New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-01-29
FLORIDA.
More about Wrecks and Wreckiug Business
BILLY Bowless-ship Cayenne, &c.
coreaposasn<s u Tie n. Inbaae.

ber sze Of the vessels and value Of the being
unprecedented upon this coast within any previoz pc
nod Of twenty dsys. The last wrecks were the
British brig Csmbraces, from New-Orlesnst 10
Liverpool, With cargo of COO bales Of cotton, cora
and slaves.
Ship Nathaniel Kimball, from New.0rlesns
10 Liverpool with 700 bales Of co,tonasts Gu. away
and the ship blged.
Ship Lucy, of Liverpool, from ew-Orlssns
TO Liverpool, with 1920 bales Of cotton making the
total number o. beles OF cotton wrecked since the l
inst, GOO.
The salvage upon these eight vessels viii ex-
coed $4,000 and the expenses still larger giving
an Unprecedented impetus TO the business Of this
Island City and mpressng upon the faces Of its mix ID
population, expressions of joy and gladness.
We naturally associate with creeks, high
winds, prorActed storms and terrific thunder gusts
and would naturally infer that these wreckers
could say with peculiar signihcancy, that It's i'll
wind tina; blows any good but the wrecks upon
this coast frequently in fair weather, the
oceanic current and eddies impercepbly drifting the
vessels of their course and upon the shoals and reefs
which extend from Cape Florida to the TOrugss Keys
distance Of leo miles And another reason why these
wrecks happen frequently in fair weather is. that
Ol tntm are pItIutN4tiled inbcbt4Olht-
there is little danger to life and property in drifting
upon shoals reefs in fair weather; of dis
honest captain would deignedly wreck his vessel only
when the cargo could be saved and he could obsn his
share of the spos by arrangements with the wrecksrs
and commission merchants for division Of the salvage
and commissions.
Last year there were but % weeks upon this coast
and the total amount of salyages and expenses Sl62
In eoIQ and duriuu no 81 chit
years previous to the present the aggregate amount
was 81 5si You will thus that the prospects of
the present year, to the wreckers unusually dster
ing-eight wrecks in 90 days and the ssvsges and ex
peDses at least $4,000.
This known to be dangerous coast not especially,
account Of its shoals AID reefs but particularly
account of the oceanic currents-,he Gulfstream.
The immensely valuable exports from, and imports
the States Of Florida, Alabrma Mississippi Lousans,
Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio Missouri, Texas
and others pass within few miles of these shoals and
reef and the Government has built Light Houses and
erected series Of signals upon the most dangerous
reefs for the protection of this Additional
light houses building and the signals and bescons
increasing although Capt Rollins, OF the steamer lisa
bel has passed along these reefs four times monthly
during the last four years, without accident.
STATED in my last letter that large portion
of the wrecks upon this coast premeditated and
intentional that, although the wreckingbusiness was
popularity regarded quasi piracy yet that fractional
portion only Of the od1m justly chargeablet 70 the
arocks that the captains of the wrecked vessels and
the wTeckipg merchants OF consignees Individually
and collectively, generally the guilty parties
Every captain has the selection Of the conguee Of the
wrecked cargo; and every captain who fequents this
coast knows that he sell the consignment for from
$500 to 5000 according to its value. The consgnce
makes from 5000 to $4,000 upon cargo worth
$4,000, giving him large margin for negotiating
with the captain for the consignment.
A wrecking merchant Is one who Ia, q dock, ware
house and often large and general assortment of ma
rne goods for repairing furnishing and supplying YES
sells end their crews and of these merchants
owners in whole in part Of nearly all the wrecking
vcstos Of the port They select the captains and sup
ply the vessels with provisions &c, and the captains
are generally furnished with ample means add full
power 10 n. goate WITH and bay from the captain Of
every wrecked vessel he boards, the consignment Of
thu SN-so that the merchant s generally, the lsrg
eft Nosd in the salvage owner Of the wrecking-
vessel interested in obtaining the largest award Of
salvage possible. is, at the same time, the con-
signee Of the OF the cargo receiving large COM
missions upon the sHRposoH that he lAbors for their
benefit and protects their interest from and ex
orbtant salvage and expenses. Thus you perceive
how multiplied are the rsmihcstons connected with
this wrecking busness-sll tending, less to
cause fraudulent collusive and Intentional wrecksto
seduoe men from the strict observance Of honesty and
fair dealing In their business relations and resulting In
making this wrecking business quasi piracy and its
| collateral branches dishonest and fraudulent.
For several dsys past the Auetioneers bell has called
he people together TO attend the sales OF the damaged
goods Of the wrecked cMgoes-dry goods and grocer
iee drugs and medicines boots and shoes, hardware,
cotton-gns turninglathes planning machines, books,
furniture, pano4orte., &c. The sales were well at
tended and very many articles sold for than the
original cost while others at great bsrgains-sx cotton
gins sold for $50 EACH worth about s2J0 suppose,
and two piano-fortes sold for sll7 and s2Ol, worth
from eco to $3.50, orignay-they were but eighty
damaged In few days we shall have large sale CT
| damaged cotton.
The Small PoI is rapidly disappearing at
Havana and vessels are now permitted TO enter our
LaIbor wiihou; being quarsntned.
| BILLY Bowlegs'" agreement 20 leave Flor
ida has not been sanctioned By his trioe-they say
that s their land by birth right and thatthey intend
10 live snd die upon H. This determination, il Is said,
is the result of the controlling influence Of Billy Bow
legs sister Although BILLY the rightal and seknowi'
edged CHEF !; is his sisters children and not bus own
who are the heirs spparent-hence sae superior innu'
enee Of the Of the rising Chief over her reign
ing brother whose glory Is departing.
The U. S. ship Cayenne left here the 18th,
after visit of ten days. Her crew, as usual, were
sent ashore in squads Of twenty-five al time, TO have
drunk :" and que, town was disturbed BY drunk
broils and bloody 6ghts" Several sailors and ma
rnes were z0A s4as fnsess, when the ship left
| Orsrco.
Seminole Indians-P eninsular survey.
| Correspondence Of III, y. o. Delta
Since nv letter TO you, in which l gave you
short sketch Of Billy Bewiegs the Seminole enel some
important changes have takenplsce concerning an snd