160 WRECKERS OF FLORIDA. 



The duties of the Marion having been performed, intimation of our 

 intended departure reached the Wreckers. An invitation was sent to me 

 to go and see them on board their vessels, which I accepted. Their ob- 

 ject on this occasion was to present me with some superb corals, shells, 

 live turtles of the Hawk-billed species, and a great quantity of eggs. Not 

 a " pecayon" would they receive in return, but putting some letters in my 

 hands, requested me to " be so good as put them in the mail at Charles- 

 ton," adding that they were for their wives " down east." So anxious 

 did they appear to be to do all they could for me, that they proposed to 

 sail before the Marion, and meet her under weigh, to give me some birds 

 that were rare on the coast, and of which they knew the haunts. Cir- 

 cumstances connected with " the service " prevented this, however ; and 

 with sincere regret, and a good portion of friendship, Lbade these excel- 

 lent fellows adieu. How different, thought I, is often the knowledge of 

 things acquired by personal observation, from that obtained by report ! 



I had never before seen Florida Wreckers, nor has it since been my 

 fortune to fall in with any ; but my good friend, Dr Benjamin Strobel, 

 having furnished me with a graphic account of a few days which he spent 

 with them, I shall present you with it in his own words. 



" On the 12th day of September, while lying in harbour at Indian 

 Key, we were joined by five wrecking vessels. Their licences having ex- 

 pired, it was necessary to go to Key West to renew them. We deter- 

 mined to accompany them the next morning, and here it will not be amiss 

 for me to say a few words respecting these far-famed Wreckers, their 

 captains and crews. From all that I had heard, I expected to see a 

 parcel of dirty, pirate-looking vessels, officered and manned by a set of 

 black-whiskered fellows, who carried murder in their very looks. I was 

 agreeably surprised on discovering that the vessels were fine large sloops 

 and schooners, regular clippers, kept in first-rate order. The Captains 

 generally were jovial, good-humoured sons of Neptune, who manifested 

 a disposition to be polite and hospitable, and to afford every facility to 

 persons passing up and down the Reef. The crews were hearty, well- 

 drest, and honest-looking men. 



" On the 1 3th, at the appointed hour, we all set sail together, that is, 

 the five Wreckers and the schooner Jane. As our vessel was not noted 

 for fast-sailing, we accepted an invitation to go on board of a Wrecker. 

 The fleet got under weigh about eight o''clock in the morning, the wind 

 light but fair, the water smooth, and the day fine. I can scarcely find 



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