The New York herald., 1846-03-03
KEY WEST (South Florida), Feb. 8, 1916.
The Character of Key West and ts Inhaonanfs-
Glanders refilfed=I IYrfcks &c. &c.


KEY WEST (south Florda). Feb. s, 1886
The Character of Key Vest and its Lnhabstants-
SANDERS refuted-Wrscks, &c. $'c.
You may take it, from the Passamaquoddy to the
Rio del Norte, and doubt if you can find another
place about which so much is said, and SO little
really and truly known, this same " lone isle OF
the ocean,, Why is this Is because from the wreck
Of some llfated ship stranded upon rockbound reef
sense Of suffering interest has been borne away upon
the breeze causing to take the work of dssolaon
from the winds and waves and attribute il to the anced
dishonor and dealing Of the people here
sure cannot tell why how this s but am quite
hst the North there sx ss great degree of miscon
ceved and unjust opinion in relation to the character OF
neous views in regard to it. knew that in 1885, when
the gallant Porter was sweeping those seas OF the pi
rates, who at that time in large numbers, infested
the Florida Reef lined with wreckng vessels, from
its foot the Torugas its head at the Bank Of the
association, had connected this movement Of the one
with the character Of the other and imagined that
Key West which is opposite TO- and about midway OF
ing, though legalised, lawessness and piracy. Such
notions those exist abroad believe very generally
speak Of this section and have observed that they
always did with significant upturning OF the eye,
hspe is 81 worthy
atives Of free, enlightened and moral New York and
New England; and, a. class at this time Will ven'
say that the mercantile portion OF this Key have
character for intelligence and integrity, as high as
any other. while these wreckers about whom such
fearful stories told are people, as honest &C.
and gallant set of men as can be found any
where Among the merchants are the Dusenberrys the
lifts, the Ogdens and the Messrs. Bovine, Of your
State.
have been present at the Court Of Admiralty, during
the trial Of several wreck cases. and the obvious rigid
observance Of the rules Of law the regularity and deco
rum, which characterized its proceedings, gave me
high opinion of it.. Judge Marvin, who y young as
ability and with an evident earnest and honest desire to
do justice to all parties.
There probably was time, when Key West was a re.
and resting place for outlaws and pirates and there
may have been cases wreckng operations, where the
cupidity Of the "wreoker" has united with the dshon
suspecng underwriters; but individual Of fraud
and in every business andit would be
discrsd arising from obsolete causes and isolated in.
stances to place highly respectable and to an
cupation now necessary, and in the main honest and
Business here for the past three months, has been
commonly dull. During this time, there have been,
prepared by the gentlemany and naefatgabe agent Of
your insurance companies, Captain J. Q. Hoyt, see
two month making ths amount q property sdud
Gated 100000 and the amount of salvage awarded
something over 100000. 1t is indeed, lamentable to
think Of the immense amount OF property annually
wrecked upon this coast and il would seem as If some
plan might fixed upon by which the dangers Of navi
eating these passages might be lessened and this i'm
minen risk Of life and property avoided Such seems
be the opinion Of many here and should Govern
matter establishing and keeping In proper efficiency
line OF light houses along the whole length Of the reef
this great and crying evil must be diminished
measure, if not entirely, unnecessary.
Seen from the sea, the Key is beautiful. Its light
house. standing upon elevated point, made by the
eastern shore and the south beach, combining with
magnificent hospital, beautiful custom house, and
bold bluff outline Of stately s,orehSusss give. it an air
distance Farther up its winding streets, dotted here
and there with shrubbery and cocoa nut trees gives
s wild forests Of ever living green covering nearly
its entire surface, and teeming all with fanciful
crowning tou. ensem5e very striking to stranger and
make 1t seem to the tsmpesttossed mariner, as ne ap
proachss IT Ike bright and beautiful oa:,; amid the
ever, Of this island is its unsurpassably fine climate
Lying in about latitude twenty four Is the extreme
subject to breezes In all seasons, has climate
which, for uniform .alubrty and hsahfulnsss, cannot
country There s in il ightnsss. purity delicious
and ali pervading balances, (which come over the
invalid like magic nfu.ns Into the h senses % S new
expanding the chest and making delight as well as
duty breathe hs superiority in this respect is fast
il the iashionabie resort for Northern invalids This
must be the since here they can enjoy the advan
sg.a Of Emsse in every rspsc.S S as gooa ~. =. amy
comforts and sympathss of their own people, instead Of
being subject to the numberless nconvenisnces attend
ing the sojourn Of the invalid stranger in strange land
At present. there ia want Of hotel and boarding house
accommodations, but It 10 thought that line Of steamers
will be running between Charleston and Havana
via this place and nen am sure can conceive OF no
more desirable than this will be, for the way
worn and weary traveller, after health or pleasure
The society Of the Island Of Key West, marked BY
the usual distinctive characteristics Of the Cline Amia
bity and social sympathies enlivened by grace
of manner perfectly rressble because natural and
affected distinguish the gentler sex-while the gentle
men, generally gallant full Of chvarous impulses
and as Father Richie would say) "aIdent as South
aun ranm ma ko D0Tonade1
the spanards, which take place here ON almost every
bright moonlight night entirely novel to the North
ern man, and there 10 touch Of romance about them
truly delightful. During my residence here, several
brilliant parties have been given, which have well illus
rated the fine social qualities Of Southern residents
should like to particularize, but must defer 1t to u
ture letter,