Terrier Smuggling

USS Terrier

Good Day to all!  The 33rd Freedom Swim is tomorrow!  Start time, 1:30, Charlotte Harbor end of the bridge.  See you there!

 

Did you know that although tales abound, there is scant evidence pirates actually frequented Charlotte Harbor?  The most celebrated account, that of Jose Gaspar, first appeared in print in the early 1900’s in a Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railroad (CH&N) promotional brochure.  CH&N laid track from Liverpool, on the Peace River, to the deep-water port on Gasparilla Island for transporting phosphate to waiting ships.  An associated entity, the Boca Grande Land Company, then built the Gasparilla Inn.

 

However, it is only a legend, based on tales told by Juan Gomez, a local fisherman at the time, who claimed to be 115 years old, from Spain, and to have served as Gaspar’s cabin boy.  There is no documented proof Gaspar ever existed.  And, based on information provide to census takers in 1870, before the stories began, Gomez was born in 1827 and from Nicaragua.  But that doesn’t mean no one ever looked for pirates here.

 

In 1823, a few years after Spain ceded Florida to the United States, Commodore David Porter, a naval hero during the War of 1812, took command of an expedition to suppress piracy in the West Indies.  His “Mosquito Fleet” of eight shallow draft schooners stationed at Key West, was excellent for patrolling coastal waters and included the six-ton U.S.S. Terrier, carrying three guns.

 

Porter’s naval career began in his late teens when he served as a midshipman on the U.S.S. Constellation.  During the First Barbary War, 1801-1805, he was 1st lieutenant on the U.S.S. Philadelphia when it ran aground off Tripoli.  The Philadelphia was later “famously” burned by a party of volunteers led by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur.

 

Porter achieved his fame during the War of 1812 when, as captain of the U.S.S. Essex, he captured the conflict’s first British warship, H.M.S. Alert, and several merchant ships.  His assignment after the war to suppress piracy is a bit ironic since his primary tactic against the British during the war was to fly their colors until gaining an advantageous position, then signaling his true allegiance and purpose.

 

While in the West Indies, he invaded Fajardo, Puerto Rico, still a Spanish colony, without authorization, and was court martialed.  Resigning his commission, he then served as commander-in-chief of the Mexican Navy from 1826-1829.

 

In the summer of 1824, Porter sent the Terrier to investigate fisheries in the Charlotte Harbor area to see if there was any connection with Caribbean pirates.  The crew spent about a week searching for evidence and did discover two large guns mounted on a beach, which were removed, and two nine-pound grenades.  All inhabitants though, were either Spanish or Native American and engaged in fishing or farming.  The Spaniards did have a schooner, but it was licensed as a fishing vessel by the Captain General of Cuba.  Smuggling, however, has been, at times, commonplace.

 

When Spain ceded Florida to the United States in February 1819, federal authorities were intent on levying import and export duties on all products entering and leaving the country, a big hit to the profits of Spanish fishermen operating in the area.  However, the closest customs station was in Key West, a location easily avoided on the way to and from Cuba.

 

Consequently, in 1831, George C. Willis was appointed custom agent for Charlotte Harbor to collect fees and stop illegal shipments of whiskey.  Apparently, the government wasn’t pleased with his efforts because he was replaced in 1833 by Dr. Henry B. Crews, who is said to have exercised his authority more aggressively.

 

Crews established his base on Useppa Island, already the Cuban fishing industry’s headquarters for the harbor, and ended up being an early casualty of the Second Seminole War, 1835-1842.  In 1848, to gain greater control of the harbor, military reservations (bases) were created on the north and south ends of La Costa (Cayo Costa) and Gasparilla Islands respectively.  However, transportation of illegal contraband continued throughout ensuing years, including cattle during the civil war, liquor during prohibition, and later, bales of “square grouper”.

 

“Did You Know” appears, typically, every other Wednesday, courtesy of this newspaper and the Charlotte County Historical Society.  The Society’s mission is to help promote and preserve Charlotte County’s rich history.  We are also always looking for volunteers and interested individuals to serve as board members.  If you believe our area’s history is as important as we do, please visit Charlotte County Historical Society on-line at https://cchistoricalsociety.com/, or call 941- 769-1270 for more information

Check out History Services’ yearlong project, “Telling Your Stories: History in the Parks”.  It began in January 2021 with placement of the first interpretive sign “Charlotte Harbor Spa” at South County Regional Park.  The last was dedicated December 15, 2021 at Centennial Park featuring Florida postcards.  All dedicated signs can be viewed at online library resources.  Select “Programs and Services”, then “History Services” and “Virtual Programs”.

Visit the same site to access recently released oral histories featuring 40 local folks.  Select “History Services” and scroll down, or phone 941-629-7278, to find out what history related programs and videos are available.

 

July 3 column