Table of Contents
Acknowledgments v
Introduction vii
Chapter 1 Seagoing Natives 3
Voyages by Dugout 3
A Harrowing Voyage to the Keys 4
Crossing the Straits 10
The First Wreckers 12
Native Salvage Divers 13
Chapter 2 Castaways 19
Encounters with the Natives 19
The Miraculous Deliverance of Britton Hammon 23
British Men-of-War on the Reef 26
HMS Loo Bestows Her Name on a Key 28
Cast Away on the Dry Tortugas-The Remarkable Escape of the Crew of HMS Tyger 31
Old Animosities Threaten Castaways' Chances of Rescue 44
A Narrow Escape at Key Largo 46
Chapter 3 Privateers 53
Capture of Spanish Treasure Flota by Dutch Privateer Fleet 54
European Settlements and Wars Give Rise to Privateering in the Caribbean 58
Colonial Privateers Intercept Spanish Transports in the Keys 61
One-Armed Colonial Captain Battles Spanish Privateer to a Draw 64
American Privateers in the American Revolution 69
Peter Norris Versus the Polly and Nancy 70
American Privateers in the War of 1812 74
Duel in the Straits-American Privateer Versus British Man-of-War 75
Chapter 4 Pirates and Pirate Hunters 81
Pirate Eras 81
A Supercargo Slips the Noose 84
More Piracies in the Keys and the Straits 87
Death of a Pirate Fighter 89
Loss of the Alligator 92
The Antipiracy Squadron Avenges Lieutenant Allen 95
Commodore Porter Versus the Proprietors of Key West 100
Chapter 5 Mexican Interlopers 105
Arrival of Mexican Squadron in Key West 105
The Cruise of the Esmeralda 108
Lieutenant Thompson's Raid and Capture 109
Better that Key West Was Shoveled into the Sea 112
Porter Commissions a Privateer and Narrowly Escapes 113
The Mexican Squadron Departs 114
Chapter 6 Revenue Cutter Men 119
Revenue Cutter Operations in the Straits and the Keys 119
The Cutter Marion on Patrol in the Keys 121
Marion's Officers Lend a Hand in a Keys Election 126
Audubon Rides the Marion 128
Revenue Cutters in the Seminole War 129
The Terrible Ordeal of the Cutter Morris 129
Chapter 7 Naval Indian Hunters 135
Seminole War Reaches the Keys 135
Lt. Levin Powell, USN-First to Lead Naval Forces Ashore 141
Lt. Napoleon Coste, USRM-Establishes First Base in the Keys 145
Lt. John McLaughlin, USN-Mosquito Fleet Leader 148
Glossary of Nautical Terms 159
Bibliography 162
Index 170
