Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-02-07
THE DRY ToRTUGAs.
ron THE NATIONAL 1SrELLIsExcEa


In the committees report the Florida contested election
observe the certificate Of the inspectors of election Tor
tugas precinct No A. in the county of Monroe 1t held
sat the Wellington House, Garden Key, in said county"
Not finding fault with the returns and, indeed there
but majony Of being for Mr.. Cabe,
and nine for Mr. peterborough do not affect the re
suit yet description Of that locality from who was
Gently Garden Key may impressions
TO the accommodations for travellers at the Torugas The
Wellington House is the poopcabn Of the ship Wellington,
wrecked those shoals wastowed ashore for
and exercise than profit but being right side up
the beach, excellent purpose for storing the
and watercasks of the wreckers and smacks and
used occasionally for backsmhs and shpcarpeptes shop
Now seems affords convenience for the court OF nspec
of election No good water be procured of
the islands, which is probably the that ten
twelve in group at the western extremity of the Florida reef
called the Dry Tortugas II is the only good
have discovered for OF the of places
in the whole peninsula and appendage except the shoas
and particular portions of the reef which bear the
specvely of the biggest wreck they have brought up"
Garden Key the centre of the cluster of islands, Gnd about
the size OF the Capitol grounds the Park New York
Chambers street, and the only island of the group that
boasts the shadow Of building upon its surface The light
house and the keepers dwelling, "he Wellington house"
and another poopcabin, with equally highsounding title
and gilt sign he relics of another noble vessel whose
forget all the structures reared yet Neptune
Boreas in that little archipelago.
The inspectors known to the writer intimately -Messrs
James Gloss William Rgby, and William Plumb-and the
writer takes this occasion say that persons could be
selected inspectors any precinct in the United States
Apart from the fact that they educated men, and from
Mystic Connecticut, they impartial individuals poll
TICS and little who is President Representative in
Congress who amanuensis to Homer Their vocation
is the alienation of nautical disasters connexion with the
group Of fishing smacks that supply the Havana market with
that description Of the fnny tribe, and which all hail from
Mystc-the smacks, mean At home, their masters and
constituents of the present able member from that
D..l.. -
the Florida reef they practise the principles Of Democracy
in dsegang self in the assistance Of others lesson that
of oceholding Democrats much need instruction
upon and will receive long, they do mind their
That my remarks individuals may not be construed
lightly, in the Of the Wellington House, here
positively that the wreckng business conducted the
Florida reef not only honor TO the naon but credabe
to human nature and lis progressive improvement in all the
virtues For the last ten years, during which time there has
been on an average one wreck month"; not single lite
has been lost Except from among the weckers themselves y
not article has been stolen embezzed in that time
barrel or cask tapped preached salvage claimed
passengers baggage freight demanded for the
tenance or transportation OF wrecked and passengers
from the scenes of disaster Key West-oen hun
dred miles, and occasonng much loss expense and labor TO
the crews and of the wcckng vessels No liquors.
nor any smulant except coffee, allowed any of the
wreckers smacks.
Though probably dreaming that his name would be-
come conspicuous in report in the halls Of Congress- the
hst inspector IS the hero of adventure reflection
winch post others are cool IN comparison Az the time OF the
burning OF Indian Key by the Semnoe he escaped
house that like many others the Florida islands was bull
over the cstem the stone work serving the double
OF walls for the reservoir and foundations Tor the dwelling
was soon wrapped in ames while the Indians stood pre-
pared 70 take him at any he might force He descended
through scutte, hatch, apdoo into the water which
was barely deep enough keep him moist and when the
was consumed TO the floor, roof Of the csern and tina
burnt through in many places, both air and became
comfortably hot and steamy He frequently forced his heat
CATER soaking we) through the chared and burning oorn,
TO ascertain the continued proximity Of his beIcaguers
not until the water became ntoeraby scadns hot and h
pretty well parboed, did he make break over the cisie
wall Luckily the Indians about enbarknr on the 90
pose SIDE Of the yet blazing ruins and he lay within oasn
distance OF the expiring conagration until the last cano
pushed off, when he rendered such assistance as he was ab
to the other survivors of the massacre.
Few persons have been employed for any length Of time
Of the country without witnessing and experiencn
strange scenes and vicisstude and, IL you publish this
will record Of them. That interesting portion
Florida from Key Biscayne to Loggerhead Kew extendn
three degrees Of west longitude the centre Of III
Gulf Of Mexico has been visited by any Of it's deecs
ton in Congress- senatorial sitting, or contestant members
and believe Of them have been south Of 81 An
gustne city the east the suwannee river on the west
consequently both facts and individuals are unknown To IN
constitutional advisers Of the President. Nimporfe
III Yours &c. R. b. r.
~ WASHINGTON, JASUAHr 20, 1896