The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-09
REBECCA SHOALS LIGHT.

himself, but the man refused. In few
minutes Gaze passed away. 1t 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 to
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 Rcbecca shoals to Fort Jefferson.
On Sand key is grave that is pitiful in
its loncsomcness. The island is all of sand,
except i'll the center where few tall, rush
like grasses grow. Man rarely visits the
spot. The sun shines ficrcely all day, and
the ocean booms upon series of OUTLYING
reefs.
Turtles are plentiful in the waters around
here. In the season Loggerhead key and
East Key are Iavorte resorts for the turtle
hunter. In the shoals of the reefs the nurse
shark comes TO breed These fish are harm
less, as their mouth is small, but they are
allied to the man caters, and long, taper
ing, wicked tail gives spice of danger to
the pursuit of them. The animals are of
ten over 10 feet in length Splendid sport
can be had in spcaring them. The skin OH
their back is wonderfully tough, and it
takes strong arm to fix the grains in them.
Here are the most magnificent marine
gardens i'll tie world. For miles around
the water is only few feet deep, save
where the narrow, winding channels are
marked by adark 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
porcupine, brilliant colored fishes, gor-
geous conch shells and sea vegetation of all
sorts and OF all pleasing tints. Vast schools
OF mullct and snappers swim near the sur
face, and we could trace the course Of myri-
ads of small fry by the plunging flocks of
gull and tern or the clumsy pelicans that
followed just above.
The great Florida reef is no longer a
menace to navigation. Steamer and sailing
vessel pass fearlessly up and down. No
such wrecks occur as that of 1871, when of a
fleet of 13 Spanish galleons, treasure laden
from Vera Cruz, IL 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 godsend.
Often the wreckers would lure vessel to
destruction with false lights, or a bogus
pilot would be sent aboard, or a captain,
when possible, would be bought off.
The wreckers are not all dead vet In
Key West and the Bahamas are many per-
sons. Old G0d young, who would gladly
ERve th. oic :egime back. Woe to the bark
that 81 irom port becomes helpless! She
is speedily surrounded bya host of Bahama
conchs or Florida dingies, and if she is not
pillaRed she is seized as q salvage vessel.
Losgerhead light is the most southerly
OF the lights on the Atlantic coast, for
though it is in the gulf the reefs are but an
extension Of the coast line. Rebecca shoals
is the most lonely light. 1t stands in II
fathoms of water, and the mainland is over
..
and old seamen shake their heads and speak
darkly of the time when a hurricane shall
come. Three keepers are given each light.
Once every three months a keeper has va
cation. Literature is supplied by passing
boats. The life is not as hard as it used to
be, but it is Il monotonous one and is oft IN
dangerous. Many a staggering vessel has
reason to pray for the welfsre Of that man
who holds i'll his hand the guiding lamp
lighting pathway through the cruel Flor
Ida reef. ED l.. SABIN.