Ingraham Expedition: March 27, Sunday
Project Information
Ingraham Expedition: March 27, Sunday
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: 
Island No. 26, Camp No. 11, Sunday March 27th.
Found plenty of firewood cut by the Indians and had a good breakfast of hominy and rice and beans. Our flour is out. Corn meal has been out for some days. The corn meal was packed with bottles of syrup which fermenting drove out the corks and was soaked up by the meal. It made very palatable bread and mush though at first we supposed it was badly damaged.
The day began with rain immediately after breakfast, which delayed the departure of the main body. The surveyors got away earlier and before the rain. The outlook was gloomy but the clouds rolled by and by noon it was clear, the wind going to the north west and the day ending cool.
Got away about 9 A.M. Made 1/4 of a mile east and 2 miles or so S.E. ran into large bodies of saw grass and no water on our course sufficient to float boats. The glades all seem to have a tendency to the south and occasionally a little west of south, while our course is almost due S.E. Retraced our steps in a northeasterly course and camped at a small tree, the inception of an island, about 1 1/2 miles east of Camp No. 11 Being our camp No. 12 it was a very discouraging day as we worked hard and travelled several miles that did not count.
Cut down part of the green tree above mentioned for fuel, which our commissary, George Matthieux, finally succeeded in inducing to burn after everybody else had given it up. This gave us hot tea and coffee and hominy. Messrs. Ingraham and Moses slept in canvas boats, the balance cut saw grass, piled it up so as to be out of the water and made their beds thereon. All declared it made the most comfortable beds yet, though it was a little uncomfortable to step out into the water the first thing on rising.
Rock about the same distance below the surface all day.
Mr. Ingraham shot a duck on the wing with a rifle; also shot a marsh hen.
One small island in sight 4 miles to the N.E. one about 7 miles east somewhat larger. Seen from the top of a stunted custard apple tree from which we were prospecting.
Mr. Clark who was appointed commissary a day or two ago, when we found it extremely necessary to economize our food supplies today refused to act any longer, owing to the guying and chaffing of some of the men whose stomachs were larger than their discretion or judgment. Mr. Matthieux was appointed commissary to have charge of and serve out the stores economically, accepted and assumed the duties. Our consumption of food has heretofore been rather lavish and based on an expected average advance of 5 miles per day through the glades, which expectation has not been realized, and this step has been taken none too soon. Sunday, March 27th. Day opened bright. Heavy cold rain from N.W. at 8 A.M., while breaking up camp; continued one hour, then cloudy till noon. Two heavy saw grass portages today, 400 feet each. Water deeper, but better bottom.
Noon, another heavy portage. Saw grass appears to be continuous to the S.E. No islands in sight in that direction.
Changed course to run a little more northerly so as to get into glades running S.E., saved saw grass portages.
Mr. Clark asked to be relieved from commissary at noon. Men elected Geo. Mathews in place; so he was installed.
Water is deeper today and seems to flow towards the S.E., though no current is perceptible; bottom very boggy; but, for the boats wading would be almost out of the question through the sloughs or glades, as we named them, as the water is eagerly looked for to avoid tiresome portages through saw grass.
Camped in the saw grass. Very high wind; everything wet; - no wood; - hard night. Men all tired out and yet cheerful. Saw grass Camp #12. Sunday the 27th we were put on rations of hominy, coffee and bacon gravy, but we did not suffer from hunger and none of the men seemed to be very despondent. We ate lunch that day in somewhat of a bad humor as although we had worked hard all morning we had not made much progress in the right direction; in a nest in a bush near us were two little blue cranes, who looked at us and opened their mouths and cried (I thought), we were great idiots to come into such a place when we had no wings with which to fly out.
This day the man Clarke, who had been appointed to serve out the rations, resigned as the men complained to him about their allowance, so Geo. Mathieux was appointed in Clarke's place.
As we had not seen any game in the "Glades" the guns were usually kept in the boats; this morning as we were strung out through the saw grass I heard from those in front shouts of, "Get the gun!- Shoot him!- Kill him!- Catch him!-" and an instant after a deer emerged from the grass in front and plunged heavily in the bog not twenty yards from me. For an instant the frightened animal seemed stuck in the mud, but gathering all its strength made a supreme effort and disappeared in the grass just as several of us made a rush to catch it. And when the deer was gone and there was no prospect of venison steaks for supper, every one of those fellows who were so tired of hominy went back to the boats, strapped on their guns, loaded themselves with ammunition and vowed the next time a deer came by they would be ready for him, but I haven't seen a deer since, and I don't think they have either.
All day long we hunted for an opening to the east, and although we walked miles and miles, north and south, no channel could be found. On all sides could be seen smokes, presumably lit by Indians, but they never came near us.
