Foreverglades_Valiente2019

134 BELLE GLADE FROM SW AMP TO SUGAR BOWL
172 28 BELLE GLADE FROM SW SW AMP AMP TO TO SUGAR BOWL
part of this stream was dredged out some five years later
to become a part of the Thirteen Mile Canal which Disston
had intended to continue on to Shark River. It now forms
part of the Miami canal. As this stream was typical of the
lake's dead rivers, including the Democrat, let's see what
it was like.
134 BELLE GLADE FROM SW AMP TO SUGAR BOWL
"The river at its mouth is about 100 yards wide, the
depth of water being about eight feet. To say that our
little party was overjoyed would but poorly express it. We
do not go one hundred yards before we hear exclamations
from the members of the party in praise of the beautiful
scenery which greets the eye on every side. There is no
perceptible current so far as we can discern. The water is
clear as crystal, the banks fringed with a dense tropical
growth of trees, presenting to the view a solid green wall,
impenetrable to the eye. This wall is formed by vines,
which have twined around the trunks and branches of the
trees, and have interlaced and wound themselves around
each other until they form a screen which is almost sufficient
to shut out the light of day. Looking behind us we
find that we are followed by innumerable alligators, who
are swimming lazily along in our wake. From all sides we
see them plunging in the water, remain under for a few
seconds, Hog hunting rise after party, we about have 1920. passed Left to and right join - Negro the crowd porter, behind
Frank
us. We
O'Connell,
do not
Nelle
go two
Greer
miles
with dog,
before
Claire
the
Greer
river
in rear,
begins
Loti Greer far right.
to get narrow, and we find ourselves in a little stream only
would a few yards probably in width, be Paul the Davidson. sunlight But completely good grief, shut on out this
by
particular the branches night of her trees husband vines, would which be at have home, interlocked and he
would and twined be nobody around but each John other Kirk, until the marshall a perfect ! roof After is Mable formed
... After the door going for half the a poor mile, we guy, find John we would are no begin longer to in
opened
stomp a stream, and but shout winding and fire around off his in six dark, shooter! sluggish If that water, fellow the
got roots away and from branches there of without the trees getting forming half a barrier drowned to in our a
ditch further or progress two he could ... As say we that return he we was examine lucky. more closely
the vines which grow so luxuriantly, and find that they are
a species Sometimes of gourd, they'd with elaborate innumerable on this gourds stunt a hanging little. Young from
them, Jackson, perfectly from Pahokee, round, and who about had the already size of been a billiard initiated, ball.
The brought vines down run his all over friend the Albert, trees, who and allowed on the ground that he'd form be
right a mat pleasured two or three for to feet visit deep." Mable. When Albert rapped on
Break in Iake shore levee.
were brought in, half a dozen at a time, each with a turn
of rope about its neck, like a ghastly bunch of grapes. At
the Belle Glade bridge they were stacked like cord wood,
waiting for trucks to haul them into town, where they were
buried in trenches dug by steam shovels. After a couple
of weeks, the bodies, too decomposed to be shipped, were
were heaped brought in piles in, where half found, a dozen doused at a time, with fuel each oil with and a burned,
rope a dozen, about even its neck, two dozen like a in ghastly one heap. bunch Yet of many grapes. were At
turn
of
the overlooked. Belle Glade For bridge years, farmers they were clearing stacked new like land cord discovered
waiting skeletons for trucks far to out haul in them sawgrass. into town, where they were
wood,
buried During trenches the ensuing dug years, by steam at every shovels. warning After of a a couple hurricane,
of weeks, lake the shore bodies, towns too and decomposed settlements to would be shipped, be deserted were
heaped villages, in as piles the where inhabitants found, fled doused for with safety. fuel But oil now, and burned,
the a massive dozen, even Herbert two Hoover dozen in Dike one encircling heap. Yet the many lake, were a
with
hurricane overlooked. causes For years, scant alarm. farmers This clearing dike has new been land well discovereed
several skeletons times, far so out I don't in the reckon sawgrass. we'll never, ever have
test­
another During such the disaster ensuing ! years, at every warning of a hurricane,
So this, lake shore folks, towns is a nut and shell settlements story of would the Big be Storm deserted of
villages, '2, the greatest as the inhabitants event Belle fled Glade's for safety. history. But But now, if with you
the still massive crave to Herbert learn more Hoover of this Dike horrendous encircling hurricane the lake, in a
hurricane its grisly causes details, scant you'll alarm. just have This to dike read has my been "Okeechobee well tested
Hurricane" several times, and my so "Cracker I don't reckon History we'll of never, Okeechobee" ever have for
another I'll be good such and disaster dad burned ! if I want to rehash it all aain.
So this, folks, is a nut shell story of the Big Storm of
'2, the greatest event in Belle Glade's history. But if you
still crave to learn more of this horrendous hurricane in
its grisly details, you'll just have to read my "Okeechobee
Break in Iake shore levee.
DEMOCRAT FUN AND FROLICS RIVER 173 29
the door and the shooting started, Jackson flopped down
When I first came to this lake these gourds still were
on his face.
plentiful in the custard apple forest, although they then
were "Git less going, luxuriant Albert." than the cried. moon "I'm vine, hit a kind and I of think morning that
glory, I'm a-dying!" which completely blanketed the tops and the exposed
flanks of the custard apple woods, making a shadowy
dusk Albert at mid high-tailed day. it back to Pahokee where some of
his friends, previously tipped off, were conveniently waiting.
