The worst of the run had been accomplished, though there
were still several falls and dams to be shot and long stetches of dead
water to be paddled. Nearing Bellow's Falls, the people were more
enlightened and many offers of hospitality were sung out to him from
shore. The citizens of that place displayed a deep interest in his
attempt to shoot the falls and rendered all the assistance in their
power. He shot them in safety, though narrowly escaping a big log that
was dashed over directly behind him. From that point to the completion
of the voyage, he everywhere met with kind words and encoragement.
On the evening of November seventh, he landed at Saybrook light, sixteen
days from Stratford Hollow.
The winter of 1879 and 1880 was spent in Florida, hunting, fishing,
alligator shooting and canoeing. He and a party of friends made a
canoe voyage far up on the St. John's river and through the Kissimmee to
Lake Okeechobee, where they had a great deal of sport shooting deer,
bears and alligators; but at the same time the numerous moccasins and
rattlesnakes afforded more amusement than was relished by several of the
party. Returning north to Jacksonville, Paul made a run down the St.
John's river to the sea, crossing the shark infested bar at the mouth
of the river.
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