The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-01-06
REnEccA sHoAIsI1GH

himself. but the man refused. In a few
minutes Gaze passed away. IL was early
morning when the craft struggled up to
the fort, nearly full Of water and the corpse
OF the old keeper smashing from one side 10
the other. The brave keeper was exhausted.
To this day the residents of the keys tell
how Jack Low brought the body Of Mark
Gaze from Rebecca shoals 10 Fort jefferson.
On Sand key is a grave that is pitiful in
its lonesont ness. The island is all Of sand,
except ia the center, where a few tall. rush
like grasses grow. Man rarely visits the
spot. The sun shines fiercely all day, and
the ocean booms upon a series Of outlying
reefs.
Turtles are plentiful in thewaters around
here. In the season Loggerhead key and
East key are favorite resorts for the turtle
hunter. In the shoals of the reefs the nurse
shark comes 10 breed. These fish are harm
less, as their mouth is small, but they are
allied TO the man eaters, and long. taper
ing, wicked tail gives a spice Of danger TO
the pursuit of them. The animals are Of
ten over 10 feet in length. Splendid sport
can be had in spearing them. The skin on
their back is wonderfully tough, and it
takes a strong arm TO fix the grains in them.
Here are the most magnificent marine
gardens in tho world. For miles around
the water Is only a few feet deep, save
where the narrow, winding channels are
marked by dark blue path. Over the shall
lows our dingy glides. Beneath us we see
great coral heads. enormous sea urchins
with spines as long and as sharp as those of
n porcupine, brilliant colored fishes, gor-
geous conch shells and sea vegetation Of all
sorts and of all pleasing tints. Vast schools
Of mullet and snappers swim near the sur
face, and we could trace the course OF myri-
ads Of small fry by the plunging iiocks Of
gull and tern or the clumsy pelicans that
followed just above.
The great Florida reef is no longer
menace 70 navigation. Steamer and sailing
vessel pms fearlessly up and down. No
such wrecks occur as that of 1877, when of a
fleet OF 10 Spanish galleons, treasure laden
from Vera Cruz. ~ went to pieces on the
Florida reef. Lights and buoys now mark
the course. The wreckers fought bitterly
the establishment Of these safeguards. To
the modern pirates a wreck was a godsend.
Often the wreckers would lure vessel 10
destruction with false lights. OF a bogus
pilot would be sent aboard, or a captain,
when possible, would be bought off.
The wreckers are not all dead yet In
Key West and the Bahamas are many per
sons. old and young. who would gladly
have the old regime back. Woe To the bark
that far from port becomes helplessi She
is speedily surrounded by "A host of Bahama
conchs or Florida dingies and IL she is not
pillaged she is seized as a salvage vessel
Loggerhead light is the most southorly
Of the lights CA the Atlantic coast. for
though il is In the gulf the reefs are but an
extension OF the coast line. Rebecca shoals
is the most lonely light. IL stands in Il
fathoms Of water. and the mainland Is over
20 miles away. Keepers dread the post,
and old seamen shake their heads aud speak
darkly 81 the time when hurricane shall
come. Three keepers are given each light.
Once every three months a keeper has a va
cation. Literature h supplied boy passing
boats. The lie is not as hard as it used to
b.. bat IL Is "a mono,onous one and i often
dangerous Many a staggering vessel has
reason TO pray for the welfare Of that man
who holds la his hand the guiding lamp
lighting pathway through the cruel Flor
i'd reef. I'D l.. SADIN.