The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-11-16

| SAAS%N N~tS ~ A@As w AAA -
Warren, who laid the cornerstone
at the unwilling of the monument
in memory of the victims who lost
their lives in the 1885 Labor Day
hurricane, at the ceremonies tina,
were held in Matcumbe on Sun
day, November Ia:
Mr.. Chairman, Distinguished
I. Guests and Friends:
/ On September End, 1885, the
Florida Keys from Marathon tc
Key Largo were visited by one OF
the most destructive cyclones in
the history of the state, re-
sulting in the death of hundreds
lof Civilians and War Veterans.
| The people of Key West were
> stunned by the reports of the ter
rible catastrophe but responded
quickly and efficiently to the
calls for assistance from the
stricken area.
/ Today there is erected over the
ashes of a funeral pyre monu-
Iment dedicated to the memory OF
the Civilians and War Veterans
whose lives were lost during that
hurricane.
There are few persons here to.
day that did not lose friend or a
relative in that terrible storm
The accounts were so wildly and
indelibly impressed upon my
mind, that / can almost hear the
cries of the unfortunates now.
| Almost every great disaster af-
jfords opportunity for bravery and
heroism-this one was no excep-
ton. Eye witnesses have drawn
pictures of perseverance, endur.
ance and courage unsurpassed.
Whole families were washed
cut to sea and back again. Indi-
viduals chung to the mangrove:
and driftwood for hours and
hours throughout that horrible
dark night.
They were swept out in the man
/ groves,
They were swept out in the sea
Nov they're sleeping by the hun
dreds
| Till the final reveille.
Battle fields and battleships dc
mot alone furnish opportunity foi
deeds of daring and heroism.
Defeat may serve as well as vic
tory
To shake the soul and let the
glory out.
! When the great oak is straining
!, in the wind
! The boughs drink in new beauty
; and the trunk
| Sends down a deeper root on the
windward side.
Only the soul that knows a mighty
grief
Can know a mighy rapture. Pain
i may serve
To stretch out spaces in the soul,
for joy"
1 The work of the National
Guardsmen and Civilians from
: key West is not generally known
or appreciated. Their efforts and
: nard labor under the most trying
circumstances. proved a terrible
experience for the stoutest heart
but they carried on during the
entire period that their services
lwere needed.
i When disaster comes, it is a
human trait to seek some one to
j blame. And so during that time
) of stress and sorrow, certain in
dividuals and groups were severe
] IL criticised.
Il have heard my father. grand
: father and uncles discuss hurri-
] canes that have occurred in this
vicinity for a hundred years. but
no such eyelonie storm as that OF
Labor Day. 1885. had ever been
heard Of before.
/ First located out in the Allan
/ tic ocean, north of Turks Island il
took a course almost due west be-
tween Cuba and the tip of Flor.
ida. with its center passing over
Matecumbe.
7 II has been authoriiatively stat.
ed that the water along the Keys
most affected. arose TO an aver.
average depth of Is 70 IS feet.
/ When a youth visited an uncle
at Key Largo. I recall seeing q
shack called 4 hurricane house,
erected about 3 quarter-miie back
from the shore, built for prOtec-
ton against hurricanes. OF what
use is a shack Ike that in Is feet
% water with wind velocity Of
ever l2s miles per hour.
have heard them talk Of the
1876 hurricane. / Was born or
the night Of the 1876 hurricane.
II experienced the hurricanes 81
1909. 1910 ard 1919. A hurri-
i cane 70 originate out in the At
! lansic and take a direct coarse