The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-05-04

CONTEST which, ClOSCN rcENiiCly ~
the High School here dealing with
Key Vests early history:
| Key West in the EARLY Days
The history Of the original set
tiers or inhabitants Of Key Wesi
! Is entirely unknown, although
some Of the stories have passed
down through the generations Oh
time contain room for an immense
quantity OF authenticity. The
story Of how Key West obtained
its name through the very first
known group of people that exist.
ed on the island is interesting.
| It is probable that, from the
time of the first visit of Ponce de
Leon until the cessi0n Of Florida
to the United States; the islands
(which extended in a southwesterly
direction from Cape Florida were
only resorted to by the aborigines
of the country, the piratical crews
with which the neighboring seas
were infested, and the fishermen,
(many of them from St. Angus
tine) who were engaged in sup
plying the market of Havana
with the 'tfinny tribes" that
abounded in their vicinity. Of the
occasional presence of the first,
we have evidence in the marks of
ancient Notifications of mounds
Of earth, found in the various To-
calities, lin one Of which, opened
some years since, human bones of
a large size were discovered) and
tradition has in addition, brought
down to us notices of them which
deserve credit conferred upon the
same authority in other parts of
the country. The oldest tradi-
tional story, dating back to 1885,
used to say that probably about
the commencement of the eight
zenith century. the Indians in
habiting the islands along the
coast were of different tribes, and
as these islanders frequently vis-
tied the mainland for the purpose
of hunting, a feud arose among
the tribes, and those from the
mainland having made an irrnp-
ton into the islands, the inhabi-
tants were driven from island to
island until they reached Key
West. Here, as they could flee
no further, they were compelled
to risk a final battle, which result
ed in the almost entire extermina-
tion of the islanders.
This sangninary battle strewed
the island with bones as it was
probable the conquerors tarried
not to commit the bones of the
dead to the ground, hence the
name Of the island Cayo Hueso
lin Spanish ("Bone Island'')
which the English corrupted into
''Key West. ?
Other Stories
In addition to this story, there
are various other stories refer
ring to the early history Of "The
Golden Isle of the Sea." II is
possible that the early Spanish
pirates used the island as place
of refuge (due to the natural har-
Dor and deep waters) from stormy
waves or other pirate ships. This
has ben proved authentic by the
fact that hidden pirate treasures
have been found on the island and
some of the other Florida Keys.
On one occasion, a stranger Wis
tied the island, with complete
camping outfit. He made the
South Beach formerly called La
Rriaal bis camping ground. The
residents Of the island noticed that
the tent kept moving gradually up
the beach. One day It was dis
covered that the visitor had dis
appeared during the hours of the
night. but ne had left his marks.
A huge square hole was found
where the tent had last been plac-
ed. The stranger had been
searching for q hidden treasure
and had used his tent as wall
to conceal his toll Of digging in the
sand This well-known incident
verifies the statement that pirates
used the island Mt some unknown
time In the past.
Specimens Of human skeletons
that have been found reveal clear
" that the early inhabitants of
the island were of an immense
size. Large skulls have been nm
earthed from huge mounds az rich
soil. Other bones that have been
found show that the earlier inhab-
itants were much larger than the
present day dwellers.
According TO a report left By
an early pioneer of the island. Key
West was first owned BY 3 gentle
man named Juan P. Salas. The
governor Of the territory Of Flor
ida rewarded him with the island
for services rendered. Senior Salas
did nothing in regards to improv-
ing the island. In 1891 Zone
hundred and twelve years agol
Salas sold his right. title, and in
terest 20 John w. Simonton, az