"Purposing to aid the Cuban Telegraph Company, our government considered it advisable to make a reconnaissance of the great range of the keys upon the Florida Reef.

     "A cable from the mainland at Cape Sable to Key West has been laid; but at this time it was thought that the wires could be laid upon the trees and carried across the inlets upon poles set in the mud of the extensive flats between the islands. Several obstacles appeared after examination, the principal one being the interference with the passage of the numerous sponge-boats that find occupation here. The wild and rugged nature of the forest rendered it more difficult and expensive than the cable plan."

     [In 1858 the transatlantic submarine cable went operational. Cuba was linked to the US via a submarine cable to Key West, then to Punta Rassa near Fort Myers in 1866. Dr. Holder was in the Keys in 1860 and 1861. Fort Myers south was all Monroe County at that time.]

     "Major M'Farland, of the Engineers, was ordered to take charge of the survey, with the schooner Oriental, then in his employ. An examination of the Pine Keys had been made previously. Our destination was to Knight's Key, where we arrived after one night's sail, some sixty miles from Key West. . . .

     "Key Vaccas and Knight's Key lie parallel to each other. Here the water was so shallow that we were forced to leave our boats and push through the mud to deeper water. . . ." [This is exactly what the railroad found and they simply filled in instead of bridging. Today one can barely tell where Knight's Key, Hog Key and Key Vacca begin and end.]

    "'Next day we visited Plantation Key. This is a very large island, several miles in length, and has a good beach. The mangroves are here replaced by larger trees, and a variety of shrubs and small trees is supported by the deeper soil which has accumulated. A strong growth of course grass and many flowering plants thrive well.

     "In the soft, wet sand of the beach, among the numerous tracks of beach birds and gulls, were some of which we conjectured were made by a large feline; and as no other of that family could be expected here, we anticipated the jaguar, or American panther. After tracing his steps for a mile or more, we came to the a hut temporarily occupied by wreckers, The occupants were thoroughly frightened. They had not seen the animal, but had heard him prowling about the premises; and two young dogs were missing. Later in the day we had crossed a channel to Metacomba Key, where the same kind of tracks was visible. On reaching a hut where two men lived we heard doleful stories of the fright and damage. . . ." [A lengthy explanation follows stalking and killing the animal. "The monster proved to be a full-grown puma, or American lion, nearly five feet in length and standing over two feet high."]

     "Tavernier Creek is another of the open waterways, quite like a river -- open runs produced by the tides. Here is the favorite haunt of the young sea-turtles, a good feeding -ground secure from the numerous enemies of the outer water. The green-turtle here finds in abundance the peculiar sea-weed which it prefers, and on which it thrives and fattens. During the breeding season they are easily taken while crawling upon the beaches to lay their eggs: but many are taking by pegging, as the turtler terms it. A prism shaped pointed steel peg is fitted to a socket in the end of a stout pole. A line holds the peg, and serves to draw the creature toward the boat after it has been driven into the shell and loosened from the pole.

     "Fine specimens of the hawk's-bill turtle are caught here, having the elegant shells plates, or scales, so valued in jewelry and comb manufacturing. The green turtle is most valued as an article of food, and the Key West market is usually supplied from these back bays and creeks. The loggerhead turtle, a coarser and larger reptile, attaining a weight of several hundred pounds, feeds mostly off of flesh, and is caught upon the beaches during the breeding seasons. In the summer months, and on moonlight nights, turtle turning is practiced, and the visitor in these regions finds in it exciting recreation. "[Follows a lengthy description of turtling.]

     "Sponges were very numerous, though we were told that a large portion were not worth gathering. The sponger could readily distinguish the best as he pushed his boat over them. Some of the coarser kinds, not marketable, are four feet in diameter. 

      "A large trade is now carried on at Key West in this article. Small schooners, from ten to twenty tons burden, are employed. They are much the shape of half an egg, and as flat as it is consistent with due regard to sailing qualities; approaching, probably, as near as possible the mystic craft that is said to 'float in a heavy dew'. . . .  That portion of Key West called Conchtown is the principal depository, where the yards and fences are loaded with them. . . .

     "In the morning the yawl was refitted for another day on shore. We were anchored off Old Rhodes Key, and now stood off toward Plantation Key, and took out boats as soon as the water became too shoal to admit the schooner father in. Every where along the beach were fragments of wrecks. Old hulks are seen on the shores, and at high-water mark windrows of wood lined the shore. Here was a Turkish maiden, the figure-head of some unlucky ship, lying half buried with splinters and fragments of guilded panels, the remains of a wrecked steamship. Farther on a handsome sign-board bearing the Yankee name of Joseph A. Davis in guilt letters. Figureheads in scrollwork, handsomely carved. On another key, great numbers of new hogsheads and bundles of staves and barrels; part of a cargo, no doubt, destined for the 'ever-faithful isle.'

     "Plantation Key has considerable good soil; many of the trees here are seventy or eighty feet in height. Here was a large plantation of cocoa-nut palms, several hundred in number, and a patch of young pineapples. A late paper gives the account of the products of his patch, which have been materially increased since the writer was there. Mr. Baker, the owner, who resides at Key West, is reported to have realized seven thousand dollars this season [1871] from his crop of pine-apples. The great drawback is the prevalence of mosquitoes, throughout the whole year, in such swarms that few persons are willing to suffer the annoyance; otherwise these keys would richly reward the cultivator.

     "We now run across to Key Largo, the largest one of the group, being nearly forty miles in length, though not much wider than others. There is no beach here, but the mangrove grow to the very shore, where the coral ledge is irregular and broken, presenting many indentations and inlets. . . . " Continued

Go to Page 2