In the afternoon a cold wind was blowing, and my wet, stiff clothes chafed me terribly, so that I could not walk without great pain, and had to get in one of the boats and ride. At sundown there was no island near us, and we made our camp in the saw grass where it grew unusually tall and thick, and near a little willow or custard apple tree. There was no dry wood for our fire, the water was so muddy we could hardly get enough to make coffee, and we had to cut down saw grass to make mattresses thick enough to raise us above the water level. There was a clear bright sunset and a cold north-west wind which chilled me to the marrow as I stood changing my wet, muddy clothes for some dry ones;- thinking there was no possible chance for any supper I went to bed as soon as the blankets were spread down, and although hungry and exhausted dropped off to sleep as soon as I stretched myself. About eight o'clock Mr. Sydney called, and said they had managed to boil some rice and make a pot of coffee, which I enjoyed very much, although the rice was only half done. My fatigue had somewhat abated and I got up to look at the fires which were burning at a distance and which we or some passing Indians had lit during the day. A stiff northwester was rattling the saw grass and fanning the fires into magnificence. Although several miles from us we could hear the crackling and roaring quite plainly, and see the great tongues of flame leap fiercely towards the sky, burn with red fury in some tall bunch of grass, and as the wind gusts died away and the grass grew thinner, fall back exhausted as if to gather strength for a fresh outburst. Some times great masses of flame carried on by the wind, would leap forward of the advancing line, as if urged by some fierce passion, then that which was left behind would rush forward with a loud crackle as though angry at being distanced in the race. Our camp was on an island and the wind was not bringing the fires toward us, so the frosty air soon sent me back to bed and to such sleep as the cold would let us have.
Found plenty of firewood cut by the Indians and had a good breakfast of hominy and rice and beans. Our flour is out. Corn meal has been out for some days. The corn meal was packed with bottles of syrup which fermenting drove out the corks and was soaked up by the meal. It made very palatable bread and mush though at first we supposed it was badly damaged.
The day began with rain immediately after breakfast, which delayed the departure of the main body. The surveyors got away earlier and before the rain. The outlook was gloomy but the clouds rolled by and by noon it was clear, the wind going to the north west and the day ending cool.
Got away about 9 A.M. Made 1/4 of a mile east and 2 miles or so S.E. ran into large bodies of saw grass and no water on our course sufficient to float boats. The glades all seem to have a tendency to the south and occasionally a little west of south, while our course is almost due S.E. Retraced our steps in a northeasterly course and camped at a small tree, the inception of an island, about 1 1/2 miles east of Camp No. 11 Being our camp No. 12 it was a very discouraging day as we worked hard and travelled several miles that did not count.
Cut down part of the green tree above mentioned for fuel, which our commissary, George Matthieux, finally succeeded in inducing to burn after everybody else had given it up. This gave us hot tea and coffee and hominy. Messrs. Ingraham and Moses slept in canvas boats, the balance cut saw grass, piled it up so as to be out of the water and made their beds thereon. All declared it made the most comfortable beds yet, though it was a little uncomfortable to step out into the water the first thing on rising.
Rock about the same distance below the surface all day.
Mr. Ingraham shot a duck on the wing with a rifle; also shot a marsh hen.
One small island in sight 4 miles to the N.E. one about 7 miles east somewhat larger. Seen from the top of a stunted custard apple tree from which we were prospecting.
Mr. Clark who was appointed commissary a day or two ago, when we found it extremely necessary to economize our food supplies today refused to act any longer, owing to the guying and chaffing of some of the men whose stomachs were larger than their discretion or judgment. Mr. Matthieux was appointed commissary to have charge of and serve out the stores economically, accepted and assumed the duties. Our consumption of food has heretofore been rather lavish and based on an expected average advance of 5 miles per day through the glades, which expectation has not been realized, and this step has been taken none too soon. Sunday, March 27th. Day opened bright. Heavy cold rain from N.W. at 8 A.M., while breaking up camp; continued one hour, then cloudy till noon. Two heavy saw grass portages today, 400 feet each. Water deeper, but better bottom.
Noon, another heavy portage. Saw grass appears to be continuous to the S.E. No islands in sight in that direction.
Changed course to run a little more northerly so as to get into glades running S.E., saved saw grass portages.
Mr. Clark asked to be relieved from commissary at noon. Men elected Geo. Mathews in place; so he was installed.
Water is deeper today and seems to flow towards the S.E., though no current is perceptible; bottom very boggy; but, for the boats wading would be almost out of the question through the sloughs or glades, as we named them, as the water is eagerly looked for to avoid tiresome portages through saw grass.
