Grounded shipwreck in the Florida Keys

Southern_Digger

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I will attempt to post a photo of a nineteenth century spike-in-wood, found by my father's second-cousins family. They dove off Boca Raton in late 1950-early 60's and they explored the keys for old bottles and such. When I visited them, saw the cannon they recovered at Boca, which including a small deck signal cannon, that is when I was given the spike. I have heard of a schooner that grounded on Elliot Key and spikes were found on land. Also, I have heard of spikes being found in the bluffs at Delray Beach. Yet, my question is, does anyone have knowledge about any 19th century ships that washed up on land in the Florida Keys, where such spikes could be found. Notably, I used to visit the old cistern site in the upper keys, however, found no evidence spikes in that area-just late 1800-s broken bottles. Yet, I'm not saying it did not come from that area because this item was found in 1964. Yet the wood seems to well preserved not to have been found underwater. I haven't ruled out Indian Key either, that being an old settlement attacked and burned by Seminoles. spike-1.jpg
 

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Southern_Digger

Southern_Digger

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Interesting analogy.... Does anyone know if Flagler used bronze spikess on the overseas railroad? It would make sense due to salt air exposure. However, the spike is narrower than the typical RR spikes from then and now.
 

mad4wrecks

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It is not a railroad spike.
 

stevemc

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It would be very likely that there are boat parts all over the Keys, on land. They are all so low, and most slope right up with hard bottom, that any ships parts would be pitched on land during a hurricane. Especially if attached to wood, which of course floats. I find modern boat parts on land all the time after storms..
 

LM

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Wasn't there some key where a hermit in the 40's found a hurricane grounded, mostly intact galleon that had just been sitting there for a few hundred years, with a significant amount of treasure still on board?

Hurricanes cause 'weird stuff' as far as maritime artifacts and land goes...
 

Bum Luck

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Haven't heard this story. One would think it would have been a legend by now if true.

I have heard this about Padre Island, but would observe the same.
 

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