Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-10-15

Correspondence OF the Hersld.l
KEY WEST, Sept. Il, $40

IS some mistatements have appeared in the papers
% your c'y relative to the at Indian Key,
WI give You detail, upon the correctness OF
which you may fully RELY.
MS Island Is situated sixty eight miles Northeast
OF Key west, about fifteen from the main lard IF
Florida, and contains thirteen acres of land. It's
the property Of Jacob Houseman Of Staten Island,
whe, having purchased the peremption claims OF n-
dividuas, had, Ia the of ten or twelve wears
by cultiyating The SOIL to considerable extent and
erecting from twenty to thirty pleasant dwellings
made it a very pleasant residence. In anticipation
OF its becoming port of entry, he had also built upon
it large and expensive warehouse and several
wharves. Situated in the immediate vicinity OF the
principal wrecker stations the reef, il fire.
quently resorted to by them to purchase stores sc
and for their accommodation, and for the supply of
passing vessels generally, well as OF the inhabi
tants on the Key Houseman kept constantly on hand
an extensive assortment Of merchandise.
Before the war commenced, he carried on a profit
able trade with the Indians, who resorted there
every month to trade off their deer skins SC When
or fifty souls the Island ncluding the family of Mr..
Howe, inspector of the Customs-of Elliot Smith,
Of Capt. Jno. Motto, of Jacob Houseman and of DR..
II. Perrine. Tie latter gentleman Is kKewn to the
lovers of science in this country the protector Of
pae TO Introduce the fruits and the fbrous plants
Of Mexico and South America into tr pical Florida
For its fulilment he had obtained grant Of land
from our government, to be located somewhere in
the southern part of the territory, and await
ing, with his family, at Indian Key for the war to
close, to commence his operations.
through part of the second Houssn a, n luced the
residents OF the Key, who, with. the workmen his
buildings and vessels, numbered about thirty, TO
stand guard and perform other ilitary duty He
was exceedingly vigilent and BY throwing up breast
works. and mounting few field pieces, and the Is
land being well situated for defence, he was in
condition TO oppose successfully the landing of five
hundred Indians. But the daily details Of Indian
murders the main land rom their very fire ency
ceased to awaken the surprise fears Of the inhab
ants their watchfuness gradually relaxed, and for
some time past they seemed to repose in perfect Sc
curity. An attack on Indian Key, situated near the
edge of Florida Reef, in sight of eight ten perma
neatly ST atoned wreckng vessels, and visited very
frequently by the public armed vessels the coast
but highly improbable event. for since the com.
moncement Of hostites, the Indians had never ssf-
cent courage or daring to warrant the superstition.
They landed on the Key during the night, between
the 9th and 7th ult. hundred and fifty strong,
with thirty canoes. They remained perfectly quiet
until near daylight when, upon being discovered by
workman, who rose earlier than usual, they COM
menced firing into every inhabited house, and yell
ling in the most frightful manner. TWAS doubt
their design to surround every house, and awate
for daylight to murder every inhabitant.
You have been apprsed Of the manner in which
the people escaped, but that many should have
escaped, under the circumstances, seems indeed
miraculous; and we can account for ii only by sup
posing that the savages were too anxious to secure
their plumber to hunt for them. Jno. Motto, with
his wife, child and mother naw, upon hearing the
alarm, from their dwelling to a small building in
the yard, and remained there until after daylight,
when party of Indians opened the door and DELHI
eratsly butchered the three frst-but the latter,
though sixty years Of age, rushed by them and
escaped by eoncealing himself under wharf DIR.
Perrine killed in his house. The large store Of
Houseman seemed to be their principal rendcv QUIZ;
and soon as daylight enabled them to see, they
commence plundering it. Thirty can es, together
with Il We fish boats, which they selected from
al the island were laden with its contents. Lieut.
McGlan ghan, in command Of the naval force oper-
atng against the Indians on the coast, had estab-
lisheda depot Of provisions a. Teatable Keys, and
few DAYS before the occurrences here related had
left upon il a mdshipman Of the navy, MIR. II. X.
Murray, and eight or ten sick o. disabled seamen,
with several boats. No sooner, however, did this
young gentleman learn that Indian Key captur-
ed, than he manned a barge with his convalescing
men, and with small gun, mounted amidship pull
ed within rifle shot Off, and opened fire upon the
Indians. His mep, however, exhausted by the fa-
tgue Of pulling, were unable to unship their mast,
and they therefore compelled to fire their gun
athwarships and its fastenngs being insecure this
position recoiled overheard at the first discargs-
second gun which he brought to bear upon them,
was from the same causes lost. The Indians wound-
ed one Of his men.
The conduct Of Mr.. Murray upon this occasion is
worthy of the highest mmendation, and he has
sustained in a handsome manner, the opinion which
his country entertains or her spirited naval officers
He has in his charge at Tcs-table Key, which the
Indians might have reached in fifteen minutes, a
quantity Of naval stores, ammunition, boats, Canoes
&C.; and although it seemed preposterous TO attack
a hundred and fifty we'll appointed warriors, under
cover and elated by success with handful Of sick
men, he hoped thereby to show them that there was
aforce at Tea.tabe Key, and that an attack upon
would be resisted. And this judicious display Of
his dete rminaton doubtless deferred them from 90
ing there. The U. s. sehoonsrs Flirt and O'WeEo,
were at Cape Florida at this time, and their crews
had either Just returned from an expedition in the
Everglades, or were still in them and the Wave was
near Cape Sable, with her crew similarly situated.
As soon these vessels were apprised OF the affair
they pursued the Indians at once but as these had
lei braa fau IN frov al tn
land, they eludtd all discovery.
An article appeared in the Charleston Courier Of
the Goth ult., calculated to create very erroneous
impress ions, and animadvertng unfairly upon the
proceedings Of Lieut.. MeGlaughan upon this
coast. have but slight acquaintance with him
but az an inhabitant Of Key West. fully ae-
quainted with his varioua ohEca movements here
feel bound. IL speak the subject at ALL to ex-
article carrvs. Lieutenant NJ, as a &c ntlenap
and energetic officer, stands deservedly high in
the navy, and few could have manifested these
cbsracterstics more clearly than he has done since
his intercourse with thepeople Of South Florida The
force under his command like every naval force that
has been similarly employed here, is too small to
operate against large bodies OF Indians, 20 make
extensive marches; but even with this disadvan-
tsge far from manifesting the indifference, or the
want Of industry to search for il meet them, which
is attributed to him in the article alluded to,he has
been thorou gh. going indefsgabc eruizrr upon all
parts Of the southern coast Of the Zsnitaryhe has,
IN various boat expeditions, penetrated into every
river or creek which is known between Cape Flinan
and Charlotte Harbour be has frequently penetra-
ted the everglades, ans in numberIees instances
landed and marched over various portions OF the
country.
The advantages which the Indians have gained by
their capture Of Indian Key, cannot be too highly
estimated. In addition to large supply OF powder
lead buck and small shot, clothing, canvass, provi
visions and liquors, they found also extensive as
sortmsnt Of articles which are equally valuable to
Them yiz:-books, fish lines, cordage, barposns
grains axes, hstchets, tools, knives SC and thew
also carried off number Of fine double barrel gun.
and muskets, and three negroes belonging 20 Mr..
Hare, aud one Of Ianseman's. Hanseman's stock Of
goods probably worth ten thousand dollars, and
IN addition to this they sseked every housc ON the