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On Tuesday -- March 28th I sent all my family -- wife -- children -- Mrs Booth -- & Mary Ingraham our cook-, to Apalachicola, on a visit to Evans' family; the small pox had broken out with them, about as badly as with us -- Bessie Evans had it about as badly as Bexie; & Will MacKay's children also--
I remained at home by myself-; had the house well scoured and aired and disinfected-; I breakfasted daily across the way at Mr harris'-; and dined & supped around with my friends --
In the mean time I was making plans with Col. [Jas P.] Hargrove for hunting for a place in East Florida somewhere on the St. Johns' River, where we could go into the gardening and orange business together -- he was as full of the idea as I was -- So we agreed to take a trip together to East Fla. to look for land suitable for the carrying out of our plans --
On Tuesday -- April 2d after eating breakfast at Dr Harris' -- I locked up our house & left on the train for East Fla.; [Mr?] Hargrove and his brother William getting on at [Gee's] turn out-; we laid over in Lake City that night-; reached Jacksonville next day; & dined at the Cosart House -- [Supped?] at Frank Branch's (who was then pastor there). We went to the Masonic Lodge with him after supper-; & returning with him, spent the night at his house; at least I did -- Mr [H.?] & his brother were stopping at the boarding house of Mrs DeCottes -- I attended the Lodge again on Thursday night (4th) in company with [Wm?] Hargrove, Gen. J. J. Dickison & Frank Branch --
On Friday night, after supper, we embarked on the Steamer Kate far up the River; reaching Pilatka at about day light --
We put up at the Putnam House-; we looked about in the vicinity -- looking at places of interest -- We attended the Episcopal/Church on Sabbath morning-; a neat little chapel with stained glass windows-; heard Dr Hawes read a sermon-; on Sunday night, after supper, we took passage on the steamer Darlington up the River-; the steamer left Pilatka at 4 A.M. on Monday -- & reached Nellarville on Lake Munroe at 5 P.M. -; crossed over to Enterprise before sunset -- On Tuesday we rode back in the country 7 miles to look at a place that was for sale-; didn't like it-; returned to the steamer by dinner time; got the boot's yawl, and were rowed over the Lake to [Mellarville?] -- (5 miles)-; I threw out a spinner as we were crossing, and though I was told I would catch nothing, I caught 5 large, splendid speckled perch -- very dark in their coloring-; they must have weighed 1 1/2 or 2 lbs each --
We visited the Huey place, and some others-; slept all night on the counter of the store at [Mellarville?] --
On Wednesday we returned on the Darlington to Pilatka -- We found Genl Dickinson there, and we all put up at the Putnam House -- After looking around at various places offered for sale & having a pleasant time, riding -- ssaning -- sailing &c. -- Mr Hargrove & I concluded to buy the "Jones" place, from Tensdale & Reid-; 6 miles above Pilatka-; just below the mouth of Dennis Creek-; on the East side of the River-; for
$3,000-; containing 160 acres-; Mr Hargrove to advance the whole cash-; and I to settle with him for 1 1/3 and interest in the place -- We were allowed 30 days in which to close the bargain --
On Sunday morning -- Apr. 14th we left on the Steamer Lizzie Baker at 7 A.M.; reached Jacksonville in the evening-; went to the Cosart House -- I went to Frank Branch's, where I staid all night-; got home on Tuesday night-; the 16th-- -; my family not yet returned from Apalachicola-; they got back next day, the 17th--; and I immediately returned to my practice.
A few days after my return -- Apr. 24th -- Dr C.A. Gee died very suddenly-; from meningitis-; a very sudden and alarming case -- On the 28th -- only 4 days after his death, his widow gave birth to a son -- Elisha; now (1892) a promising young man (recently married) -- in business in Jacksonville --
On the 6th of May I assigned to Mr Jas P. Hargrove a judgment against J.J. Colson for $687.00-; and a note on Miles Johnson for $350.00-; as collateral security for $1,000.00 which he was to advance for my 1/3rd interest on the place we were going to buy on the St John's -- And on Tuesday May 7th, we left on the cars again to consummate the purchase at Pilatka -- In Jacksonville we had a pleasant time at the boarding house of Mrs DeCottes, who had a very musical daughter-; Prof. Odens, the music teacher, with his violin, and I with my flute, & the ladies at the piano, we had a
delightful musical evening. We went up to Pilatka on the Steamer Sylvan Shore; and put up at Peter Mann's Hotel -- We spent two days there, completing the survey and the purchase-; and on Sunday the 12th we returned on the Lizzie Baker to Jacksonville-; I went to bro. Frank Branch's; attended a church meeting in the afternoon, and heard him preach at night -- & we all sat up talking till after mid-night; and left on the train at about one o'clock A.M.; reaching home at 6 o'clock in the evening --
I met my old friend Genl J.J. Finley on the cars, from Lake City to Madison -- Dr. Thos. Munroe also, from Tallahassee home-; also Mr Jno. P. Jordan, our sheriff, & husband of one of our oldest & deares friends -- He had been off on a visit to Virginia, and his wife had been long expecting his return; he had been out in a fearful storm at sea on his way back-; and his wife was full of joy at his return --
Wehen we reached the Depot, he walked out immediately to his home-; about 1 1/2 miles-; my buggy was waiting for me, and I drove in -- As I was sitting in my front [piazza?] waiting the announcement of supper, talking with wife and children of my trip -- a negro man dashed up to the gate on a mule, in a run, and shouted to me to go as quick as possible out to Mr Jordan's; that a kerosene can had exploded, and burned 2 young ladies to death -- I instantly ordered out my buggy, and swallowed a hasty supper whilst it was being hitched up, and went out with all speed -- And a most heart rending scene
met me when I got out there -- They had had a most happy meeting -- The young ladies -- Mary Jordan and Ellen Gunn -- (cousins) about 15 years of age each -- had been ironing their dresses and making cakes for a May Day picnic that the Sunday School children were preparing for -- a R.R. Excursion to St Marks -- Mr Jodran had [great?] his brother in law -- Tom Gunn out to the Depot for his trunk which was laden with presents for the wife and children-; he & Mrs Jordan were sitting on the fron door steps, in happy conversation, when the two girls came to ask her if they could fill the kerosene feeder from a 5 gallon can, in which they kept their supply-; it was something she had never intrusted them to do before -- She told them to go, but enjoined them to be very careful, and not hold a light near the can-; they went out in the shed room on the back piazza, and a negro girl about the same age, held a lightwood splinter to light them as they filled the can -- The article was not a safe one-; the manufacturer of kerosene had not arrived at the degree of safety it has at this time-; the negro was holding the blazing splinter near the door-, some distance off-; when a tremendous explosion took place-; blowing the 5 gallon can all to pieces, and enveloping all three of the girls in flames -- Mr and Mrs Jordan rushed back through the house -- Mr J. met his niece Ellen [Cunn?] -- (a lovely girl) rinning through the house enveloped in flames-; he threw on her on the floor, and threw her over her all the bed & bedding from the large bed in the room-; he had to do this 3 times before the flame was extinguished-; burning his hands