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THE WRECKERS OF FLORIDA. 



Long before I reached the lovely islets that border the south-eastern 

 shores of the Floridas, the accounts I had heard of " The Wreckers"" had 

 deeply prejudiced me against them. Often had I been informed of the cruel 

 and cowardly methods which it was alleged they employed to allure ves- 

 sels of all nations to the dreaded reefs, that they might plunder their car- 

 goes, and rob their crews and passengers of their effects. I therefore 

 could have little desire to meet with such men under any circumstances, 

 much less to become liable to receive their aid ; and with the name of 

 Wreckers, there were associated in my mind ideas of piratical depreda- 

 tion, barbarous usage, and even murder. 



One fair afternoon, while I was standing on the polished deck of the 

 United States' revenue cutter the Marion, a sail hove in sight, bearing in 

 an opposite course, and " close-hauled" to the wind. The gentle rake of 

 her masts, as she rocked to and fro in the breeze, brought to my mind 

 the wavings of the reeds on the fertile banks of the Mississippi. By-and- 

 by the vessel altering her course, approached us. The Marion, like a 

 sea-bird, with extended wings, swept through the waters, gently inclining 

 to either side, while the unknown vessel leaped as it were from wave to 

 wave, like the dolphin in eager pursuit of his prey. In a short time, we 

 were gliding side by side, and the commander of the strange schooner sa- 

 luted our captain, who promptly returned the compliment. What a 

 beautiful vessel ! we all thought ; how trim, how clean-rigged, and how 

 well manned ! She swims like a duck ; and now with a broad sheer, off" 

 she makes for the reefs, a few miles under our lee. There, in that nar- 

 row passage, well known to her commander, she rolls, tumbles, and dances, 

 like a giddy thing, her copper sheathing now gleaming, and again disap- 

 pearing under the waves. But the passage is thrid, and now, hauling on 

 the wind, she resumes her former course, and gradually recedes from the 

 view. Reader, it was a Florida Wrecker ! 



When at the Tortugas, I paid a visit to several vessels of this kind, in 

 company with my excellent friend Robekt Day, Esq. We had observed 

 the regularity and quickness of the men then employed at their arduous 

 tasks, and as we approached the largest schooner, I admired her form so 

 well adapted to her occupation, her great breadth of beam, her light 



