The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-04-12
Fort Taylor a nd Key West.

The Newport Mercury publishes
an interesting letter from Key West,
dated March 10. We copy tho fol-
lowing extract:
Fort Taylor is rectangular in
shape; that is, it has three regular
fronts and one irregular or gorge
front. 1t rests on an artificial island;
the base sixteen feet high and eight
feet thick, is Of Northern granite
bedded in the coral. The fort is con-
structed Of Pensacola brick, the walls
being eight feet thick. 1t has four
bastione which rake the front with
twenty four pound howitzers. 1t has
two tiers OF easements armed with
eight-inch columbiads. The tier
plane, or upper tier, has forty four
ten-inch swivel gune, and twelve
ten-inch travice guns. The fort has
but one entrance or postern which is
nine feet wide. The gorge front is
600 feet in length, and the three
other fronts are 800 feet each. The
fort is about twelve hundred feet from
the shore, and is connected by q
temporary bridge, but when com
pleted this space will be finished for
officers quarters, as a dyke sixty
feet wide will be built and covered.
The short line will have a breast.
high wall, defended by elk twelve,
inch columbiads. With the com.
pletion of this covered way the tort
will be completed, and will be one
Of the strongest in the world.
Owing to the disturbed state Of
the country, Captain Hunt, on his
arrival last Fall, Immediately com.
meuced to put the fort in proper
state OF defence. This was done by
removing the wharf at tho West
front, constructing drawbrlge aud
closing the lower parts except those
occupied by guns. lie has contin,
ued through the Winter to strength
en the tort in every possible manner,
and after making it impregnable, he
gave the military department to
Capt. Brennan, frat artillery, United
States Army.
The force to be stationed at the
fort will consist OF three companies
Of artillery under Major French, who
is on HE way from Texas.
,In ,lpyA 20 ,N,,k sl N
fort upon a war footing, = very great
amount of work has been done to
ward completing it, the number Of
men employed being about one hun.
drsd, forty Of which are slaves.-
The men are very orderly and free
from dissipation, and not only will
ing to work for an honest living, but,
il need be, fight !or the Union. The
health Of the men has been unusually
good 40 far; aud they expect to close
their work about the middle of A pril.
Had not Captain Hunt placed the
fort in the state OF defence IA soon
"a he arrived here, it would have
been in the hands OF the secession
ists, but by his foresight the tort ia
preserved to the government, who
can bold it as long as they desire.
The town of Key West ia situat, d
on an leland six miles long and two
vile, the highest elevation of which
il about twelve feet above the level
OF the sea. The population is abou,
3 500. 500 of which are negroes, the
rest are IA Heterogeneous set from all
quarters - but the larger part are
known as Conks, from the Bahama
Islands. Their occupation is gath.
ering sponge, Of which they sell sbou
100000 worth per year; many o
the inhabitants are wreckers, an(
The rest get II living by their wits
, There are but few very old SoutheIl
antilles here. On the island ar,
four churches, court house, Jail ant
Two whipping-posts. Drunkenness
abounds. License for selling liquor
$50 per annum. For drinking til,
penalty is either tour hours in tn
sweat. box, $50 fine or 80 lashes.
The federal officers here are al
disnnionists, but majority of tb'
people are for the Union, and ar
true, and would make good officer
lor the government if desired. Bu
| must now bid you good-by.