Camped in the saw grass. Very high wind; everything wet; - no wood; - hard night. Men all tired out and yet cheerful. Saw grass Camp #12. Sunday the 27th we were put on rations of hominy, coffee and bacon gravy, but we did not suffer from hunger and none of the men seemed to be very despondent. We ate lunch that day in somewhat of a bad humor as although we had worked hard all morning we had not made much progress in the right direction; in a nest in a bush near us were two little blue cranes, who looked at us and opened their mouths and cried (I thought), we were great idiots to come into such a place when we had no wings with which to fly out.
This day the man Clarke, who had been appointed to serve out the rations, resigned as the men complained to him about their allowance, so Geo. Mathieux was appointed in Clarke's place.
As we had not seen any game in the "Glades" the guns were usually kept in the boats; this morning as we were strung out through the saw grass I heard from those in front shouts of, "Get the gun!- Shoot him!- Kill him!- Catch him!-" and an instant after a deer emerged from the grass in front and plunged heavily in the bog not twenty yards from me. For an instant the frightened animal seemed stuck in the mud, but gathering all its strength made a supreme effort and disappeared in the grass just as several of us made a rush to catch it. And when the deer was gone and there was no prospect of venison steaks for supper, every one of those fellows who were so tired of hominy went back to the boats, strapped on their guns, loaded themselves with ammunition and vowed the next time a deer came by they would be ready for him, but I haven't seen a deer since, and I don't think they have either.
All day long we hunted for an opening to the east, and although we walked miles and miles, north and south, no channel could be found. On all sides could be seen smokes, presumably lit by Indians, but they never came near us.
In the afternoon a cold wind was blowing, and my wet, stiff clothes chafed me terribly, so that I could not walk without great pain, and had to get in one of the boats and ride. At sundown there was no island near us, and we made our camp in the saw grass where it grew unusually tall and thick, and near a little willow or custard apple tree. There was no dry wood for our fire, the water was so muddy we could hardly get enough to make coffee, and we had to cut down saw grass to make mattresses thick enough to raise us above the water level. There was a clear bright sunset and a cold north-west wind which chilled me to the marrow as I stood changing my wet, muddy clothes for some dry ones;- thinking there was no possible chance for any supper I went to bed as soon as the blankets were spread down, and although hungry and exhausted dropped off to sleep as soon as I stretched myself. About eight o'clock Mr. Sydney called, and said they had managed to boil some rice and make a pot of coffee, which I enjoyed very much, although the rice was only half done. My fatigue had somewhat abated and I got up to look at the fires which were burning at a distance and which we or some passing Indians had lit during the day. A stiff northwester was rattling the saw grass and fanning the fires into magnificence. Although several miles from us we could hear the crackling and roaring quite plainly, and see the great tongues of flame leap fiercely towards the sky, burn with red fury in some tall bunch of grass, and as the wind gusts died away and the grass grew thinner, fall back exhausted as if to gather strength for a fresh outburst. Some times great masses of flame carried on by the wind, would leap forward of the advancing line, as if urged by some fierce passion, then that which was left behind would rush forward with a loud crackle as though angry at being distanced in the race. Our camp was on an island and the wind was not bringing the fires toward us, so the frosty air soon sent me back to bed and to such sleep as the cold would let us have.
Text:
Island No. 26, Camp No. 11, Sunday March 27th.
Found plenty of firewood cut by the Indians and had a good breakfast of hominy and rice and beans. Our flour is out. Corn meal has been out for some days. The corn meal was packed with bottles of syrup which fermenting drove out the corks and was soaked up by the meal. It made very palatable bread and mush though at first we supposed it was badly damaged.
The day began with rain immediately after breakfast, which delayed the departure of the main body. The surveyors got away earlier and before the rain. The outlook was gloomy but the clouds rolled by and by noon it was clear, the wind going to the north west and the day ending cool.
Got away about 9 A.M. Made 1/4 of a mile east and 2 miles or so S.E. ran into large bodies of saw grass and no water on our course sufficient to float boats. The glades all seem to have a tendency to the south and occasionally a little west of south, while our course is almost due S.E. Retraced our steps in a northeasterly course and camped at a small tree, the inception of an island, about 1 1/2 miles east of Camp No. 11 Being our camp No. 12 it was a very discouraging day as we worked hard and travelled several miles that did not count.
Cut down part of the green tree above mentioned for fuel, which our commissary, George Matthieux, finally succeeded in inducing to burn after everybody else had given it up. This gave us hot tea and coffee and hominy. Messrs. Ingraham and Moses slept in canvas boats, the balance cut saw grass, piled it up so as to be out of the water and made their beds thereon. All declared it made the most comfortable beds yet, though it was a little uncomfortable to step out into the water the first thing on rising.
