In 1826 the U.S. government moored a floating light called a lightship at Carysfort Reef. The first, the CEASAR its successor the FLORIDA were schooner-rigged, had a captain and crew of 6 and had two lights, 50′ and 60′ high. The lightship was replaced in 1852 with the current Carysfort Reef light station. The following two news items were discovered by Jon and Pam Veile in Savannah in 1996, in the Savannah Georgian, February 5 and May 14, 1827.
“Key West Captain Johnson spoke the lightship Ceasar on Carysfort Reef, the captain of which requested him to state that part of his crew had been in a state of mutiny and had broken his lantern etc. but were then in irons [shackles].”
“Key West- The [U.S.Revenue Cutter] Marion, [Capt.] Doane looked into his harbor last week, and landed a seaman from the lightship as a prisoner under a charge for mutiny, he having, as is said, to obey the order of the keeper, and also during his absence broke the lamp and the bell.”
Additional information on the Lightships of the Florida Keys is available here:
FLORIDA MARITIME 