Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-02

Ohel stSdhneIS VI tne eApeulIlOn nave Deen
nearly wrecked, and many of them have been
| Obliged to put into various ports for repairs.
| Those having our regiment on board, are all
safe so far as heard from. The "Shetucket y
called by some the poorest boat in the fleet,
has not yet been heard from by as, though
that need give no uneasiness, for she may have
arrived at her destination without our knowl-
| edge. All have had bad weather and heavy
gales, and all have put into ports for repairs.
| The Shetucket, upon which is Mai Stiles,
may still be in some port, and you may hear
from her before we do.
There have been number OF gunboats and
war vessels i'll port since our arrival The
Sycamore, Kingston, Augusta, Magnolia, St.
Lawrence, Adelia, and others of lesser note,
have been or are now here. Prize schooners,
barques, &C., are lying at the wharves, almost
without number, showing that our vessels
have not all been idle. The Kingston put out
to sea this morning, for a cruise in search of
the Alabama. She is fine gunboat, and will
do the pirate some damage if she meets her.
This being prominent coaling station, naval
officers make up good share of the popula-
ton here.
Key West, as its name indicates, is one of
the most western of the long range of ''keys"
or islands, which lie along the west coast of
Florida. history of the place may not par
ticularly interest your readers, but a few has
ty jottings of the sights and scenes here may
not be unacceptable. The island is about
seven miles in circumference, and is flat as
pancake" 1t is hot, sandy, dusty, and
may say, a God-forsaken spot Negroes,
Spaniards, natives, Yankees, and the ire
pressble Irishmen, are inhabitants of the
place-most of them looking only to pecuni-
airy profit, after which they remove to more
congenial abiding place. 1t is such a spot as
will probably be found nowhere else in the
world-certainly not in this country. Those
who have lived at the west say, that in respect
to business, buildings, and general looseness,
1t resembles new western city which is
bound to Ego ahead" Still there are traces
of antiquity about it which does not really
support the idea. The houses, as general
thing, are one-story structures, built up from
the ground, for the purpose of ventilation,
chimneyless, and in most cases with blind
doors. The soil is not here. Coral stone,
closely resembling limestone, compose the
upper strata, mixed with fine white sand,
while lower down shells of various kinds
are as plenty as pebble stones in Massachu-
sets. Ut course, upon such a founda.
ton but few vegetables can be raised, and
the vegetation is altogether natural. A few
cucumbers, sweet corn and sweet potatoes
have been gathered by us. They are planted
at any time in the year, and grow as well in
January as July. But lemons, lines, pome-
granates, cOcoanuts, &C., grow with per-
feet wild profusion. We who have always
| been strangers to such tropical fruits and
scenes as we find here, spread ourselves with
| perfect abandon over the entire island, and
enjoy it immensely. We pick fruits wherever
they give permission, in most cases, for
IL d., e
or drunkenness has yet been known, and one
of the ladies residing here said no troops had
| been here so gentlemanly as the Massachu-
sets boys. The confidence reposed in us is
very general, and we are welcomed every
where. The streets here would be called
"lanes" at home. They are wide enough, but
they are filled with short turfy weed in place
| OF grass (Which does not grow here), and the
absence of sidewalks gives them forsaken
and desolate appearance. The houses are
nearly all painted white or whitewashed, and
| surrounded as they are by cocoanut trees,
| they present very cheerful and inviting APP
| pearance. All the business transacted here is
caused by the shipping. There are no man
utactures or other appearance Of New Eng
land thrift, and this absence of a variety of
trades gives the indisputable evidence of the
cause OF weed-grown streets. Darkies abound
slave and free.
A most singular anamoly is presented on this
island in the fact that free negro, who was
once a slave, owns an extensive property here
"a portion of which is made up of SlGceS-
people Of his own race and color. Its sing
ular sight to see one black man cunning his
race in this style. This negro is reputed to
be one of the wealthiest citizens on the island
and of course has his influence Slavery has
almost become to be such only in name in
this island. Slaves have left their ''devoted
masters" and taken up their residence wherev-
er they pleased-in many cases within a
stones throw of their old homes, and so far
they are unmolested by their former owners, for
they dare not proceed to forcble measures to
recover their property. These self-freed slaves
have become very insolent, causing consider
able annoyance to the residents. Its now re-
ported that a change in commanders at this
post will soon be made, when these slaves will
be recovered Upon the departure of a steam
er northward the negroes flock to the wharf
in considerable numbers, and by some means
slaves have been missing from the island after
the vessel had departed. This has caused
guard to be placed upon all vessels going north,
and all are searched for fugitives. The "Cos-
mopolitan," which sailed for Hilton Head this
morning, with the ninetieth New York reg
iment had six slaves taken from her
last evening, and others were prepared to
risk a seizure for the chance to get north, but
a guard prevented all negroes from going on
board. Which do they prefer-slavery or
freedom? Key West will live in our memo
ries as long as we have life. 1t is the first
southern port we have made, and as foreign
to our New England idea of life as anything
could well be. We have enjoyed it because
we were almost ship-ridden, and a draught OF
land air was refreshing. We bid it adieu
without a pang of regret, and with a still
stronger love for dear old New England, with
all its roughness and changes in climate. But
to be in season for the mail must close. E.
The COMMANDER OF THE "ALABAMA."-