Rock about the same distance below the surface all day.
Mr. Ingraham shot a duck on the wing with a rifle; also shot a marsh hen.
One small island in sight 4 miles to the N.E. one about 7 miles east somewhat larger. Seen from the top of a stunted custard apple tree from which we were prospecting.
Mr. Clark who was appointed commissary a day or two ago, when we found it extremely necessary to economize our food supplies today refused to act any longer, owing to the guying and chaffing of some of the men whose stomachs were larger than their discretion or judgment. Mr. Matthieux was appointed commissary to have charge of and serve out the stores economically, accepted and assumed the duties. Our consumption of food has heretofore been rather lavish and based on an expected average advance of 5 miles per day through the glades, which expectation has not been realized, and this step has been taken none too soon. Sunday, March 27th. Day opened bright. Heavy cold rain from N.W. at 8 A.M., while breaking up camp; continued one hour, then cloudy till noon. Two heavy saw grass portages today, 400 feet each. Water deeper, but better bottom.
Noon, another heavy portage. Saw grass appears to be continuous to the S.E. No islands in sight in that direction.
Changed course to run a little more northerly so as to get into glades running S.E., saved saw grass portages.
Mr. Clark asked to be relieved from commissary at noon. Men elected Geo. Mathews in place; so he was installed.
Water is deeper today and seems to flow towards the S.E., though no current is perceptible; bottom very boggy; but, for the boats wading would be almost out of the question through the sloughs or glades, as we named them, as the water is eagerly looked for to avoid tiresome portages through saw grass.
Camped in the saw grass. Very high wind; everything wet; - no wood; - hard night. Men all tired out and yet cheerful. Saw grass Camp #12. Sunday the 27th we were put on rations of hominy, coffee and bacon gravy, but we did not suffer from hunger and none of the men seemed to be very despondent. We ate lunch that day in somewhat of a bad humor as although we had worked hard all morning we had not made much progress in the right direction; in a nest in a bush near us were two little blue cranes, who looked at us and opened their mouths and cried (I thought), we were great idiots to come into such a place when we had no wings with which to fly out.
This day the man Clarke, who had been appointed to serve out the rations, resigned as the men complained to him about their allowance, so Geo. Mathieux was appointed in Clarke's place.
As we had not seen any game in the "Glades" the guns were usually kept in the boats; this morning as we were strung out through the saw grass I heard from those in front shouts of, "Get the gun!- Shoot him!- Kill him!- Catch him!-" and an instant after a deer emerged from the grass in front and plunged heavily in the bog not twenty yards from me. For an instant the frightened animal seemed stuck in the mud, but gathering all its strength made a supreme effort and disappeared in the grass just as several of us made a rush to catch it. And when the deer was gone and there was no prospect of venison steaks for supper, every one of those fellows who were so tired of hominy went back to the boats, strapped on their guns, loaded themselves with ammunition and vowed the next time a deer came by they would be ready for him, but I haven't seen a deer since, and I don't think they have either.
All day long we hunted for an opening to the east, and although we walked miles and miles, north and south, no channel could be found. On all sides could be seen smokes, presumably lit by Indians, but they never came near us.
In the afternoon a cold wind was blowing, and my wet, stiff clothes chafed me terribly, so that I could not walk without great pain, and had to get in one of the boats and ride. At sundown there was no island near us, and we made our camp in the saw grass where it grew unusually tall and thick, and near a little willow or custard apple tree. There was no dry wood for our fire, the water was so muddy we could hardly get enough to make coffee, and we had to cut down saw grass to make mattresses thick enough to raise us above the water level. There was a clear bright sunset and a cold north-west wind which chilled me to the marrow as I stood changing my wet, muddy clothes for some dry ones;- thinking there was no possible chance for any supper I went to bed as soon as the blankets were spread down, and although hungry and exhausted dropped off to sleep as soon as I stretched myself. About eight o'clock Mr. Sydney called, and said they had managed to boil some rice and make a pot of coffee, which I enjoyed very much, although the rice was only half done. My fatigue had somewhat abated and I got up to look at the fires which were burning at a distance and which we or some passing Indians had lit during the day. A stiff northwester was rattling the saw grass and fanning the fires into magnificence. Although several miles from us we could hear the crackling and roaring quite plainly, and see the great tongues of flame leap fiercely towards the sky, burn with red fury in some tall bunch of grass, and as the wind gusts died away and the grass grew thinner, fall back exhausted as if to gather strength for a fresh outburst. Some times great masses of flame carried on by the wind, would leap forward of the advancing line, as if urged by some fierce passion, then that which was left behind would rush forward with a loud crackle as though angry at being distanced in the race. Our camp was on an island and the wind was not bringing the fires toward us, so the frosty air soon sent me back to bed and to such sleep as the cold would let us have.
