Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-07-04
WRECKlNG AND WREKERS.

porlum OF the Union, during the yea
. 1854, were sixty four. The aggregat,
value of these vessels is stated at 1914,
00O and the value of their cargoes at s
go, 454-making The total valuation O
vessels and cargoes 81 ,242 ,454 The ex
penses of the cargoes while in the port Of
Key West were Sl9.6S6 6S. and the ex.
penses of the vessels S49,l 25 total
S69. .O36 % The amount realized from
sales of damaged cargoes was S3S. .03S
%; The amount of salvage awarded the
wreekers S6S.92l 81, and the total losses
on vessels and cargoes 1892, I67 AZ
The Florida Archipelago consists of a
chain of islands along and around the
southern point of Florida, extending from
Cape Florida to the Tortugas "a distance
Of about two hundred miles. Outside of
these islands, and at distance from them
of about eight miles, lies the Florida Reef
"A ledge of rocks ing underneath the
surface, at depths averaging in different
places from two to eighteen aud thirty
feet. This reef may be properly regarded
as the northern wall or bank of the Gulf
STRENGTHENING Cuba and the Rehama
Islands for the southern and eastern
banks Between Key West aud Cuba
this oceanic stream is about eighty miles
wide; at Cape Florida it is narrowed to
about forty FIVE miles It is the outlet Of
the great Bay or Gulf of Mexico and the
commerce of New Orleans and the other
/ Gulf ports, with much OF the gold of Cal
| lfornla, passes through it. The value of
this commerce has been estimated at no
! less than four hundred millicns of dollars
annually. A current commences in the
Gulf Stream off Tortugas, and runs east
erly and northerly at the rate commonly.
of three four nots an hour, but it is very
irregular in its rapidity and direction
and in consequence of these irregulari-
ties, the narrowness Of the channel, bad
weather, aud probable, in some instances,
the carelessness of navigators, many
ships and vessels get ashore upon the reef,
and either totally lost, or are tighten
ed and got off by wreckers. Many yes
sells also put into Key West IN a leaky
and disabled condition.
The persons employed in saving this
property are technically called wreckers,
and about two hundred and fifty of them
are constantly and exclusively employed
in sailing about the islands and reefs. in
little sloops or schooners of about sixty
tuus burden. Some one or more of them
visit every dangerous reef every day, SO
that a vessel does not remain long IN
trouble before helping hand is extended
to her. If the assistance of wreckers be
accepted, they generally tighten the ship,
carry out anchors, and get the vessel off
or if she be lost on the rocks, thay save
the cargo, the passengers and crew, aud
carry them to Key West, where salvage
is awarded by the United States District
Judge for the saving of the vessel ana
cargo, but no charge Is or can be made, or
any salvage allowed for the saving the
lives of crews, passengers, and their bag
gage.
Considering the large amount of prop
erty saved from total destruction, and the
many lives of passengers aud crews saved
from death by these wreckers, nc one can
fail to be impressed with the Importance
and heroic daring of their vocation. To
the cause of humanity, aad to the interest
of commerce. their services are invaluable.
And no other class of men are exposed to
greater temptations to embeZziement and
fraud, for large amounts of property are
constantly committed to their possession
without any receipt or proof, In the haste
and confusion of shipwreck, and yet no
complaints are ever made of depredatlons
on the property. or the commlssloH OF
any rudeness or discourtesy to passengers
by these wreckers-a fact credltablc to
them in an emenent degree, although 1T
may, perhaps, be attributable In part to
another fact, that the compensation for
their services is awarded them by the
Court, and their conduct is rigldly lnves-
tigated and scrutanized.
The National Government has erected
several lighthouse at different points
along the Florida Reef, which are OF I'M
mense benefit to navigation on this dan
gerous coast; ard the U, S Coast Sur
vey is now employed in surveying and 10
eating upon charts the exact position of
every island and reef lying between Cape
Florida and the Tortugas Islands, which
will be an invaluable guide and security
to the four hundred millions worth Of
property that annually floats along this
ocean stream.
The Honorable William Marvin, is now
and has been for nearly twenty years. the
United States District Judge at Key
West; and We have before had occasion
to speak of his high judicial integrity aud
ability. He has exclusive jurisdiction 10
all Admiralty cases, aud his decisions are
final in all cases where the amount Is less
than two thousand dollars. The business
. Of this Court is entirely devoted to mat
ters growing out of wrecking. He awards
salvage. and the amount thereof; he set
ties consortships, and apportions the sal
wage moneys among the owners, masters
and crews of vessels he supervises and
audits the commission and wharfage char
ges-and all without the Intervention of
a Jury His official position, therefore,
is not simply responsible one, but 1t has
a direct and personal res possibility, which
is neither shared nor relieved by the ln-
terposition of Jury between himself and
the parties litigant. Nearly every man
upon the island is directly or indirectly
interested in every wreck. and in the
award of the most liberal salvage, and it
requires judge of great moral courage
ct : to