Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 9th

Today in 1853, the schooner E.G. Willard wrecked at Long Key while en route from New Orleans to Charleston. The schooner was carrying bacon, pork, hams, beef, lard and other cargo. The vessel was lost, but for their services, the wreckers were awarded $5,530. Also today, but sixty years later in 1913, the British steamer Lugano wrecked on Long Reef in a storm. The steamer was bound for Havana with a cargo of silks, wine, and other high-grade items. The tug Rescue saved 116 passengers and crew. More than 75 vessels worked the wreck for over a month and most of the cargo was saved. That same day the British steamer Howth Head also ran aground on Long Reef, but was freed.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 3rd

Back in 1841, exactly four years before Florida became a state, the bark Claudine wrecked on the Florida Reef. The vessel was lost, but the wreckers were awarded $351.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 2nd

Today in 1859 the ship Nathan Hannau is lost on Brewster Reef while en route from Boston to New Orleans. The ship was carrying ice, furniture, and shoes. Some of the furniture, boots, and shoes were saved and the wreckers were awarded $1,801. Twenty-two years later, the bark Folomer wrecked on the Southwest Reef in the Dry Tortugas. The Folomer was carrying a cargo of cotton and, though the vessel was lost, the wreckers were awarded $6,384.

Florida History

On this date in 1845, the territory of Florida was admitted to the Union by an act of congress and became a state.

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.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - February 27th

Today in 1765 the British ship Grenville Packet was on its way from Falmouth with mail bound for Pensacola when it ran aground in the Dry Tortugas. The ship was lost, but the crew was saved. Also, in 1836, the newspaper reported that the bark Grecian ran ashore on Carysfort Reef, the schooner Olive Branch was lost off Cape Florida, and the schooner Theophilus wrecked on Alligator Reef.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - February 25th

Today in 1851 the brigantine Mars was lost on Dry Rocks, east of Key Largo. On board was a cargo of molasses.