Found plenty of firewood cut by the Indians and had a good breakfast of hominy and rice and beans. Our flour is out. Corn meal has been out for some days. The corn meal was packed with bottles of syrup which fermenting drove out the corks and was soaked up by the meal. It made very palatable bread and mush though at first we supposed it was badly damaged.
The day began with rain immediately after breakfast, which delayed the departure of the main body. The surveyors got away earlier and before the rain. The outlook was gloomy but the clouds rolled by and by noon it was clear, the wind going to the north west and the day ending cool.
Got away about 9 A.M. Made 1/4 of a mile east and 2 miles or so S.E. ran into large bodies of saw grass and no water on our course sufficient to float boats. The glades all seem to have a tendency to the south and occasionally a little west of south, while our course is almost due S.E. Retraced our steps in a northeasterly course and camped at a small tree, the inception of an island, about 1 1/2 miles east of Camp No. 11 Being our camp No. 12 it was a very discouraging day as we worked hard and travelled several miles that did not count.
Cut down part of the green tree above mentioned for fuel, which our commissary, George Matthieux, finally succeeded in inducing to burn after everybody else had given it up. This gave us hot tea and coffee and hominy. Messrs. Ingraham and Moses slept in canvas boats, the balance cut saw grass, piled it up so as to be out of the water and made their beds thereon. All declared it made the most comfortable beds yet, though it was a little uncomfortable to step out into the water the first thing on rising.
Rock about the same distance below the surface all day.
Mr. Ingraham shot a duck on the wing with a rifle; also shot a marsh hen.
One small island in sight 4 miles to the N.E. one about 7 miles east somewhat larger. Seen from the top of a stunted custard apple tree from which we were prospecting.
Mr. Clark who was appointed commissary a day or two ago, when we found it extremely necessary to economize our food supplies today refused to act any longer, owing to the guying and chaffing of some of the men whose stomachs were larger than their discretion or judgment. Mr. Matthieux was appointed commissary to have charge of and serve out the stores economically, accepted and assumed the duties. Our consumption of food has heretofore been rather lavish and based on an expected average advance of 5 miles per day through the glades, which expectation has not been realized, and this step has been taken none too soon. Sunday, March 27th. Day opened bright. Heavy cold rain from N.W. at 8 A.M., while breaking up camp; continued one hour, then cloudy till noon. Two heavy saw grass portages today, 400 feet each. Water deeper, but better bottom.
Noon, another heavy portage. Saw grass appears to be continuous to the S.E. No islands in sight in that direction.
Changed course to run a little more northerly so as to get into glades running S.E., saved saw grass portages.
Mr. Clark asked to be relieved from commissary at noon. Men elected Geo. Mathews in place; so he was installed.
Water is deeper today and seems to flow towards the S.E., though no current is perceptible; bottom very boggy; but, for the boats wading would be almost out of the question through the sloughs or glades, as we named them, as the water is eagerly looked for to avoid tiresome portages through saw grass.
Camped in the saw grass. Very high wind; everything wet; - no wood; - hard night. Men all tired out and yet cheerful. Saw grass Camp #12. Sunday the 27th we were put on rations of hominy, coffee and bacon gravy, but we did not suffer from hunger and none of the men seemed to be very despondent. We ate lunch that day in somewhat of a bad humor as although we had worked hard all morning we had not made much progress in the right direction; in a nest in a bush near us were two little blue cranes, who looked at us and opened their mouths and cried (I thought), we were great idiots to come into such a place when we had no wings with which to fly out.
This day the man Clarke, who had been appointed to serve out the rations, resigned as the men complained to him about their allowance, so Geo. Mathieux was appointed in Clarke's place.
As we had not seen any game in the "Glades" the guns were usually kept in the boats; this morning as we were strung out through the saw grass I heard from those in front shouts of, "Get the gun!- Shoot him!- Kill him!- Catch him!-" and an instant after a deer emerged from the grass in front and plunged heavily in the bog not twenty yards from me. For an instant the frightened animal seemed stuck in the mud, but gathering all its strength made a supreme effort and disappeared in the grass just as several of us made a rush to catch it. And when the deer was gone and there was no prospect of venison steaks for supper, every one of those fellows who were so tired of hominy went back to the boats, strapped on their guns, loaded themselves with ammunition and vowed the next time a deer came by they would be ready for him, but I haven't seen a deer since, and I don't think they have either.
All day long we hunted for an opening to the east, and although we walked miles and miles, north and south, no channel could be found. On all sides could be seen smokes, presumably lit by Indians, but they never came near us.
