Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-13

Wnicn all the Islands rest. II had signi-
ncsnce as being the only coral reef within
the borders of the American Continent. Oh
owned Dy this government and has al
ways been OF interest 10 travellers and
scientists who desired TO study the condl-
lions OF lie on a coral reef near at hand.
What may be termed the outer reef
comprises an elevated platform. thirty or
forty square miles in extent; the highest
points being occupied by the keys de-
scribed, and growing in an irregular atoll
shape. with Garden Key in the centre;
long, slender Loggerhead to the west;
East, Middle, and Sand Keys forming the
barrier to the north. while Bush Key and
a long, partly submerged barrier Of dead
| coral rock, which will ultimately become
an island. constitute the eastern front OF
this remarkable growth. The interior is
cut by deep channels. the rich color of
which presents a sharp contrast as they
wind in and out-ribbcns OF azure, the
blue veins of the reef. These channels
| constitute one Of the mysteries of the
| reef. as they seem almost artificial: some
being so deep and their walls so abrupt
| that IL is possible TO stand on the coral
edge and dive directly down into blue
water where it Is 80 or more feet deep.
These channels have undoubtedly been
worked out by currents and the sides
covered with branch coral, which thrives
In rough water. / once attempted 20
ascertain If this coral wall was perpen-
dicular until Ii reached the bottom. and
1t was proposed to take deep dive with
a sinker and scrutinize ii as far as pos
sible. The boat was held four or five
feet from the edge of the coral, and mold
ing a 30-pound rock by a rope. let so
and sank rapidly, holding on until as
far from the surface as was thought
wise, passing the millions Of points all
turned outward. like the bayonet points
Of an army.
The most noticeable feature Of the drop
was the change of temperature-frst cold,
then a warm current, and thirty or forty
feet from the surface, where the sjuker
was dropped, the water was intensely
cold. How much further down the coral
continued could not be determined but
as far as il could be seen, this wonder
full growth was almost perpendicular,
proving that here at least was an abrupt
wall CT coral.
What is known as the outer reef, bar
rier of dead coral on the east, form
ed the outer edge Of a fine grove of a
short -branched coral which covered many
acres, through which several years
ag) was a channel known as the five
foot"-at that time the only channel
through the breakers. The writer was
made aware of it's presence in startling
fashion. Out one day to the east in a
sailboat, it began to blow, and the boat
man said our only chance was to make
the "five-foot," instead of going around
10 the main channel between East and
Bush keys; so he put the boat at what APP
peared to be an impenetrable wall
nj ba
preached the more ominous was the out
look, as the jagged edges of coral rock
were everywhere visible in the wash Of
the waves. But here the old boatman
confided TO me one of the secrets of
the pilots of the reef by which wrecker
or pilot could rush In through the break
ers, going on 10 what was apparently a
certain wreck, but i'm reality an easy pas
sage. He said it was merely
question Of steering, as there was a chan
mel fifteen or twenty feet wide and
five feet deep which could be made by
keeping the light on Garden Key on a
line with the south chimney of the Off
GERS quarters in the fort.
He handed me the helm, bidding me
to keep ii so while he trimmed the sail.
When the point was reached where the
sea began 10 break it was a most dis
agreeable sight.
A furious sea was breaking, and as il
drew back the tremendous undertow
dragged rocks from the reef with a fright
full roar and rattle. A huge sea caught
the boat which went rushing on its crest
10 seeming destruction, then it broke. and
she sailed in amid a sea of foam; but
before another caught her the boat slid
through the narrow entrance, with but
"A
her whirling into the calm water of the
inner lagoon.
At various points there were large heads
OF brain coral One group stood on the
edge of the channel TO the north Of Gar
den Key; another on the opposite side;
others again off TO the northwest OF Long
Key, while some fine heads ornamented
the channel near Bird Key and fringed
it on the west of Garden Key. Some OF
these heads must have weighed several |
thousand pounds. Many were followed |
out and were huge vases Near the |
fringng reef were masses of leaf corals, |
while TO the south small clumps of rose |
coral abounded; indeed, this reef was a |
veritable wonderland in the varieties or |
its coral life. 1t would have been an easy |
matter TO make. in a few hours, a collec- |
ton that would have ornamented any |
museum. Ships could have been loaded |
with IL without making any impression |
on the supply, yet to-day IL is almost |
impossible to find living coral on the |
Florida reef from Tortugas 10 Key West.
A tragedy of the sea has occurred, ana |
these famous gardens Of the reef, the
tropical submarine forests. have disap-
peared as before the hand or the de-
stroyer.
The coral reef of Tortugas is no more
that is, the living coral. The delicate
polyps have succumbed 10 some enemy,
and have died out, leaving only the base
and bleaching ruins of what was once
one OF the fine coral reefs of the world.
That so remarkable a change could take
place in an area nearly seventy miles in
length seems incredible, but that this
area was affected there can be no doubt
A letter recently received from an official
on the island states that the destruction
of coral is so complete that even a small
collection could not be made The cause
Of this destruction of an entire reef Is
though theories are not want
Ing. Some years ago the sudden death of
fishes in this region was observed-hshes
Of all kinds succumbed, fioated TO the sur
face. and formed lines upon the shore.
The fish were In good condition, and the
cause Of their death remained a mystery
A similar epidemic was observed among
ashes off the Californian coast in 1894
Tropical fishes are very susceptible 10
cold. The writer has seen weather so
cold at tropical Tortugas that fires were
acceptable, and II was cold work on the
water; yet this did not affect the coral.
In all probability. the cause can be traced
to submarine Eruption. which permitted
70 nil 10