Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-03-04
MISCELLANY Y !.
The Wreckers of Kew West.

The principal business of Key West-says
writer in Hunts Merchants Magazines
derived from the salvages, commissions, and
other Perquisites of wrecking. This is busi-
ness peculiar to the reefs, and demands par
ticular elucidaion. 1t is not, as many SUD-
pose, and as it was, to some extent, before it
was regulated by law and well administered
by the courts species of relentless piracy
1t is legitimate business, conducted under es-
tablished and equitable rules, and for the mutu-
al benefit Of the wrecker, the wrecked, and the
underwater. The persons engaged in it are
men of character, standing and wealth men
of generous sentiments, and kindly feelings,
who risk much and work hard for what they
get, and who throw into their calling as much
OF regard for the rights, interests and property
OF the sufferers whom they relieve, as i. ex-
hibited in any other department of mercantile
business.
That there are occasional exceptions to thi.
general rule, cannot be denied. A single in
stance, of recent occurrence, will serve to
show that wreckers are not always pirates, nor
always chargeable with heartess rapacity, in
the pursuit of their hardy profession A vessel,
with a few passengers, having struck upon the
reef, made the usual signal of distress, and
waited for help. Impatient of delay, and fear
ing the ship would 60 to pieces before relief
came, the passengers and some of the crew
took TO the boat, with view to finding safe
place of landing. When the wrecker came
down, the captain was informed of this fact
He Immediately left the vessel, and went in
search of the wanderers among the intricate
passes of the keys. Another wrecker came
down, and pursued the same course, showing
more anxiety TO save life than TO secure the
advantages of an attempt TO save the vessel and
cargo. A third came down, and feeling that
the deserters were sufficiently cared for, went
TO work, to rescue the vessel and remove the
cargo. So much was this act of heroic benev-
olence appreciated, that when the award of
salvage was made up, those who first arrived
at the wreck, and left it in search of the pas
sengers and crew, received the same share as
they would have done if they had proceeded, in
the usual way, to discharge the wreck and got
her off; while their comrades who came last to
the spot, received only the share which would
appropriately belong TO the third in the race.
The rule in this respect is, that he who first
boards the wreck has undisputed control of her,
oh ie Ioli ,,t, Al e
He determines who, if any, shall aid him in
the rescue, and in what order they shall come
| in for their shares. He also decides 10 whom
the wrecked vessel shall be consigned, unless
the master of the wreck has choice in the
case. The whole matter is then left for the
ajudication of the court The amount of sal
wage is there determined, each party engaged
in the rescue receiving his share of the award,
according to the previous arrangements of the
skipper who first boarded the wreck.
The amount of the award averages about
one-tenth OF the value of the property saved
Commissions, expenses, &C., swell this 10
about one-sixth. The average amount OF
wrecked property brought into Key West, is
not far from ST. 200, 900 per annum, of which
there is left behind, for the benefit of the place,
about 100000. This being divided among
the captain, crew and owners of the wreckers,
commission merchants, lawyers, auctioneers,
wharfowners, ship-wrights, carpenters, and
store-keepers, is pretty widely diffused and
goes into general circulation. 1t is the princi
pal reliance of all the business men, mechanic.
and laborers of the place.