The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-03-11
The Dry Tortugas, Islands of The Turtles
By ESTHER KING



Monument and the most remote
lighthouse belonging to the
United States: the Monument ris-
ing abruptly out of salt water,
the foundation on which it, is
built only three feet above sea-
level, famed by the Trade Winds
and only accessible by boat or
sea-plane; the lighthouse on a
tropical island of only few
acres but bearing trees, fruits
and flowers of all descriptions.
None of these islands has any
fresh water except the rain wa
ter that they save, yet life there
is pleasant and comfortable the
year around and the climate the
envy of many popular resorts.
Few southerners and fewer
northerners have gotten far
enough from the beaten path to
explore these islands, yet they
are easy to reach and worth visit
ing.
While in Key West short
time ago, we heard a great deal
about Fort Jefferson and the
marvellous fishing grounds near
by. The Talofa (meaning "Hel-
lo'D, a Diesel-driven boat ITO feet
long, took us to the Fort. We
left at 10 a. m. andO arrived at
the Fort about 1886 In the after
noon, covering a distance of
about CT miles over the some
times riotous waters of the Flor
ida Straits and the Gulf of Mex
leo, past the gas light that guards
these channels and is known as
Rebecca Light. This light at one
time was tended by a regular
light-keeper but since has been
made automatic. Life there must
have been a lonely existence,
with the lighthouse rising. sheer
out of the water, with no facili-
ties for gardening, nowhere to
walk except up and down steps,
and rarely a visitor.
Fort jefferson
Upon our arrival at the Fort
we circled around it, following
the channel to the dock, and had
a marvellous view of the entire
outside of the structure. It is
built of brick and on top where
once stood powerful defense guns
there rae now growths of cactus
es and other tropical plants and
at one end a now disused light
house stands. A wide moat
circles the Fort and although now
holding a beautiful variety of
tropical fish, it is said at one
time to have held sharks and to
have been allowed to become
stagnant and unhealthful. With
in the past two or three years it
has been taken back into the fold
by our Government and all the
unpleasant conditions have been
eliminated. Up to that time,
however, the place was left to
the mercy of fishing boats and
vandals, who helped themselves
to iron, steel and wood that was
not theirs, resulting in the fact
that the place has been almost
dismantled of everything move
able, and in some cases the
beauty somewhat spoiled.
Modern Service
When we landed at the dock
we were astonished at the splen-
did accommodations awaiting us.
We were told that we were to
live in a house boat during our
stay of few days, but what we
were not told was that the house
boat was one formerly belonging
to a very rich man, fully equip
ped and having every conven-
fence of ones own home, even to
plenty of bath rooms with
fresh water. We were met by a.
charming hostess who showed us
to our staterooins, and later taken
by an employee of the Department
of the Interior to all the interest
ing parts of the Fort, where he
told us all about the building of
the edifice, it's history, and also
many things about DR.. Samuel
Mudd, who had been incarcerated
there. Additional information
awaited us in the form of books
and pamphlets in the office of the
superintendent where we were
invited to go and read to our
hearts content. There was also
a small room fitted up as a mu-
scum, full of shells and coral and
other marine growths, and where
we were told many Interesting
things about the life, In the sur
rounding waters.
.x-as. Full Course Dianesszxsxssa
Our dinner eanlk a 4 cornplete
surprise. as l. had seem tie stew
ard placing plates ofA salad and of.
bread and butter on the tables. !
supposed that we were to be CIV
en- a cold meal (Which / do not
relish), so that / was agreeably
surprised when we were served