The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-30
LURED ARGOSIES 10 RUIN
IA Vivid Story Of the Florida Wreck
ers, More Fascinating Than
Fiction,
How Vessels Were Deooyed on
the Dreaded Keys by False
Beacons.

Beacons.
an Old Wrecker-Spoils In
Every House.
Situated on the verge of the gulf stream
In latitude "a degrees 81 minutes nortl
longitude 81 degrees 40 minutes west, th
island of Key West is the only inhabit0
city south Of Mason's and Dixon line ths
was never under the stars and bars of tn
confederacy. Approaching the value an
Importance Of the coral key from a militar
point Of view, the government exsrted al
its power to hold possession OF it, and ais
Of that grim, formidable fortress SO vel
known as the Dry Tortugas, Over both pc
sitions the stars and stripes have oontinue'
to wave, and as they are the STRATEGY
points of the gulf the flag of the union sa
lutes all oomers passing these outlying vi
dsttes of the mighty republic.
The harbor of Key West ia the equal Of
any of the spacious and numerous mi
that indent the seaboard OF the American
continent. The entire royal navy of Great
Britain could safely ride at anchor OF
maneuver in the deep water BY which it il
surrounded. Millions Of dollars have been
spent by the government in fortifying it,
and q large portion of the best land is still
in the possession Of the United States gov
eminent and cannot DO purchased. Key
West is but ninety miles distant from the
frowning b~attlemsnts OF the Moro. and,
should occasion demand, a modern cruiser
could cover the distance in q triie over
four hours. with guns trained upon fortress
and palace of the captain general alike. a
The island contains 1000 acres, ~450 of
which are occupied by the city with natu-
rally macadamized streets, which NO other
city in the United States can boast OF. The
geological formation is oolite, which is
quarried in small quantities in blocks for
building purposes. OF the early history Of
Key West but little is known, and the in
formation Of many who consider them
selves old timers is limited to the dsscrip-
tions given by some old work or snoyclo-
pedia compiled in the seventeenth century.
where it is defined as q little island in the
Gulf of Mexico, inhabited chiefly by q
few fishermen, and q resort of pirates,
buccaneers and wreckers. 1t ia a great
misfortune that no authentic history Of the
Florida Keys has been written. There is
probably no locality under the stars and
stripes richer in deeds Of adventure and of
a thrilling nature than has occurred along
thsse self-same low lying keys of the gulf.
Many q romance and tragedy as we'll lie
buried beneath the sparkling water that
break and ripple over the coral reefs.
The earliest occupants of Key West were
undoubtedly the Yemasse Indians, who
sought refuge there from the inroads of the
whites as they advanced southwark. A RI
val tribe on one occasion gave them battle.
and SO many skeletons were left to bleach
among tho coral riffs that the Spanish adj
venturers, when they first discovered the
location, called the island Bone Key, or
Cayo Hueso, of which Key West is q cor
Yuption.
The first white settlement made on, the
island was BY Connections Yankees, fisher
men from Mystic. who saw at a glance the
advantages the place offered. and erecting
rough shelters piled their vocations under 4
tropical sun. In 1926 immigration set in
from the Bahama islands. and the two
classes soon assimilated, as their tastes and
vocations were alike. Fishing was the only
industry. but wreoking was the shrine at
which the entire population worshiped.
Men, women ana children took to the pur-
suit as naturally asa duck TO the water.
and even the clergy did not disdain to try
their hand at the business. A story il told
in connection with the old weather beaten
bethel, whore the Bohsmians and the Key
Westers were gathered one Sabbath. with
the pastor snugly ensconced in his polished
mahogany pulpit, which, by the way, had
originally formed the interior decorations
of a French passenger vessel. when the cry
OF "A wreck! a wreck" startled the congre-
CATION. The prayer came to an abrupt ter
nination, the congregation poured forth
eager for their prey, and the leader of the
flock, his broadoloth floating widely on the
breeze, led the van in the race for place and
precedence.
These wrecks were numerous, sometimes
amounting to two and three a week, or
forty a year. as shown by the admiralty
records In the United States district court. |
In November, 1853, there wore two wrecks
on one day, the principal one of which was
the Heidelberg, laden with 1000 bales of
cotton, $4,000 in bullion and $4,000 in
specie. In 1923 the American flag was first
hoisted. and the inhabitants devoted all
their energies to the noble profession of
w%reckinR, and the exploits Of the far-famed
Florida reef community became notorious.
All that could provided themselves with
light. clipper-built sohooners and took out
licenses permitting them to "assist vessels
In distress.''
These beautiful modelled vessels make M
Y large part of the marine registry of Key
West. 1t is supposed to constitute a fair
and legitimate business, but it is closely
allied to piracy. The older inhabitants are
strangely ~reticent over the experience of
their earlier days. say fifty years ago, and
shift about %unessily until the conversation
turns into a more agreeable channel. The
temptations connected with wrecking are
great. and many are unable to hold out
against them.
Occasionally an cid settler is met with
who, under the inspiration of a we'll brewed
glass of grog, will indulge in a genuine old
sea dogs yarn. l encountered one of the
specimens on my Lass cruise to Key West,
who smacked his lips over q ''honanza,''
and while it leosened his jaw tackle. ap-
peared to reach the innermost cookies of
his heart.
1T was fifty odd years ngo that I first
trnd the beach hereabouts, and I was a
stout, promising lad then. with the world
all before me. There were not over $50 peo-
pie on the Key, and wreoking was what we
depended upon for our bread and butter,
1 reckon it must have paid, for our descend
ants live in pretty good style and have a
stray shot slowed away in the locker.
There WAS something funny about that
wrecking business" and the old fellow
chucklsd softly to himself as he passed his
Scared leather hand across his weather
beaten visage. "Of course | never was
let into the secrets of the bust
for ! was only cook, but our
skipper, who was on salary working
for q mighty sharp concern with headquar-
tiers, on the Key, frequently had orders to
.A L.