feet. Water varies in depth above the muck bottom from 6 inches to 2 feet and more, adinfinitum.- Next morning, Friday, March 25th, our Secretary was seated on a convenient root, writing up his notes, when a snake, evidently much frightened at so many men, saw a nice hollow up his coat sleeve, and thinking it had arrived a place of harbor or refuge, attempted to enter. Moses discovered it at this moment, and sending his note-book and fountain pen one way abruptly took the other himself, not apparently desirous of making any close acquaintance with his morning caller.
We left camp very much cheered, as our scout had reported that from the top of the tree he could see clear water ahead, but we had not gone a mile when the saw grass barred our further advance. It was then decided to abandon one of our wooden boats, and such baggage as we could dispense with, so we left the smallest wooden boat, loaded with tents, a lot of spades, shovels, axes and cooking utensils that we did not need, but which I hope have been useful to some Seminole brave before this.
We had been making for an island almost directly on our course, but in the afternoon Mr. Newman decided to turn back a little, and try for one which seemed a little more accessible. Flying about this island we noticed a cloud of birds, mostly white cranes, and when we reached it that evening we found it was a bird roost and nesting place, and that there were hundreds of young birds in the nests among the trees. The old birds flew away when we landed, but came [back] next morning as soon as we left. We had been anxious to see these great nesting places of the birds, and we had our curiosity gratified at the expense of our comfort, for it was a very uncomfortable place to camp, the odor being of sufficient strength to knock down a tolerably strong man.
When cutting away the grass and brush for a sleeping place we discovered a moccasin nest and killed a moccasin, but that did not disturb us as one of the men slept on the hole and thus kept it effectually stopped up all night. This night three of our men were sick and had to be doctored, Mr Minchin, Mr Handley and Mr Mathieux.
Text:
CAMP NO. 9, Island No. 24, Friday, March 25th, 1892.
Surveyors got away first, balance following about 7 A.M.
This was one of the hardest days yet. Water on our course, sufficient for the boats scarce and saw grass very plentiful. Made the longest portage yet over one of the saw grasses, over 2,000 feet. Abandoned the smallest of our wooden boats and threw away some of our impedimenta before crossing. Arrived at Island No. 25 about 3 P.M. the prospecting party reported good showing for tomorrow, which means that sufficient water courses through the saw grass was visible in the direction we wanted to travel.
Island No. 25 has not been visited by Indians for a long time, as we found it occupied as a rookery by white herons, principally, who flew away at our approach, leaving their nests occupied by many young birds.
No cypress timber could be seen today from either island 24 or 25. From the top of a tree a large body of timber is reported visible 6 or 7 miles to the south west, but no one is able to say whether cypress, hammock or pine but presumably cypress. March 25th. Went on to island #25. Camp #9 [#10] at 3:30 P.M. One mile today; heavy wading all day through saw grass. Had to abandon one wooden boat, also one canvas boat. 4 Georgia men rescued canvas boat. Extra clothing, tools, cooking things, etc. abandoned today. Soil very rich. Island #25, 20 miles S.E. Ft. Shackleford, 1/2 mile south of our course. Broke camp 8 A.M.
Mr. Chase and Mr. Newman did very heavy day's work looking up route free from saw grass. Saw grass impossible to get boats through without too heavy work, or by abandoning boats. Packing supplies on men's backs found impracticable on account of bogging.
Island #25 is a white heron rookery or roost.
Islands frequent; from 12 to 20 visible at all times; - some over two acres. Islands seem to be formed by assimilation of vegetable detritus, and are extraordinarily rich. No evidence of frost having ever been felt here.
(N.B. Frog jumped into Syd's plate of rice last night.)
Land. Hard rock bottom underlies the whole Everglades so far, being under the surface from 3 inches to 4 and 6 feet. Water varies in depth above the muck bottom from 6 inches to 2 feet and more, adinfinitum.- Next morning, Friday, March 25th, our Secretary was seated on a convenient root, writing up his notes, when a snake, evidently much frightened at so many men, saw a nice hollow up his coat sleeve, and thinking it had arrived a place of harbor or refuge, attempted to enter. Moses discovered it at this moment, and sending his note-book and fountain pen one way abruptly took the other himself, not apparently desirous of making any close acquaintance with his morning caller.
We left camp very much cheered, as our scout had reported that from the top of the tree he could see clear water ahead, but we had not gone a mile when the saw grass barred our further advance. It was then decided to abandon one of our wooden boats, and such baggage as we could dispense with, so we left the smallest wooden boat, loaded with tents, a lot of spades, shovels, axes and cooking utensils that we did not need, but which I hope have been useful to some Seminole brave before this.
