The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-11-15

Prehistoric Yesterday A tropical Is
land. dense. forests. haunted by elusive
deer. deep pools Of fresh water. the
shores peopled with tail wading birds the
encireling sea alive with fish "a priced
hunting ground. for which Caribs and
Calusas waged savage battle. grisIy tokens
of deadly battle litter the ground. a Span
ish discoverer crosses himself. Calculates
"Cayo Hueso" bone Island). too many
vowels- we call it Key West). and His
tory begins.
We get the first glimpse of yesterday
pirates perceive that this island is the
perfect sally-port. the perfect re-fitting
station. the perfect GIBRALTAR OF THE
CARIBBEAN. and loot His Spanish Ma
iesty's tall ships. sailing home laden with
the golden loot of the AZtecs.
1915. The Gobernador of Florida pays
debt. at no cost to himself. presents
Teniente Juan Pablo SaIas with Cayo Hueso
=. Juan takes it with what grace he can.
and has little use for it.
1922. Juan sells Cayo Hueso to John
Simonton for 81, 600 Juan can use 81. 600
in Havana where the lights burn brightly
Ito heck with an uninhabited island Juan
Is no Robinson Crusoe. Juan is young. .
John Simonton moves in with money friends
and slaves. starts salt gathering business
:. Commodore David Porter moves in. in
structed to make pirates scarce. pirates
move out. what is left of them. Porter
follows them to the Isle of Pines (Spanish)
no pirates, no prisoners; consequently,
no complaints
1861. The Stars and Stripes float over
Fort Taylor and the Bonnie Blue Flag over
Key West. when opportunity offers. .
Spanish rule in Cuba becomes intolerable
=. the best cigar makers in the world
migrate to Key West. make the best cigars
in large numbers.
1871. The San Carlos Institute is es-
tablished. across the blue waters of the
Strait there is a smudge of black smoke. :.
followed by anotheri. crowded wharves
eager Cuban patriots praying the gun
running tug home. or her crew viii stand
against the bullet-pitted wall of MORO
Castle. the Spanish gun-boat gains
but not enough and sheers off. the crew
Of the THREE FRIENDS is safe in the
Cradle of Cuban Liberty libations are
poured to the patron Saint of Insurrectos.
1898. The MAINE" goes down in the
narDoF OF havana. the tramp of marching
feet echo on the pavements of Key West. +.
headlines scream of Dewey, Schley, Shat
ter, Cervera. Again Key West becomes the
GIBRALTAR of the CARIBBEAN. the
men who died IN Havana Harbor come TO
rest in the Key West cemetery. wait for
Gabrief's reveilIe.
1912. Henry Flagler performs his mi
racle and the F. E. c. Railroad Extension
comes across the miles of water into Key
West. Ferries carry trains of ears to Ha-
yana. The life of a busy Terminus HUNS -
& Yesterdays follow fast. romance laden
...yoaHg lovers walk the blossom perfumed
moon-lit streets. proud posterity of pros
porous piratieal paternity "a daring, fear
less, amphibian tribe The moon wanes
and the skies redden as the boats of alien
spongers burn. morning rises on the
Noble Experiment and a baseball team
is organized. The Coast Guard VS. the
Bootleggers. fast curves today; bullets to-
morrow.
1885. The wind blew. !. the railroad
departs forever. "A glorious Highway be-
gins to take its place enters Key West I'M
1888. and travellers crossing the Seven