In the afternoon a cold wind was blowing, and my wet, stiff clothes chafed me terribly, so that I could not walk without great pain, and had to get in one of the boats and ride. At sundown there was no island near us, and we made our camp in the saw grass where it grew unusually tall and thick, and near a little willow or custard apple tree. There was no dry wood for our fire, the water was so muddy we could hardly get enough to make coffee, and we had to cut down saw grass to make mattresses thick enough to raise us above the water level. There was a clear bright sunset and a cold north-west wind which chilled me to the marrow as I stood changing my wet, muddy clothes for some dry ones;- thinking there was no possible chance for any supper I went to bed as soon as the blankets were spread down, and although hungry and exhausted dropped off to sleep as soon as I stretched myself. About eight o'clock Mr. Sydney called, and said they had managed to boil some rice and make a pot of coffee, which I enjoyed very much, although the rice was only half done. My fatigue had somewhat abated and I got up to look at the fires which were burning at a distance and which we or some passing Indians had lit during the day. A stiff northwester was rattling the saw grass and fanning the fires into magnificence. Although several miles from us we could hear the crackling and roaring quite plainly, and see the great tongues of flame leap fiercely towards the sky, burn with red fury in some tall bunch of grass, and as the wind gusts died away and the grass grew thinner, fall back exhausted as if to gather strength for a fresh outburst. Some times great masses of flame carried on by the wind, would leap forward of the advancing line, as if urged by some fierce passion, then that which was left behind would rush forward with a loud crackle as though angry at being distanced in the race. Our camp was on an island and the wind was not bringing the fires toward us, so the frosty air soon sent me back to bed and to such sleep as the cold would let us have.
Text:
Island No. 26, Camp No. 11, Sunday March 27th.
Found plenty of firewood cut by the Indians and had a good breakfast of hominy and rice and beans. Our flour is out. Corn meal has been out for some days. The corn meal was packed with bottles of syrup which fermenting drove out the corks and was soaked up by the meal. It made very palatable bread and mush though at first we supposed it was badly damaged.
The day began with rain immediately after breakfast, which delayed the departure of the main body. The surveyors got away earlier and before the rain. The outlook was gloomy but the clouds rolled by and by noon it was clear, the wind going to the north west and the day ending cool.
Got away about 9 A.M. Made 1/4 of a mile east and 2 miles or so S.E. ran into large bodies of saw grass and no water on our course sufficient to float boats. The glades all seem to have a tendency to the south and occasionally a little west of south, while our course is almost due S.E. Retraced our steps in a northeasterly course and camped at a small tree, the inception of an island, about 1 1/2 miles east of Camp No. 11 Being our camp No. 12 it was a very discouraging day as we worked hard and travelled several miles that did not count.
Cut down part of the green tree above mentioned for fuel, which our commissary, George Matthieux, finally succeeded in inducing to burn after everybody else had given it up. This gave us hot tea and coffee and hominy. Messrs. Ingraham and Moses slept in canvas boats, the balance cut saw grass, piled it up so as to be out of the water and made their beds thereon. All declared it made the most comfortable beds yet, though it was a little uncomfortable to step out into the water the first thing on rising.
Rock about the same distance below the surface all day.
Mr. Ingraham shot a duck on the wing with a rifle; also shot a marsh hen.
One small island in sight 4 miles to the N.E. one about 7 miles east somewhat larger. Seen from the top of a stunted custard apple tree from which we were prospecting.
Mr. Clark who was appointed commissary a day or two ago, when we found it extremely necessary to economize our food supplies today refused to act any longer, owing to the guying and chaffing of some of the men whose stomachs were larger than their discretion or judgment. Mr. Matthieux was appointed commissary to have charge of and serve out the stores economically, accepted and assumed the duties. Our consumption of food has heretofore been rather lavish and based on an expected average advance of 5 miles per day through the glades, which expectation has not been realized, and this step has been taken none too soon. Sunday, March 27th. Day opened bright. Heavy cold rain from N.W. at 8 A.M., while breaking up camp; continued one hour, then cloudy till noon. Two heavy saw grass portages today, 400 feet each. Water deeper, but better bottom.
Noon, another heavy portage. Saw grass appears to be continuous to the S.E. No islands in sight in that direction.
Changed course to run a little more northerly so as to get into glades running S.E., saved saw grass portages.
Mr. Clark asked to be relieved from commissary at noon. Men elected Geo. Mathews in place; so he was installed.
Water is deeper today and seems to flow towards the S.E., though no current is perceptible; bottom very boggy; but, for the boats wading would be almost out of the question through the sloughs or glades, as we named them, as the water is eagerly looked for to avoid tiresome portages through saw grass.
