Regular marked price: $16.95Discount Price: $13.22
Cost Savings: $3.73 (22%)Price fluctuation possible.
How soon does it ship: Normal ship time within one day
Shipping? Absolutely FREE if you qualify for Super Saver Shipping.
Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 975.941
EAN num: 9781561642199
ISBN number: 1561642193
Label: Pineapple Press (FL)
Manufacturer: Pineapple Press (FL)
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 154
Printing Date: 2001-01
Publishing house: Pineapple Press (FL)
Sale Popularity Level: 770223
Studio: Pineapple Press (FL)
Other books you might be interested in perusing:
Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
In this third book in a series on the history of the Florida Keys, John Viele tells the true story of the Florida Keys wreckers, the daring seamen who sailed out in fair weather or foul to save lives and property from ships cast up on the unforgiving Florida Reef. From the archives of the federal court at Key West, or “wrecking court,” and from contemporary letters, diaries, and newspaper articles, the author has captured the drama of the lives and times of the Florida Keys wreckers with accuracy and clarity.
Richly illustrated with drawings from nineteenth-century magazines and newspapers, artists’ concepts of wrecking scenes, and reproductions of old paintings and photographs, this book will fascinate sailors and landlubbers alike. •
The evil crew of a wrecked Spanish slave ship hijacked their would-be rescuers and forced them to carry their wretched human cargo to Cuba. •
Wreckers salvaged some strange cargoes—an Egyptian mummy, the fossilized bones of a prehistoric sea monster, a railroad locomotive, and cavalry horses. •
The crew of a small wrecking vessel barely escaped with their lives when they were attacked by a war party of Seminole Indians in dugout canoes. •
Wrecking divers, working without benefit of any apparatus, plunged into the black, polluted waters of flooded cargo holds to wrestle out barrels,
boxes, and 500-pound bales of cotton.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
-
got this book for my dad, he really enjoyed it and it arrived promptly. thank you.
Rated by buyers 
-
I am not much of a one for factual books, as I like to be told a great story, and not have to look for it amongst the facts. I can't help it, it's just the way I'm made! I was delightfully surprised with Mr Viele's work. He is a natural storyteller, the best gift of all writers. The real life tales of early settlers in the Florida Keys, before and during the days of the railroad, are absolutely fascinating. I found myself as engrossed as if I was reading a thriller, drama, detective novel...I know, I sound so shallow! I had the great honor of meeting Mr Viele, and was thrilled to hear about how the book happened and evolved. The depth of research that apparently went into uncovering the events in the lives of the Keys Pioneers, is I think what makes me feel like I am being told stories from the heart. As a Keys resident deeply interested in the history of this unique place, I tried many other books first, but this is the one to read, to REALLY experience the Keys as it must have been, when the very first strong and sometimes eccentric Pioneers chose to brave remote island living, extreme heat, mosquitos and hurricanes, Pioneers whose names can be found all over the Keys to this day, where streets, waterways and buildings are dedicated to their memory.
Rated by buyers -
The book "The Florida: True Stories of the Perilous Straits (Florida Keys)" is a great book. It is easy to read becuase if one of the stories doesn't interest you, you can go to the subsequent story. All of the stories are interesting and are historically accurate. This is a great book if you want to know what happened in the early pioneer days of the Florida Keys
Rated by buyers -
I picked this book up at Bahia Honda State Park in the Keys out of curiousity and could not put it down. I am a frequent visitor to the keys and found the stories enlightning due to my knowledge of the area. Good illustrations and facts about the area. I look forward to reading the subsequent two in the series. This book will inform you about the conditions and ways of life in the Keys in the early days. You will also start to recognize landmarks and features named after people in this book. A good read
Rated by buyers -
I bought this book in Key West after looking for a decent overview of the history of the Florida Keys. This is the best that I've found so far.
The book works through a specific era, starting with general information about the time, and ending each chapter with one or two stories about a specific resident of the Keys. These stories are what make the book truly interesting. Each chapter has a small map indicating the notable Keys of the period.
The book covers the time span from pre-European settlement to just before World War II. Viele goes into detail about the wrecking industry, sponging, and farming of the Keys. The details of Flagler's railroad and the Overseas Highway are well covered, but perhaps not as well as some of the books dedicated to these subjects.
There are good grey and white illustrations and historical photos throughout.
My only complaint is that the book stops before WWII, leaving many years left to be covered.
Find other books like this one:
