Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-12-11
KEY WEST.
THE UNITED STATES MOST
SOUTHERN SETTLEMENT.
INTERESTING SKETCH OF THIS LITTLE
KNOWN ISLAND CrTY-FRosT OR
SNOW ARE NEVER SEEN.

SNOW ARE NEVER SEEN.
written for The AxsRrcAS by Capt. Ed. A..
Richardson.
The little ssisland-city'' of Key West is
perhaps almost as interesting rs il is un-
known. It has no written history or
available archives. Its birth, as settle
ment. seems to have occurred some time
previous to that of the last century, and
its PARENTS were fishermen working for
the Havana market, pirates and wreckers.
In those days the three industries worked
more or less hand in hand The excellent
and obscure harbor made it safe and
convenient rendezvous for rthe allied CALI
irgs. Florida, then being Spanish prov
ince, was not much settled, and the is
lands, hidden along the dangerous reefs,
were as little known or controlled rs were
the Everglades. Though the state has
longer coast line than all OF New Eng
land, previous to its possession by the
United States, in 1874, there was no light
house or any other guide to navigation on
the whole Foridian coast.
As we know from history, there were
very early attempts by the Spanish to
settle the country, but it was harassed by
all of the many wars and quarrels between
Spain, England and France. Whole set
Elements were mastered IN the name of
religion and through the jealous claim Of
nations. At one time the country was
ceded to England and the old Spanish set
tiers fed for their lives. Twenty years
later it WIS ceded back to Spain, and then
the new English settlers in turn learned to
fly.
While tine mainland was suffering from
these changes, there was safety and peace
for the keys in being unknown and UNI
cared for. The people did not set lights at
night to; guard the stranger from wreck
or to welcome any possible providing au-
thority calling for tribute.
There was considerable rich trade in
those days between Mexico. Central Amer.
lea and southern Europe, all passing ont
by the Florida keys. Hence wrecks were
many, and other captures we're not few.
The waters swarmed with handsome nsh,
and the largest city in the western world
was but ninety miles away. Key West
thrived in Acadian simplicity, mingled
with some indulgence in the captured
Injuries OF Europe and from the nearby
empori um Of wealth, faehicn and trade.
About 1914, when the brothers LAf1tte,
Of New Orleans and Barataria. gave up
piracy ana were pardoned, that industry
Jagged and became generally unpopular.
The British and American navies had .
way OF providing around too much for the
good and safety OF the calling. But the
wrecking trade, with spice OF piracy in
it IN these waters, remains more or less
prosperous, and will continue to beso n
long - navigators will blunder and there
is knavery aioat.
Wrecks are less common, but the indi-
vidual cases are richer. Lately . fine
steamship, running in "white WATER, in
broad daylight and with land in sight,
ran ON the reefs. She was ightered and
floated by wreckers in two or three days
and brought into Key West, apparently
uninjured. The ship was valued At
HSo, 600 and the cargo at $412, 900. 1t is
said that the job will bring at least
&c. oO..
Not long after the United States came
into possession Of the peninsular, light
houses were established and increased
from time to time, until now the system is
70 excellent that there seems to be but
little honest excuse for steamships to meet
disaster, and but few Americans do. Tie