Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - February 20th

Today in 1896 the steamer Shelter Island was making its way from Miami to Key West with more than 200 citizens of Key West and many more from Jacksonville. It was on its first run for the Florida East Coast Steamship Co. after being chartered from the Montauk Steamboat Co. As it turns out, it was also the steamer's last run. She struck some rocks two hours into the trip. After getting free, the Shelter Island continued to Key West with her pumps on. Eventually the pumps failed and water rose high enough to extinguish the fires. She settled on the bottom 19 miles from Key West. There were no casualities and most of the cargo was saved. The vessel, however, was a complete loss.