272 ALONG THE FLORIDA REEF. 



own quarters were safe, had escaped the falling 

 building by a miracle ; but outside there was a 

 scene of ruin. The sea had encroached upon the 

 island, beaten down one of the docks, partly 

 washed away the aquarium, and hurled coral- 

 rock in a confused mass upon the beach. Amid 

 the wreckage Tom found a small board bearing 

 the name " Rosetta " in copper letters, and, haul- 

 ing it out, eyed it with sorrow and regret. It 

 was all that was left of the boat that had carried 

 them so many times over the reef. 



She had been torn from her place during the 

 extreme high water and literally ground to 

 pieces, the stern-board being all that was left. 



The hurricane caused great devastation in 

 Key West. Its force may be understood from 

 this incident : A vessel lying near Havana was 

 blown without sails across to Key West in an 

 incredibly short time, the crew finding them- 

 selves in the morning high and dry on Key 

 West beach. The city was flooded ; vessels 

 were sunk at the wharf, and among them the 

 schooner Tortugm, that had borne the young 

 naturalists on many a trip. 



