Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-08-25

Of Indian Key--Progress Of the Florida
War.
We give below letter from our attentive cores
pendent At Key West, detailing the particulars Of
the destruction Of Indian Key, and the murder Of
number Of the residents. Indian Key, if we are cor
rect in recollection of its locality, is a small
island in the Florida Gulf about half way from Key
West to the Florida Cape. 1t had for some time
been the summer retreat Of the inhabitants OF Key
West, who resorted tniher account of the great
er purity Of the atmosphere, and the refreshing sea
breeze that constantly prevails there. 1t was owned
by Mr.. HOuseman, an enterprising gentleman from
West Florida, who had expended much money upon
it, and built up pleasant village for the accomno-
dation OF residents. Now it is but smoulde ring
ruin--a monument alike of the barbarry Of the
wage, and the imbecile administration of the de-
partment.
The constant succession of disastrous intelligence,
of lives sacrificed and property destroyed, of stra
tsgems circumv,nted, soldiers ignominionsly de-
feaed, disgraccfuIly bsilled and all by pal,ry
handful of Indians, must eventually open the eyes of
the people to the true Of putting an cad
TO squabbe, which we have dignifed by the
name of the Florida war. lIostiii,es com
menced five years ago. and they have been protraet
ed up TO this time, without single substantia
advant, ge having been gained upon the sayages.-
To prosecute this war; has cost this nation nearly
thirty millions of dollars, and betwe six or seven
hundred lives, and we now apparently no nearer
to its termination than when the first blow was
struck, on the banks of the Wythlacochee. The
savages are unconquersble IN the mode in which
hostilities have been conducted. Their policy is
never to risk a battle, but securely hid in the
inaccessible everglades, the swamps and hammocks
with which the whole peninsula abounds, they cut
of every straggler, and occasionally destroy whole
parties Their condition is similar, in some respects,
TO that Of the revolted negroes in the Maroon
of Jamaica. These savages, occupying the i'm
pregnable Businesses of the mountains, defed the
whole power of the British army, in the ordinary
mode of warfare; ard they obliged, at last, to
hunt them down as if they had been wild beasts
The savages of Florida can never be exterminsted
in any other way. The government must adopt one
of two courses They must either permit this mi
SCRABBLE remnant Of tribe to lnger out their exist
tence amid the sterile sands and unhealthy swamps
of their native land, or they must hunt them down
as the tigers are hunted in the jungles Of India.
Correspondence of the Heraldl
KEY WEsT, Aug. ii, 1910.
My DEAR SIR
The most intense excitement has existed in this
community during the last two days. The Indians
inhabitants and burned every house, except one, to
the ground The settlers along the coast are all
fockng to this place for security, in state of con-
sterRaton.
give you the partic ular. of this distressing affair."
as related TO by of the surviving witnesses.
The Indians landed on the Key the morning Of
the 7th inst at about two o'clock. in thirty canoes
and about one hundred and fifty strong The sleep
-. ;nh. nv thet. al
firing, and all Immediately fled. Mr. Houseman and
wife succeeded in getting over to Tea Table Key in
a boat, running from one door whilst the Indians
were coming in at the other; Mr.. Hare and family
were equally successful, and the wife and children
Of DR. Perne, descending through the floor of their
dwelling, to the kath-house beneath, which comnun!-
Gated with the sea- got into boat and noated to an
old wreck which lay in front Of the Island. The
Doctor ascended the cupoa Of his house. either 10
reconnoitre TO fire upon the Indians, and as they
fired j, Immediately, he was unable TO descend, and
thus persisted in the flames. The family of Elliott
Smith conc. alcd themselves in the cellars els
terms and every member Of il, excepting little boy
twelve years Of age, were saved. He was either
drowned, or killed by the heat OF the burning bald
ing above him. Others ofthe inhabitants concealed
themselves in the cisterns under the wharves,
Mr.. nouseman, at about daylight, and commenced
lading their canoes, and all the row boats on the
island Soon after daylight, Mr.. Houseman, and a
&c men approac he'd them in OF the small barges
carrying a small swivel, which Capt. Nc Laughlin
had left, with twelve men and physician at Tea
Table Key. lie opened fire upon them but the gun
recoiled overheard ard he was obliged to haul of
again. The Indians then continued lading their
boats, and a. the store contained very extensive
assortment, they obtained every article which they
could possibly desire. They remained spon the
Key until about two r. NJ. when they finally with.
drew, first setting fire to every house, excepting
the one in which Mr. Howe resided. The killed
are Jno Motto, wife and two children, James Stur-
dy, the boy, and Dr. Perine Capt. Lemuel Otis,
received a ball in the side, bat is recovering.
The Indians became greatly intoxicated before
OF spirituous liquors.
They have never, since this unhappy war com
menced met with such signal success and obtained
such important results.
They burned about thirty houses, (every one but
Mr.. Howe's) and made their svIections from store
containing stock Of dry goods groceries, hardware,
provisions, &c, valued at $1,000. Captain Nc
Lauehln in the schooner FIirt. was at Cape Flo
rida. and the Wave. Capt Rogers, was near Cape
Saber at the time this occurred. Boats have been
dispatched to both acquainting them with the par
ticulars but as the indians had only abeut fifteen
miles TO travel To reach the main land, they will find
its security doubtless before these vessels
against them.
From bermuda.
Rv the arriya al of the brig Quadruple, we have