Beginning in 1873, the mysterious adventurer “Ziska” wrote newspaper articles about the exciting frontier wilderness of Florida for his readers in New York City.  Florida was largely untamed region with many colorful characters, while New York City was on the cutting edge of innovation with a subway, telephone service, ,and newspaper readers fascinated by Ziska’s exploits in the wild “land of flowers.”

For more than a century, Ziska’s writings were forgotten and undisturbed in the New York Public Library.  When eminent Florida archaeologist Jerald T. Milanich discovered the articles, he was determined to find out more about their mysterious author.

Ziska turns out to be the pen name of Civil War hero, journalist, Tammany boss, and U.S. Congressman Amos J. Cummings.  In this book, Milanich reintroduces readers to the exciting stories of Cummings as he explores the young state of Florida.