LB2012.15.4897

LB2012.15.4897

Tall lighthouse, fenced, amid palm trees. "Keepers Inferno a century ago.Historic old Cape Florida Lighthouse tower on Key Biscayne as it appears today, 114 years after a torturous battle was fought by its keeper with hostile Indians on July 23, 1836, during the Seminole War. When the Indians could not gain access to the tower, they set it afire. The keeper and his assistent climbed into the lantern and stayed there until the flames forced them out to lie on a two-foot ledge above the lantern platform. They were nearly roasted alive. The assistent died on the ledge, but the keeper survived the harrowing experience and was rescued two days later from the burned out tower. Completed in 1825 and originally 65 feet high, Cape Florida Lighthouse Tower was rebuilt in 1846 after the Seminole episode. In 1855, it was raised to 95 feet. The light was discontinued June 15, 1878, when Fowey Rocks Light was established, and the tower and property were sold in 1915 to the late James Deering, Chicago, Ill. [ no Nf ref]