The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-06
THE DRY T0RTUGAS
Once a Resort for Buccaneers and Pr
rates-Site of Old Fort jefferson.


At the western extrmeity Of the long
chain Of keys reaching out into the Gulf
Of Mexico from the southern end Of Florl-
da is the group known as the Tortugas
This cluster of sunken reefs and shoals
with perhaps ten small Keys that are
dry, !. e., that rise above the surface Of
the sea, extends some ten miles in a
northeasterly and southwesterly direction,
and is about six miles across IL incloses
in its midst d deep secure and comm0-
dious harbor, where the North Atlantic
squadron, under Admiral Sicard, has re-
Gently rendezyoused for its winter man
euyers in the gulf. The Tortugas are
about seventy miles west OF Key West,
and about 40 miles north Of Havana. Like
Florida itself, they are OF coral formation
overlaid with sand, and the dry keys are
generally well covered with mangrove
bushes and small cedar trees. There are
three entrances to the harbor, called the
Northwest, Southwest and Southeast
channels. At the western edge OF the
group stands Loggerhead Key lighthouse,
rising ~ feet above the sea and visible
al the distance Of eighteen and one-haf
nautical miles; It has been described as
Of great architectural beauty, having
more resemblance 70 a monument than
q UEnLuONets AlDlucE lAEuluoLcE - vi
Garden Key, between the two southern
entrances, and stands inside OF Fort JET
ferson. Il Is sixty-fye feet above the
level of the sea.
Florida was purchased from Spain by
the United states in 1919 for s. O0o 900. The
Tortugas had been for long time past
resort OF buccaneers and pirates, tho
scOurge Of those seas, and the advisable
ity OF building fort on some one OF the
keys was early discussed by our officials,
with the object rather OF preventing
foreign power from seizing a harbor so
near our coast, where a naval station
could be established, than from any great
value in Itself to us. Nothing definite was
done, however, until President Folks ad-
ministratiCn. when, in ls47. while Jefferson
Davis was Secretary Of war, work was
begun on Garden Key on the fort. after
ward named jefferson. Millions Of money
were spent on its construction, but It
never was entirely finished. and has now
been allowed 10 fall into a very dilapidat-
ed condition. All the building material,
as well as the supplies for the labOrers,
had 10 be brought by sea.
Garden Key, on which Fort Jefferson
stands has an area OF about thirteen
acres. The fort itself is hexagonal in
shape, and covers about nine acres OF
ground, al eacn angie is baSuOn, the
curtain walls have a double tier OF case
mates, and the whole work. IL fully arm
ed. would have mounted nearly 500 of the
heavy guns OF that day. a low wall sur
rounding the fort forms moat sixty feet
in width. A channel among the reefs and
islets lying about Garden Key furnishes
a small but secure inner harbor, having
a depth of from three and one-quarter
10 seven and one-half fathoms of wa
ter, its entrances are from the larger
harbor Many relics Of the old buccaneer-
ing and piratical days have been found
here In the form OF ships guns of both
iron and brass, and many coins OF all
countries. both silver and gold.
We are all more or less familiar with
the old masonry forts constructed at
that period OF our history on the Atlantic
coast, but Fort Jefferson is described
as having a particularly interesting APP
pearance. Rising as II does directly from
the sea, II looks like a floating castle. 1t
Is further said; "A heavy cornice or cas-
tellated battfement gives a noble and
picturesque feature. and at each bastion
the round towers furnish fine stalrways
~ granite and are surmounted with