Birmingham state herald., 1895-11-10
The State Herald Describes Key
 West.
THE GIBRALTAR OF THE GULF
After Voyage of Seventeen Days He Finally Reached the Island of St. Chris
 topher..


 pie say they prefer seeing their own country. For myself, believe in seeing any country l can and when I can. But how many people really know their own country? Take Key West for instance. We all know that there is an excellent ci- gar comes from Key West. but how many of us know where Key West is or anything about it. I, for one, didn't un- til recently. and presuming that you are just as ignorant as I was I am going to enlighten you.
 That Key West is in Florida we all know. that is we are so taught in our ge- ography. but in reality it Is situated on a coral reef of the same name seven miles long. about two miles wide and only II feet above the sea. It is about sixty miles south of Cape Sable, the most southerly point of the mainland of Flor ida. The town of Key West covers about half of the reef and is inha mostly by Cubans and Bahamans. who speak a Spanish patois. You rarely hear English spoken. It's climate Is mild and attracts many northern invalids annually.
 Its streets are broad and it's houses surrounded by tropical plants and shrubs.
 Key West is to the gulf what Gibralta
 
 cf.saf naval stations of the United States. It's principal and only manufacture is that of cigars.
 Previous to 1874 SOOO0 bushels of salt were produced by evaporation, but a hur- rlcane swept over the island and the works went where the woodbine twineth. Some of the inhabitants subsist by fish ing, sponge gathering and turtle catch ing. Many others are engaged Tn "wrecking," that Is, plundering unfortu- nate vessels that are wrecked on these dangerous reefs.
 through the Strait of Florida past Salt Key and into Santarem channel, where l got my first sight of Cuba. We were about opposite Sagua la Grande, and at least forty miles from shore, but the Cuban mountains could be plainly seen lying low along the horizon like blue cloud.
 We were in dangerous place in case of bad weather. There are thousands of reefs and keys between Cuba and F'lori- da, some above water and some hidden beneath It's surface. It takes skilled navigator to steer clear or the treacher- ous keys, and even under the best man. agement many vessels are annually wrecked.
 1t is interesting to take large map of the Bahama islands and of the West In- dies and see how thickly studded the waters are with islands, reefs and banks.
 Nv impression was that there were only about seven or eight West India is- lands, but I know better now. The num- Der runs up into the hundreds, islands thickly inhabited that I never heard of before Get out your map and study IL and tell Dr. Phillips to point them out to his pupils from a good map instead of from the miserable maps founds in geographies.
 We sailed along the Cuban coast for several days, with the mountains con stantly in view. At times we would pass close In shore and with marine glasses could see villages and the beautiful green fields of cane and bananas So deceptive is distance that at times we appeared to be within two miles of shore, when in reality we were fully ten miles off shore We could see steamers cruising along nearer the shore, evidently Spanish men of-war, looking for filibusters.
 I had always thought that Cuba was a low. flat. sickly country, but imagine my surprise to find that 1t Is mountain ous and beautiful and quite healthy in the interior, so I am told. Some of the mountains are 5000 feet high and rise right from the waters edge to the clouds above. They can be seen about ninety miles on a clear day.
 As the island is 700 miles long we didn't pass 1t in a day, you may be sure. We had the gulf stream with us, which was some help, but the wind wasn't exactly fair, being a little ahead, which necessi- lated our making many tacks
 Now, if I should stop to explain what "tacking" and beating" and "luffing" and laying to- and "jibbing'' and run ming" you would become as good sea dog as am. so you must just swallow what tell you and ask no questions.
 Of couse you know what the gulf stream is. Every child knows that it is c.-Y,,f fixra a of Mexico and Atlantic ocean at the rate of about three miles an hour and helps to keep England warm. It is used for other purposes, but that Is its principal use.
 The gulf stream is great help to ves- sels running with it, but woe be unto vessels going against it. There is another element that helps or retards sailing ves- sels, and that is the trade wind, which has its origin somewhere near the Cape Verde islands and blows in a southwest erly direction with unyarying constan- cy the year round, except when prevented by tornado during the hurricane season It is the trade wind that tempers the cli- mate of the tropical countries and makes them inhabitable. and l may say com fortable.
 Columbus struck the trade wind and had easy sailing coming over, but he had a tough time getting home with those lit- tie tubs of his. The wonder is that he ever got home at all. The voyage can be made this way in a row boat with per feet safety, but it is going the other way that is hard work.
 While sailing through the Florida strait we passed every kind of vessel imagina- ble, from small fishing schooner to big ocean steamships and men of war. One Spanish steamship passed quite close to us, loaded with soldiers bound for Ha- vana. No doubt some of the small vessels we saw were Cuban filibusters.
 I think I would have joined filibuster- ing expedition If I had not struck my present berth. I was just in the humor for doing anything rash at that time. but am cured now. came to the con- clusion that there were just as good fish in the sea. But digress.
 We passed close under the lee of Great Inagua, a British island about seventy five miles from Cuba, then for two days we were out of sight of land. The next land we sighted was Cape Isabelique, on the north side of Hayti. We kept this negro republic In sight for three days and then passed between it and Porto Pico. another Spanish island. which is on the verge of a revolution. Porto Rico Is nearly as large as Alabama and has 100000 population. and from the sea 1t looks like the garden spot of earth. We s..I- 1t