The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-10-15
FLoRIDA's ALcATRAZ
est. Augustine Record

Inc suggestion that Fort Jefferson on Car
den Key, in the Dry Tortugas group of ten is
lands, three hours sail from Key West, was the
first island prison maintained by the United States.
and might again be utilized as is Alcatraz, at San
Francisco, inspired the Miami Herald to carry in
recent edition fullpage. illustrated article giving
the history Of Fort Jefferson
The history, as might be expected of an island
prison in the tropics. has its gruesOme chapters.
The Miami Herald article says. "The fort today is
a stark ruin, rising as one approaches it. from the
level plain o. the myraid-hued waters of the Gulf
of Mexico. ike wrath from the past" 1t seems
that the gigantic fort started in 1896 and has
never been finished, although millions were spent
upon IT, and at one time hundreds Of men were i'm
prisoned within its walls. The place was intended
to be naval supply station, and fort to command
the Gulf of Mexico. old-time residents of Key
West, SO the story goes who had the tale from
their parents say that Fort Jefferson cost "a dol
lar a brick" and from the description one can well
believe it. All materials had to be transported by
sea, and more than 1000 slaves were hired out by
their masters for the work. So colossal is the old
fortification that the writer for the Miami Herald
says The fort offers such display of arehitee-
tural effect that so FAR from the source of sup
plies, adrift in the sea, the spectator is dumb as
he gazes the relics o. picture whose high
lights died long ago"
DIR. Charles A. Mudd. OF Charles County,
Maryland, the physician vino gave medical aid to
John Wilkes Booth, the man who assassinated
President Abraham Lincoln. was imprisoned there
Tor years. under the most horrible conditions,
which included a yellow lever epidemic Although
Muedss action was simply that Of humane doe
toEa he was found guilty by an army court martial
of conspiracy in the assassination Of the maryred
president and although ne was first ordered TO life
imprisonment. at Albany. N Y. he was later sent
after-war hysteria, and an evidence of the way in
which innocent man may become victim of
hatred, violence and suspicion at time when the
minds O. people have been inflamed by the hor-
rors Of conflict. Release came for the victim of
great injustice in 1869. He returned to his home
in Maryland, and died Is years later at the age Of
10. His health was wrecked by his years of prison
hardship, but ne took up practice again and be-
fore long his story lost to the general public
Interest in Fort Jefferson mas revived IT.
news story today tells OF the assignment of
group of Federal workers to Fort jefferson, with
the idea Of rehabitating the old structure, and
making it show place for visitors with the forti-
:ieatiOn being in charge Of the National Park
Service
The fort has background of horrors that
should satisfy the questing tourist. There are
dungeons and torture chambers. There are stories
Of tragedies beyond all believing. And. as back
ground. there is this incredible monument of stone
rising Oat OF the blue waters of the gulf 1t has
tourist lure. and with Key Vests place on the map
as tourist center assured. Fort jefferson on Gar
den Key viii be one of the points of attraction.