The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-01-05
Our Key West Correspondence.


Our Key West Correspondence.
KEY WEST Fla, Dec. 20, 1853
Hstc,sise Destruction Of Salt Works in st. Andrews Bay
UsOords Of Three Millions or Iebsl Property Destroyed
Ackiyemenh of tie Schooner Restless and TIE Steamer
Bsomer--Creat Haul Of Horses, Wagons and Produce
CoHera6ands in Their G1ory-S. Andrcus City De-
svsyed-A Rebel Steamer Euned BY the Fbr-Audaciy Of
Blockade Rssnina Schoone-Her Captain Shot and
ne SchoonH Captured b. the Fbx-Oher Prizes Cap
tared-CAriHmds at Key Wca-Fesiv,tfes, de-, &C.
Another powerful blow has fallen upon the Southern
oonfedsacy In tho tenderest part The pockets Of the
rebels have been relieved and they have been deprived
Of largo amount Of material aid and comfort.
GAIT works plentiful In Florida blackbrds in
q rico Aeld, and ever since the Restless dropped
anohor in st. Andrews bay their fires have been seem
But how u obtain the weather guage Of them was
problem that even the fertile brain OF Captain Browne
q loas 70 sove since Il utter imposeIbhty
60 place the vessel to the field OF operation and il
would have been madness to send boats in unless they
covered BY heavy guns On the 10th OF December
however the problem solved By the arrival Of the
United States steamer Boomer. commanded By Acting
Ensign Cressy. and the events Of few succeeding days
proved that like Cheshire cat, she better than
she looked"
She took on board, besides her own crew. Acting En-
signs James Russell and Chas. N. Hicks Sturgeon Chas
n. Page, and forty.six men from tho Restless and
steamed 70 the mouth Of Bear creek Here the Boomer
Gstaground. A lively scsns was then witnessed. The
sigal boil was kept In notiou, like rs alarm all hands
II work. endsavoring to warp the steamer OF by
evsry plan that ingenuity could devise; but all In vain
Al length old Neptune 70 the rescue and the rising
tide gradually lifted the steamer from her perous posi-
tica. Having get undsr weigh, the expedition
procssdsA up West bay and arrived in sight Of tho
sat works, which consisted Of an irregular line Of build
in scattered along shore. All were 10 full opera
tlcu Hcrsog mules, oxen and darkeys were continually
ss e - lses - So! 8 s; e: s' Ssas
white nan w:s overseeing the works and like an army Of
e 81 e ogs % oc%es
anchored for the night.
A. daylight ths steamer weighed sncho' and stood
By Throwing IN few sheiis among TIE TsbeS;
ana great wY the Consideration Of thess gentry
Hidst he White men exercised eSsir locomotive tive
powers With rsnarkabe erect nssins . the woods and
are a sspsdsioa vas getting ready for the psrposs 4
ss U.s. ,.,.. -: s.::s .s5:s s g, l.;,sE..
Il Fl naS:
na boilers cs sVss ss ~.
kepsasd . 30 handy Several o. the slaves who were
p a.. no s: hsas .s ssS d'1ss
wort among these Kettles and boilers, the foremost
In their dssructiou Tho buildings OF which there
pscss many wagons loaded with salt Or produce were
stripped 6 their contents Of tho captured white
But The unkndsss cut Of oil was lie stampede Of contra
bands There 60 thirteen hundred dollars 20 me
M .sv one me = Tho
After the work OF destruction had been completed the
men, who were reotorced By fresh bodies Of sailors un
der command OF Ensns Greasy and Hicks marched along
shore, burning and destroying, while the steamer
kept them under cover Of her guns, occasion;
the rebels that the ammunition was not exhaust
"a. Thus they worked all day, assisted ma
preasg white into the service, until, after having
demolished an almost Incredible amount Of rebel proper
The men returneOn board the steamer exhausted but
resumed. number Of saline establishments owned ~
private Individuals, were summaIy destroyed, and TO-
srsaspoSssd % more dangerous vicniiy, where they
s1s stack she works belonging 70 the rebel gov.
~sss susrdss ~ three companiss 4 soldiers. oonss.
ssssss which they po;ss.ssd ..unoo peculiar ~.
spssss % u. our military. the very
tsssviss clear nsa for re Operations q The sea-
neat: ssssiss down ihs :ss: ana t..ss !; discount;
jubilee has cone =, second Visit % the shore wss
s S1: sSs .s
righs. Mr. Hoin on the lsft, and Mr.. Russell In tho
centre. few rebel soldiers were seeu lurking among
group Of trees but voIey discharged in their midst
sass0sd their curiosity, and they disappeared. upon
which IL proceeded with thcr sport Presently
traia of covered wagons approached, laden with pro.
ducs A ~ drivers came near they discovered that obey
ha6 made Mistake, and, jumpin6 their horses, thsy
for dear life. But the lars wefy 700 quick Tor hem
Cutting che traces Of the horses they mounted, and
started In pursuit Of the ugvos, driving them back 10
grees num6eS quantity of provscns and tools found
In the wagons con0scated, the wagons were smashe
ana the horses LEI loose Similar scenes enacted IN
osher salt works. ana, towards night having inflicted oil
chs injury poesibe 70 the property d the rebes the mon
returned V the steamer well pleased With their days
wuek. :.
ns Importance Of this expedition and The amount 81
loss 70 the rsbss pocket will DO nom the following
table,
SUMMARY DAMAGE
800 boilers end kettles. averaging one hun.
drsd anA MY gallons each, costing - per -.
so6 SusS;ls :a,, q eis per basnsi 10 900
Ice sals vort1. tsionging 70 private ndividn-
~ % oompeniooi. l,99O,OOO
Govsrumsat works, thrsefourths Of q milo
square, With buildings 70 cover boilers.... 5o0,o00
81 os5 o0l
duce, &c.
Mr.. Bant, very intenIgsns and wealthy rebel, and
proprietor o. SAT works, remarked that this damage
would DO serious blow 70 the conederacy az the raj
LA