Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - February 28th

In 1876 the British bark Deodueus went ashore on Molasses Reef. The Deodueus had accidently mistaken the unmanned reef light on Molasses Reef for the manned Carysfort Reef Light, which is further up the keys. The bark went ashore at 1:30 AM. The current Carysfort Reef Light was lit in 1852 and was the third screw-pile lighthouse ever built in the United States. The construction of the light was overseen by Lt. George Meade. Lt. George Meade also oversaw the construction of the current Sand Key Light, which is the closest reef light to Key West. Later on in his career, Lt. George Meade was promoted and, as Gen. George Meade, he fought Gen. Robert E. Lee at Gettysburg.