The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-10-14
Key West.
Correspondence of the HERALD
KY WEsr. Sept. 81, 49,

A few lines from this " sea grit isle" where as
the poet happily expresses il, roses are continually
unfolding their petals, fish never cease 10 swim,
and rogues are as scarce as contributions at
charity sermon, may serve to amuse your readers,
and at the same time instruct them in the art OF
all arts, the mystery of wrecking.
You know the situation Of the Key-how the
reef extends around the eastern peninsula Of Florl-
da to Key Biscayenne-and how when the storm
and the elements are in commoton, this long line
of sunken rock serves as the resting place of many
a noble bark, consigned with her rich cargo, and
valuable lives TO watery grave, unless the
" wreckers'' come to their relief, and at once re-
store the despalring TO hope, and rescue from The
dominica of the waters, the properly OF the enter
prlsng merchant. These !" wreckers," are soops,
from GO 10 50 tons, well manned, ana whose
cruising ground is within the reef, far as Soldier
or Biscay enne Key, where they remain some tour
or five eks, and then return 10 port. Here a
outfit OF bread and pork takes pace-tnose
who are lovers OF liquor, daily with the wanton
nymph until they surielted with her embrace;
or as is not untrequently the case, recover their
sobrlety amid all the horrors OF deirlum tremens;
and total abstinence IRON the simple iact that tne
groggeries are opposed to all credit, and go III
heart and hand with General Jackson, tor the cash
system. Thus much for the vessels IN port When
a wreck is deserted, which Is generally done from
one or both of the look outs OIL the warehouses;,
considerable sentiment OF uneaslness is manifested,
and a close observer might discover certain
smile, not clearly defined, II Is true, but the begin
ming OF what soon spreads into broad grin, at the
prospect OF business You might deem a :" wreck"
the subject oil every sympathy, and think that as
good lristians should join IN with The rescued,
and repair TO the church 70 join IN tie Denm'
for their deliverance. Wellwe do, we sympathlse
heartily, and sorry am ] to say 1t, some are so
mercenary as to regulate their SORROWS by the value
of the cargo small affair but causes an emo
ton, particularly the article is damaged, or not
in demand, but should it prove cotton, why
,l,... IN
converted into broad laugh, as the pros
pect rises from Is to 42a per cent on the gross
salvage. This you may deem a sorry picture OF
poor human nature; but yet you Will readily seethai
human nature is not any better for living on an
island, dieted on turtle soup, with a clergyman
only preaching the gospel in the winter, and the
Honorable the Judge OF the Cont, absent at Sa-
ra oga.
The wreckers are an invaluable aid 10 the COM
merce of our country; and when the affair OF sal
wage is brought before the court, where the doc
trine that salvage Is compensation ior services
rendered." should be the landmark OF lis views,
both parties may hope TO obtain something like an
equitable value of service and due. but Of all
errors, that OF arbitration Is the worst-where IRE
sponsbe individuals are made the mealum Dy
which valuable cargo, may be 30 dwindled into
nothlDgness, that when the expenses are settled,
the original owner finds himself in debt.
Another error ! am sorry 70 say, ana very
grievous one, is the facility OF surveys, and re-
porting condemnation. The vessel changes hands,
and the owner or insurance Office Is minus every
thing.
| will give YOU one or two instances which may
serve as examples The French snip Louis Aiv.,
of Marsellles with ,030 bales OF cotton, III hhds
tobacco, 600 sacks OF coffee, 90 tons lead, &c ),
was brought here from the reel, after having been
lghtened of 500 bales cotton and 600 sacks coffee
Two arbtrators were appointed to aware salvage;
the cue appointed by the wreckers " as tor giving
80 per cent; the other appointed by the interest re
presenting tie ship, 40 per cent. A captain OF u
vessel was called IN as umpire, aud with freedom
hR cnh
Ranger, Capt. Merihew, from Galveston, bound To
Baltimore, was brought in here by pilot, after
having got inside the reef and al anchor Tor which
% per cent was awarded by the arbltrators. The
vessel was hove down on one side, at a time when
the merchants and laborers were at breakfast; the
survey reported that il would cost 81 400 To repair
her, and then she would be worth WI, 200, accord
ingly she was brought 10 the hammer, and she was
bought for ST. 2l0; eight days atterward, with the
repair of one dollar and fifty cents, she took her
station up the reef as wrecker
These you will consider pretty dolngs IN land
of gospel truth where the inference is, every man
has learned his morals from the Bible, end every
man should be bright example OF Christian ex-
cellence But, as / before observed, things
indeed singular in this woodland tolerably slngu
lar on this island. An Innovation has recently
crept into business among some OF the merchants
OF this place-whch, say the least, presents r.
markabe features Of perseverance,, joined To The
highest impudence. The old commercial assur
ance Of "conslgnmens solicited and advances
ments were to be had by solicitation, or obtained
by the impairment "advances made" these wor
thies would be full o. money, asthev are of activi
ty IL Is truly amusing to see the pertnacliy with
which they attack vessel on her arrival, aud even
before. Boats put in requlsition. the vessel is
boarded, and a very hurried salutaton constitute
the introduction" Captain, word with you,"
says Dick" at leisure Captain" says Bill
shall Captain, when II meets your con-
venieuce, be happy to have an interview
with you,' says Diaphragm. "Your vessel leaks
Captain"-our house can accommodate you lido
business TO suit the times"-"your wishes shall be
attended to ""it is really not safe TO proceed on
your voyage "-"we give one half commissions,
salvage and wharfage" and thus the poor devil oil
a captain, amid the distractions OF an interrupted
voyage, Glowing up, coming TO anchor, and the
anxiety which he feels for his owners, makes his
introduction to our little island Happy spot! II
the captain believes Dick he is the most honest
and valuable member OF the community; If he be-
ieves Bill, all are rascals; and II he sides with
Diaphragm, they all are pack OF rascals together
the forty thieves Of Bagdad were the very pink Of
honesty compared with any body else: and as Dia-
phragm quotes Vattel, and impreeses the captain
with his legal knowledge, the chances are in favor
MI Bennett, by this most singular mode Of pro-
ceedings captains, if not disguised, are bewdered;
and, from the liberal back-biting which these
"consignment solicitors" indulge in, no very favor
able estimate is thus early made OF the residents OF
the island.
You will doubtless say,why are not these fellows
hustled over the side, and treated with the con-
tempt their impertinence merits! il might be
proper course did their sensibilities admisof being
wounded but Dick is Indifferent to kicking and
only deems himself a parsonage OF consequence
when under thrashing. Diaphragm ~ Co. are
used to be treated unceremoniousy from the time.
they made their acquaintance with the negro chiefs
Ching. chung ha boo, at Madagascar, as well a
when they left the brig in his pilgrimage al ST
Thorn az, unto the time the brig Virginia, Otis
Randall was stranded south of Cape Canaveral -
The whole inference then (it a vessel is condemn
favorable, and the most charitable conclusion is,
that the Captain is very much Of an ass to sacri.
flee his own character, and the interests Of his
owners for the advantage of others. This game
has assumed fearful character, and as you will
doubtless see by the papers a protest Of the
mate and passengers Of the schooner Pacific,
Marcb, master, owned at New Haven, by Atwater,
Esq (and which arrived here few days since on
her voyage to Franklin, Attakapas) against the
nd all aiheIa. agalnsi the cnndemnailan q