The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-05-18
caro- HUESO---Key West


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different varieties of fish in wa
tiers near the town and it is easy
to supply the aquariums but the
specialists and their helpers us
ually spend a week or so in round
ing up each shipment. The strang-
er the finds, the better they are
pleased. Each new discovery gives
q thrill and causes excitement and
JOY. Every once and while
some curious creature is brought
in that has no name and the scien-
lists rush to Key West only to
find that they are unable to clas-
sify it. A short time ago at a
small local aquarium, near the
fish wharf there was a specimen
which was nicknamed niger
boy" It had q pair of wide fleshy
flappers that looked like wings
It rested on the bottom on three
fins, or flippefs, upon which it
could hop around. Its head was
almost human in shape, with a
black, curly growth OF thofny fuzz
on the top, and it had two large
thick, red lips. The name s'nig-
ger-boy' was given because of the
somewhat startling resemblance
but the writer happened to be
present when a coiored boy of
about six years rolled his eyes
and stated to the gathered throng
''No sahl Thet amt no niggah
boyp
Much Shipping
Commercial interests are not
touched upon in this article as it
is merely about out-of-the-ordin-
airy things found at this spot on the
globe. Suffice to say-there
is shipping from all the world.
The population is American,
English, Spanish. Cuban, Negro,
and a few Indians of the tribes in
habiting the West Indies and Ba-
harnas in pre- Columbian days.
There are creoles, octoroons and
lnulattos. English, Spanish and
Cuban are spoken and most of the
population speak both English and
Cuban. Many signs are writ
ten in the Cuban language. There
are amusements, theatres, dances
clubs, etc., to suit the taste of each
kind OF people. (There is won
derful foreign air about the place
that differs from any other Ameri-
can city,
A regular ferry plies to and fro
each day between Key West and
Cuba, and many Of the residents
own property in that country. The
ferry is for both passengers and
cars and It ID part OF the eastern
route of the Psn-American high
way. Cuba is q regular play
ground for Key West citizens.
From Havana wonderful govern
ment highway goes direct to the
western tip where the car can be
taken on shipboard for Yucatan or
Mexico to join the main Pan-Ainer-
lean highway. The distance is
short.
There are many stories of bur-
led treasure being found on the
island of Key West. Old Spanish
coins are often found. While a
ubilding was being torn down near
the corner Of Green and White
head streets, metal box of coins
was found. There is an Indian
family living within q block of
the post office who had an old map
with markings and crosses on 1t.
It had been found in back yard
on Caroline street, carefully wrap
ped and in q copper container. It
appeared to show where something
was hidden near q big rock and
tree. (The writer does not know
whether anything was found or
Inot.) The younger man who is
usually spoken Of as '.the Indian
is q very interesting talker and
says that s'his mother came from
Long Key, in the Bahamas, and il
of the Arawak tribe who lived
on the island when Columbus first
landed"
A few years ago, q mysterious
stranger came TO town carrying
q small tent which he proceeded
to put up near the South Beach.
He remained several days and
stayed in the tent most Of the
time. II was noticed that the
tent was gradually moved along
over the space Of some twenty
yards. One morning he was gone
On the site Of the tent, the ground
had been spaded and . hole dug.
At the bottom. the hole had
square corners, ~ II . small chest
had been raised. There had been
no attempt to fIll the hole and the
tent stiIl remained but without .
word the mysterious stranger had
disappeared. What did ne finds
How did he know Just where 10
look7
There i quite q crawfish indus
try NJ Key West. They are cali