After They cruising all drove the down south for shore to avenge for. nine their days friend. the party In
arrived, the ensuing near gun the battle, southernmost two more point Pahokee-ites on the lake, were at likewise
"killed", and longest and poor of all Albert these didn't rivers. dare This go they home christen­
for a
the
largest
ed week. T-D, or Times-Democrat River. After traversing this
stream to its end, they laid a course south by the compass
for
Another
Shark River,
game
ninety
of this
miles
rough
away
neck
by
bunch
air line.
was to
Although
initiate
water
a newly
had
married
evidently
man
been
by tossing
five feet
him
over
off
the
the
land
Main
not
Street
too
long
bridge.
before,
They
they
didn't
found
fail
that
to
it get
now
me
was
either.
a scant
I had
five
gone
inches, to
and Tennessee under that to get was my fifteen bride, feet, but I more left her or less, with of my soft parents mud.
in Ft. Lauderdale till I could get our living quarters finished.
So One now night they "Big" are compelled Pate hurried to battle upstairs the to sharp-edged inform me
sawgrass, that I had which a long they distance had believed call from to Ft. be Lauderdale. only ten miles Gosh, in
extent, I knew but that which was actually important, persisted so down clear I to rushed the headwaters to dash
of across Shark to River. the telephone At times in they the were hotel. able It to looked burn as the if sawgrass,
whole but blamed usually settlement the way was must lined be up hacked in the with street! machetes. I was
the
For right many good days at running, they were but compelled not so hot to at push dodging, and lift so their Pate
boats got me every cornered foot of and the the way, whole often mob making then only escorted a few me hundred
the bridge yards in where a day. I had On November to high dive 17th, into a week that black, after leav­
cold
to
ing water. the lake, a tall cypress at Democrat River was still
visible to the naked eye.
Homer Deloach had married a young widow who had
a couple Constantly of girls. they The were boys plagued ganged by up innumerable to give him the snakes, customary
dunking, fortunately, but nobody Homer decided was bitten. to object. But Now, they Homer were
though
tortured wasn't very by tall, mosquitoes, but he had leeches remarkably and poisonous broad shoulders wampee
plants and powerful "which arms. produce Besides a terrible he had burning six fingers sensation. each Its
appearance hand, which is gave similar him to good the water gripping lily, power. the leaf As being he landed from
six his to swings twelve and inches punches, across, all the hands root backed running away. to All a depth that
of is, six except inches, for Loti and Greer, resembles who a was shallot much in bigger, appearance. and much We
had of a the man curiosity himself. to They taste it. wrestled We shall and do pounded so no more!" on each
other Yes, all I the know way blamed to the well bridge. they The didn't! bride That and her wampee half
was grown a hellish daughter plant, joined nobody in, beating would poor ever Loti taste with twice! shoe
Indian heels and turnip sticks it's till called he was up north. plumb It's give tuber out. Nobody looks like else a
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY
He Made the Women Walk
He Made the Women Walk
Sometimes I wonder how Doc Buck would make out
today among these new jet-age fee-sicians. You know,
they cure you with a needle in one hand, a receipt book
in the other and half a dozen prescriptions in between.
When Doc came to Belle Glade in the winter of 1927-28
he was the only doctor between Pahokee and Moore Haven.
Of course, Sometimes we already I wonder had how a drugstore Doc Buck here, would a plumb make good out
one today too. among Even before these new K. C. jet-age (Casey) fee-sicians. Alston put You in his know, prescription
they cure counter you with you a needle could get in one Epson hand, salts, a receipt Sloan's book liniment
in the and other Three and Sixes half a and dozen most prescriptions anything a in body between. would
need. When Doc came to Belle Glade in the winter of 1927-28
he was I reckon the only Doc doctor had a between hypodermic Pahokee needle and Moore but he Haven. didn't
Of scarcely course, ever we use already it. He had didn't a drugstore even send here, out a bills plumb till good just
a one few too. years Even before he K. died. C. (Casey) He figured Alston that put people in his would prescription
him sooner counter or you later could and get I reckon Epson most salts, of Sloan's them lini­
did,
pay
though ment and a heap Three of Sixes times and it was most later. anything For instance, a body if would Jim
need. Jones was to come sloshing through the rain some night
and I say reckon "Doc, Doc my old had lady's a hypodermic a-fixing for needle to have but a he young'un didn't
before scarcely day. ever I'd use be it. mighty He didn't proud even if'n send you out could bills come till over just
to a few Little years Bare before Beach he and died. kind He of figured help out. that My people boat's would down
to pay the him canal sooner bridge." or later Do you and suppose I reckon Doc most would of have them asked did,
though him "Why a heap in the of times blazes it didn't was later. you pay For me instance, for that if Jim last
Jones was to come sloshing through the rain some night
and say "Doc, my old lady's a-fixing for to have a young'un
before day. I'd be mighty proud if'n you could come over
to Little Bare Beach and kind of help out. My boat's down
to the canal bridge." Do you suppose Doc would have asked
135