A History of the Pioneers: The Florida Keys: 1 (Florida Keys Volume 1)

Today on the Keys between Key West and the mainland some 40000 residents and thousands of visitors fish swim sail and dive in the crystal clear waters off a tropical reef; relax in the sun and cooling trade wind breezes; and sleep in the air-conditioned comfort of their homes and hotel rooms. On these same islands as short a time as 80 years ago fewer than 300 inhabitants tried to eke out a living without benefit of electricity running water radios or telephones. Tormented by clouds of voracious mosquitoes and no-see-ums broiled by the tropical sun they lived in thatched-roof homes regularly flattened by hurricane winds. Weeks would go by before some passing sailboat brought them news of the outside world or their relatives. The stories of these hardy pioneers and their predecessors as far back as the Native Americans who lived on the Keys at least 1000 years ago are told many for the first time in this book. As vividly portrayed as if they were characters in a novel these true-life inhabitants of the Florida Keys will capture your admiration as you share in the dreams and realities of their daily lives. Includes Don Diego a Spanish-speaking native who led in shipwreck plundering in the early 18th century; Jacob Housman an unscrupulous wrecking captain who amassed a fortune and lost it when Indians burned his town to the ground; Dr. Perrine a scientist who was killed by Indians; the African Americans who made charcoal for the stoves of Key West; and the indomitable Lily Bow who eked out a living on remote Cudjoe Key.Next in series > >See all of the books in this series