Camped in the saw grass. Very high wind; everything wet; - no wood; - hard night. Men all tired out and yet cheerful. Saw grass Camp #12. Sunday the 27th we were put on rations of hominy, coffee and bacon gravy, but we did not suffer from hunger and none of the men seemed to be very despondent. We ate lunch that day in somewhat of a bad humor as although we had worked hard all morning we had not made much progress in the right direction; in a nest in a bush near us were two little blue cranes, who looked at us and opened their mouths and cried (I thought), we were great idiots to come into such a place when we had no wings with which to fly out.
This day the man Clarke, who had been appointed to serve out the rations, resigned as the men complained to him about their allowance, so Geo. Mathieux was appointed in Clarke's place.
As we had not seen any game in the "Glades" the guns were usually kept in the boats; this morning as we were strung out through the saw grass I heard from those in front shouts of, "Get the gun!- Shoot him!- Kill him!- Catch him!-" and an instant after a deer emerged from the grass in front and plunged heavily in the bog not twenty yards from me. For an instant the frightened animal seemed stuck in the mud, but gathering all its strength made a supreme effort and disappeared in the grass just as several of us made a rush to catch it. And when the deer was gone and there was no prospect of venison steaks for supper, every one of those fellows who were so tired of hominy went back to the boats, strapped on their guns, loaded themselves with ammunition and vowed the next time a deer came by they would be ready for him, but I haven't seen a deer since, and I don't think they have either.
All day long we hunted for an opening to the east, and although we walked miles and miles, north and south, no channel could be found. On all sides could be seen smokes, presumably lit by Indians, but they never came near us.
In the afternoon a cold wind was blowing, and my wet, stiff clothes chafed me terribly, so that I could not walk without great pain, and had to get in one of the boats and ride. At sundown there was no island near us, and we made our camp in the saw grass where it grew unusually tall and thick, and near a little willow or custard apple tree. There was no dry wood for our fire, the water was so muddy we could hardly get enough to make coffee, and we had to cut down saw grass to make mattresses thick enough to raise us above the water level. There was a clear bright sunset and a cold north-west wind which chilled me to the marrow as I stood changing my wet, muddy clothes for some dry ones;- thinking there was no possible chance for any supper I went to bed as soon as the blankets were spread down, and although hungry and exhausted dropped off to sleep as soon as I stretched myself. About eight o'clock Mr. Sydney called, and said they had managed to boil some rice and make a pot of coffee, which I enjoyed very much, although the rice was only half done. My fatigue had somewhat abated and I got up to look at the fires which were burning at a distance and which we or some passing Indians had lit during the day. A stiff northwester was rattling the saw grass and fanning the fires into magnificence. Although several miles from us we could hear the crackling and roaring quite plainly, and see the great tongues of flame leap fiercely towards the sky, burn with red fury in some tall bunch of grass, and as the wind gusts died away and the grass grew thinner, fall back exhausted as if to gather strength for a fresh outburst. Some times great masses of flame carried on by the wind, would leap forward of the advancing line, as if urged by some fierce passion, then that which was left behind would rush forward with a loud crackle as though angry at being distanced in the race. Our camp was on an island and the wind was not bringing the fires toward us, so the frosty air soon sent me back to bed and to such sleep as the cold would let us have.
Found plenty of firewood cut by the Indians and had a good breakfast of hominy and rice and beans. Our flour is out. Corn meal has been out for some days. The corn meal was packed with bottles of syrup which fermenting drove out the corks and was soaked up by the meal. It made very palatable bread and mush though at first we supposed it was badly damaged.
The day began with rain immediately after breakfast, which delayed the departure of the main body. The surveyors got away earlier and before the rain. The outlook was gloomy but the clouds rolled by and by noon it was clear, the wind going to the north west and the day ending cool.
Got away about 9 A.M. Made 1/4 of a mile east and 2 miles or so S.E. ran into large bodies of saw grass and no water on our course sufficient to float boats. The glades all seem to have a tendency to the south and occasionally a little west of south, while our course is almost due S.E. Retraced our steps in a northeasterly course and camped at a small tree, the inception of an island, about 1 1/2 miles east of Camp No. 11 Being our camp No. 12 it was a very discouraging day as we worked hard and travelled several miles that did not count.
Cut down part of the green tree above mentioned for fuel, which our commissary, George Matthieux, finally succeeded in inducing to burn after everybody else had given it up. This gave us hot tea and coffee and hominy. Messrs. Ingraham and Moses slept in canvas boats, the balance cut saw grass, piled it up so as to be out of the water and made their beds thereon. All declared it made the most comfortable beds yet, though it was a little uncomfortable to step out into the water the first thing on rising.
Rock about the same distance below the surface all day.
Mr. Ingraham shot a duck on the wing with a rifle; also shot a marsh hen.
One small island in sight 4 miles to the N.E. one about 7 miles east somewhat larger. Seen from the top of a stunted custard apple tree from which we were prospecting.
Mr. Clark who was appointed commissary a day or two ago, when we found it extremely necessary to economize our food supplies today refused to act any longer, owing to the guying and chaffing of some of the men whose stomachs were larger than their discretion or judgment. Mr. Matthieux was appointed commissary to have charge of and serve out the stores economically, accepted and assumed the duties. Our consumption of food has heretofore been rather lavish and based on an expected average advance of 5 miles per day through the glades, which expectation has not been realized, and this step has been taken none too soon. Sunday, March 27th. Day opened bright. Heavy cold rain from N.W. at 8 A.M., while breaking up camp; continued one hour, then cloudy till noon. Two heavy saw grass portages today, 400 feet each. Water deeper, but better bottom.
Noon, another heavy portage. Saw grass appears to be continuous to the S.E. No islands in sight in that direction.
Changed course to run a little more northerly so as to get into glades running S.E., saved saw grass portages.
Mr. Clark asked to be relieved from commissary at noon. Men elected Geo. Mathews in place; so he was installed.
Water is deeper today and seems to flow towards the S.E., though no current is perceptible; bottom very boggy; but, for the boats wading would be almost out of the question through the sloughs or glades, as we named them, as the water is eagerly looked for to avoid tiresome portages through saw grass.
Camped in the saw grass. Very high wind; everything wet; - no wood; - hard night. Men all tired out and yet cheerful. Saw grass Camp #12. Sunday the 27th we were put on rations of hominy, coffee and bacon gravy, but we did not suffer from hunger and none of the men seemed to be very despondent. We ate lunch that day in somewhat of a bad humor as although we had worked hard all morning we had not made much progress in the right direction; in a nest in a bush near us were two little blue cranes, who looked at us and opened their mouths and cried (I thought), we were great idiots to come into such a place when we had no wings with which to fly out.
This day the man Clarke, who had been appointed to serve out the rations, resigned as the men complained to him about their allowance, so Geo. Mathieux was appointed in Clarke's place.
As we had not seen any game in the "Glades" the guns were usually kept in the boats; this morning as we were strung out through the saw grass I heard from those in front shouts of, "Get the gun!- Shoot him!- Kill him!- Catch him!-" and an instant after a deer emerged from the grass in front and plunged heavily in the bog not twenty yards from me. For an instant the frightened animal seemed stuck in the mud, but gathering all its strength made a supreme effort and disappeared in the grass just as several of us made a rush to catch it. And when the deer was gone and there was no prospect of venison steaks for supper, every one of those fellows who were so tired of hominy went back to the boats, strapped on their guns, loaded themselves with ammunition and vowed the next time a deer came by they would be ready for him, but I haven't seen a deer since, and I don't think they have either.
All day long we hunted for an opening to the east, and although we walked miles and miles, north and south, no channel could be found. On all sides could be seen smokes, presumably lit by Indians, but they never came near us.
In the afternoon a cold wind was blowing, and my wet, stiff clothes chafed me terribly, so that I could not walk without great pain, and had to get in one of the boats and ride. At sundown there was no island near us, and we made our camp in the saw grass where it grew unusually tall and thick, and near a little willow or custard apple tree. There was no dry wood for our fire, the water was so muddy we could hardly get enough to make coffee, and we had to cut down saw grass to make mattresses thick enough to raise us above the water level. There was a clear bright sunset and a cold north-west wind which chilled me to the marrow as I stood changing my wet, muddy clothes for some dry ones;- thinking there was no possible chance for any supper I went to bed as soon as the blankets were spread down, and although hungry and exhausted dropped off to sleep as soon as I stretched myself. About eight o'clock Mr. Sydney called, and said they had managed to boil some rice and make a pot of coffee, which I enjoyed very much, although the rice was only half done. My fatigue had somewhat abated and I got up to look at the fires which were burning at a distance and which we or some passing Indians had lit during the day. A stiff northwester was rattling the saw grass and fanning the fires into magnificence. Although several miles from us we could hear the crackling and roaring quite plainly, and see the great tongues of flame leap fiercely towards the sky, burn with red fury in some tall bunch of grass, and as the wind gusts died away and the grass grew thinner, fall back exhausted as if to gather strength for a fresh outburst. Some times great masses of flame carried on by the wind, would leap forward of the advancing line, as if urged by some fierce passion, then that which was left behind would rush forward with a loud crackle as though angry at being distanced in the race. Our camp was on an island and the wind was not bringing the fires toward us, so the frosty air soon sent me back to bed and to such sleep as the cold would let us have.
Textual Notes