1896.] OOb [Gushing. 



The Cruise to the Ten Thousand Islands and Preliminary 

 Operations at Key Marco. 



The Silver Spray was tardy iu returning, and, withal, had to be over- 

 hauled. Thus it was not until late in February that we were able to 

 fully equip her and get under way for the southern keys — explorations in 

 which had been from the beginning, the main object of the Expedition. 

 We were provided with provisions for two months, and with a working 

 outfit which, although the best I could purchase on the west coast of 

 Florida, would have proven all too inadequate but for the kindness of 

 friends before mentioned, and in particular, of a resident of your city 

 and member of your University Archieological Association, Mrs Richard 

 Levis, who, with her friend, Mrs. George Inness, was passing the winter 

 in her charming place at Tarpon Springs, and who insisted on adding 

 needed supplies to our limited store, and little comforts to our else 

 rather barren cabins. We had reason enough to be grateful to them 

 during our long continued stay in the more inaccessible waters of the 

 farther South. 



In addition to Mrs. Gushing, myself, and Messrs. Sawyer, Say ford and 

 Bergmann, my crew consisted of Antonio Gomez, Sailing-Master ; 

 Thomas Brady, Mate ; Alfred Hudson, Robert Clark and Frank Barnes, 

 Sailors and Excavators ; George Gause, Chief Excavator ; George 

 Hudson (colored). Cook; George Dorsett (colored), Steward; and I 

 later employed John Calhoun continuously, and other workmen, from 

 time to time, to assist .in the excavations. I make mention of the names 

 of these men in order to express appreciation of the faithful and patient 

 manner iu which they performed their duties and assisted me throughout 

 many trying days of labor in the water-soaked, foul-smelling muck and 

 peat beds of Marco and neighboring keys. My acknowledgments are 

 especially due to Gause, young Hudson, and Clark, who continually 

 worked in the muck holes side by side with Mr. Bergmann and myself, 

 and to whose painstaking care and attention it is due that many a fragile 

 treasure was saved from destruction. 



Tlie voyage from Tarpon Springs to Marco, including a stop at Pine 

 Island for mail and for taking in of fuel and water, occupied less than 

 three days, and as there was a steady Gulf breeze and the tides were 

 unusually high, we were able to make the difficult pass into Marco Inlet 

 without hindrance. There, just to the northeast of the key, we 

 anchored at a sufficient distance off shore to protect us measurably from 

 the mosquitoes, and there our little craft rode at anchor during the two 

 months occupied in the excavations and in my various expeditions to 

 surrounding keys — for these were made in a liglit-draught, double- 

 sailed sharpie, that had been fitted up and generously turned over for 

 our use by Mr. Cheney. 



Immediately on arriving at Key Marco, I made arrangements with 

 Captain Collier whereby, in return for saving such muck as we should 



PROC. AMEH. PHIL08. SOC. XXXV. 158. 3 S. PRINTED JUNE 5, 1897. 



