Lot
48 
Appalachicola, Fty/Mar. 15. Cds (type III) and manuscript "25" rate on 1838 folded letter to Providence, R.I., letter with interesting content from seamen heading the Apalachicola describing running aground on the reefs in the Florida Keys…I write to inform you of our arrival here on the eighth after a passage of 16 days, two of which we lay in Key West, having been rather unfortunate on our passage out, when on the night of the 28, we ran on to Samboes Reef, which reef lies in sight of Key West…fortunate for me, it was my watch below at the time. I had been turned in about two hours, and was soumnd asleep, but I heard her the momment we struck, and supposed that a ship had run into us, as I heard the coral cracking under her bottom, which sounds like the breaking of yards and masts…As soon as she was struck, she swung broadside into the reef…We tried to back her off, but no go, the sea kept heaving her on…We began to think she would have to lay her bones there, but fortunate for us, the next day was pleasant and light wind. At day light, there was rocks out of water not half our length from us and…there was a wrecking schooner come to us and hauled alongside to take out our cargo…in half an hour she was again afloat…We had to take the schooner in tow to steer us in to Key West, where we arrived in two hours, and there hung our rudder again…The Capt was on deck half an hour before she struck, and saw a light which he said was Sand Key light, which afterwards proved to be Key West light, Very Fine. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $170