Wrecking off Key West was
when the highway of commerce bore great num-
bers of ships richly laden with cotton, dyes and
a lively business
silk.
The wrecking vessels
schooners, much like pilot-boats, owned frequently
by companies who fitted them out and divided the
profits with those concerned.
within sight of each other along the Reef, and ex-
changed signals when a wreck was seen.
vessel unluckily struck upon the Reef, the fore
were
unusually small
Vessels anchored
When a
and aft canvass of a wrecker was soon seen bear-
ing down upon her, and before the hull was quite
visible above the horizon white specks in the dis-
tance sprang up and soon spread
cordon around the hapless craft.
a profecting A WRECKER OF THE REEF
Division of the cargo was made through U. S. District Courts.
