Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 16th

March 16th was a popular day for shipwrecks here in the Florida Keys. There have been three wrecks over the years along the Florida Reef. The first happened in 1848. The ship Brewster wrecked on Fowey Rocks. The ship was on its way from New Orleans to Boston carrying cotton, hemp, lard, and sugar. For their services, the wreckers were awarded $4,098. The next shipwreck was ten years later in 1858. The Dutch ship Admiral Saultzemann was lost off Hillsboro Inlet at the northernmost part of the Florida Reef. The ship was bound for Havana from Holland. Thirteen years later, in 1871, the brig Aquillo was wrecked at French Reef. The Aquillo was carrying a cargo of sugar and was sailing from Havana. Though the vessel was lost, the wreckers received an award of $4,197. Also wrecking on French Reef, but doing so sixteen years later in 1887, was the ship Slabdova. The ship was coming from New Orleans and carried a cargo of cotton. Once again the vessel was lost, but the reward issued to the wreckers was $52,882.