The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-01-25


date ii was not known Of Powell, as Cotton |
Mather says of Roger Williams, in his
Magnolia, that " the whole country was
soon like to be set on fire by the rapid mo-
ton of a Windmill in the head os this one
man." ~
Oceola acted rs agent foe Mlcanopie who
is ar imbecile, in reducing to subiection the
Mlcasukies. who are not only the most mn
rnerous and powe. inl but The most desperate
and 'nsubordi.nte tribe. BY his bodness
md energy, Inc always succeeded in bring
ing them IN to receive punishment for the
"tfencJs mmitted-latterly he would beg
the'L oil, and finally went over to them, ms
Gne Of their chiefs The United States Off
GERS, as well as the Indians, all looked to
Dceola To secure Misunderstanding his
resolution and pO~ers. And for this pur-
i,ose, as well as To restrain the Seminoles
within their limits, he has taken more pains
md endured more fatigue, than any four of
the Indians put together. lie is of an cle.
v''ed AMI upright character, ard was of
kindly disposition till put in irons, which
converted to gall, the milk Of human kind
ness i'll his bosom-rouscd his fiery imag-
initi,a, unqucnchablc but by blood, and
excited him to deep-scaied, ample revenge.
Oscola's agency, and that Of his Iieuten-
mt, Tom, in Onathla's death, and his Kill
lirs Gen. Thompson, with the rifle presen-
tel him by the general, initiate against the
favorable estimate Of his character.t But
that all his goodly feelings were not utterly
eradicated, is proved by AN incident in the
interview with Gen. Gaines command.
On That occasion, Oceola anxiously inquir-
el after Lieutenant John Graham, and on
being Informed that he was wounded, stout
~ denied IT, On being asked why he was
. So positive that Lieut. G. was unhurt, he re-
piled, that he had imperatively ordered his
people never to modest that young man,
nnl he knew no onc who would dare diso-
hey him--nonc should, and live 1t was
then admitted, that though one of the broth
crs Grahame had been wounded, yet Lieut..
q. h'l escaped injury /; mt which admis-
sion Oscola grontly joyed. II seems that
Powell has n iitlc danghierto to who Lieut.
&. was kind. and had presented with frocks.
in'whicli the young girl, who grew very fond
him, always insisted on being dressed,
whenever she perceived Licnt. G. (for whom
she ofieh looked out,) coming to visit her.
Occoa's motives in spnring Lieut.. G. wa,
gratitude for attention to his child, which
he also endeavercd to repay by teaching the
lniiah language, for he speaks Iiiile En-
gish, and is very intelligent.
Powell has two wives, as is common with
the Indians, hut they are rarely Trigamists.
His tro better halves live in perfect hnr-
mony, having one table in common, but oc-
cupying separate lodges" They are both
Young and comely; one Of them is partic-
u!nrly pretty. They yield passive obc-
dicuce t, his vigorous intellect, and express
sions which partnke the character of his
mind. Ills words are ever few but nppos-
ie. AT the conclusion of the Talk, ! have
sketchcd his lofty micn and manly bearing.
His address is courteous and affable, and
his smile is wtchery. Like most Indians
h, is fond of "A joke, the opinion that savn-
yes are always grave, being crroneous.---
His stake of the hand like every thing from
him, leaves II lasting impression; and if
there be not vice in his fingers, he has n
pici0us way of using them. Oceola is
greatly ambitious, and like other Indians,
rrvengcful, the Ter lationis hendiEg their
b,oiv codc.--So that his conduct, like that
OF more civilized men, is made up of mixed
motives, having just enough of the salt of
p,trIolism To preserve the character from the
Innt Of corruptns seliishness.
SThs Gen. Thompson was the man who
put Occola in irons, ns mentioned abDvc.
This fact, and the circumstances connec-
ted with it, are omitted in the above ac-
count --Oceola, or Powell, as he was cal
lei by the whites, had n wife to whom he
was much attached, whose mother was
mulatto slave, who ran away, was adopted
b; the lnliaus. and married one of their
chiefs. Though the father was free, yet as
children hy law in the South, take the coz
,liIna Of the mother, Oceola's wife was Sci
Hn,l IA a siAye Ivy person claiming her
under the right of her mothers former mas
ter The high spirited husband attempted
Ia defend her, but was ovcrpowered and
pnti irons by Thompson, who command
cd the party. The event is incidentally re-
lated ab we. This transaction has been
sid to he The origin of the war in Florida.