We had been making for an island almost directly on our course, but in the afternoon Mr. Newman decided to turn back a little, and try for one which seemed a little more accessible. Flying about this island we noticed a cloud of birds, mostly white cranes, and when we reached it that evening we found it was a bird roost and nesting place, and that there were hundreds of young birds in the nests among the trees. The old birds flew away when we landed, but came [back] next morning as soon as we left. We had been anxious to see these great nesting places of the birds, and we had our curiosity gratified at the expense of our comfort, for it was a very uncomfortable place to camp, the odor being of sufficient strength to knock down a tolerably strong man.
When cutting away the grass and brush for a sleeping place we discovered a moccasin nest and killed a moccasin, but that did not disturb us as one of the men slept on the hole and thus kept it effectually stopped up all night. This night three of our men were sick and had to be doctored, Mr Minchin, Mr Handley and Mr Mathieux.
Surveyors got away first, balance following about 7 A.M.
This was one of the hardest days yet. Water on our course, sufficient for the boats scarce and saw grass very plentiful. Made the longest portage yet over one of the saw grasses, over 2,000 feet. Abandoned the smallest of our wooden boats and threw away some of our impedimenta before crossing. Arrived at Island No. 25 about 3 P.M. the prospecting party reported good showing for tomorrow, which means that sufficient water courses through the saw grass was visible in the direction we wanted to travel.
Island No. 25 has not been visited by Indians for a long time, as we found it occupied as a rookery by white herons, principally, who flew away at our approach, leaving their nests occupied by many young birds.
No cypress timber could be seen today from either island 24 or 25. From the top of a tree a large body of timber is reported visible 6 or 7 miles to the south west, but no one is able to say whether cypress, hammock or pine but presumably cypress. March 25th. Went on to island #25. Camp #9 [#10] at 3:30 P.M. One mile today; heavy wading all day through saw grass. Had to abandon one wooden boat, also one canvas boat. 4 Georgia men rescued canvas boat. Extra clothing, tools, cooking things, etc. abandoned today. Soil very rich. Island #25, 20 miles S.E. Ft. Shackleford, 1/2 mile south of our course. Broke camp 8 A.M.
Mr. Chase and Mr. Newman did very heavy day's work looking up route free from saw grass. Saw grass impossible to get boats through without too heavy work, or by abandoning boats. Packing supplies on men's backs found impracticable on account of bogging.
Island #25 is a white heron rookery or roost.
Islands frequent; from 12 to 20 visible at all times; - some over two acres. Islands seem to be formed by assimilation of vegetable detritus, and are extraordinarily rich. No evidence of frost having ever been felt here.
(N.B. Frog jumped into Syd's plate of rice last night.)
Land. Hard rock bottom underlies the whole Everglades so far, being under the surface from 3 inches to 4 and 6 feet. Water varies in depth above the muck bottom from 6 inches to 2 feet and more, adinfinitum.- Next morning, Friday, March 25th, our Secretary was seated on a convenient root, writing up his notes, when a snake, evidently much frightened at so many men, saw a nice hollow up his coat sleeve, and thinking it had arrived a place of harbor or refuge, attempted to enter. Moses discovered it at this moment, and sending his note-book and fountain pen one way abruptly took the other himself, not apparently desirous of making any close acquaintance with his morning caller.
We left camp very much cheered, as our scout had reported that from the top of the tree he could see clear water ahead, but we had not gone a mile when the saw grass barred our further advance. It was then decided to abandon one of our wooden boats, and such baggage as we could dispense with, so we left the smallest wooden boat, loaded with tents, a lot of spades, shovels, axes and cooking utensils that we did not need, but which I hope have been useful to some Seminole brave before this.
We had been making for an island almost directly on our course, but in the afternoon Mr. Newman decided to turn back a little, and try for one which seemed a little more accessible. Flying about this island we noticed a cloud of birds, mostly white cranes, and when we reached it that evening we found it was a bird roost and nesting place, and that there were hundreds of young birds in the nests among the trees. The old birds flew away when we landed, but came [back] next morning as soon as we left. We had been anxious to see these great nesting places of the birds, and we had our curiosity gratified at the expense of our comfort, for it was a very uncomfortable place to camp, the odor being of sufficient strength to knock down a tolerably strong man.
When cutting away the grass and brush for a sleeping place we discovered a moccasin nest and killed a moccasin, but that did not disturb us as one of the men slept on the hole and thus kept it effectually stopped up all night. This night three of our men were sick and had to be doctored, Mr Minchin, Mr Handley and Mr Mathieux.
Textual Notes