The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-08-24
PIL0555& TRANSCRIPT.
MONDAY MORNING, AUGUST "a.
From the Charleston Courier, of the 2OIh inst.

INDIAN KEY DESTROYED, AND THE
INHABITANTS BUTCHERED BY THE
INDIANS!!!
Again it becomes our melancholy duty to re-
cord the cold-blooded butchery of men, women
and children, by the sanguinary Scminoles.
Again has the treacherous savages bathcd their
tomahawls and scalping knives hilt deep in
human blood, burning houses and destroying
property, and been allowed deliberately to re-
tire in security to their fastnesses to prepare for
another attack on the delenceless inhabitants of
Florida, whenever favorable opportunity shall
offer. These scenes may, and probably will be
reiterated time and again, unless some more en-
ergetic measures are adopted to drive them from
the Territory, or the inhabitants flee from their
homes and country, leaving the Indians in I'M
disputed possession
The intelligence of this most disastrous occur
renee was brought to this port by Captain KEN
YoN of the schooner Pretoria, arrived at quar-
antine Yesterday, from Key West He states
that a wrecking vessel arrived at Key West,
from Indian Key, 9TH inst. with few of the
survivors who stated that a number of indians
in their canoes, attacked Indian Key, on the
night of the 5th instant, and after numbering
mart of the inhabitants, and filling their canoes
with plunder, burnt the whole settlements con
sistine of about 30 houses, dwellings and stores.
The Indians remained until noon on the follow
inp day, when they left for the main. The sur
yiVors were concealed during this time under a
wharf, and left Immediately after the Indians
departed for Key West. Our informant, not
having conversed with any of the survivors, is
unable to give more detailed account 1t
was stated at Key West, that some two three
of the inhabitants Of Indian Key had made their
escape in one OF the Indian canoes, and arrived
at Tea Table Key, in the immediate vicinity.
The following letter from our attentive cor
respondent at Key West, gives some additional
particulars of the horrid massacre:
Dear Sirs-We were alarmed on the morning
If the 9Th instant, by the arrival here Of great
mari Of the inhabitants Of Key Vacas. They had
left their homes in consequence of the arrival Of
n small boat, with some negroes from Indian
Kew. ON the morning of the 9TH, who reported
that n number of Indians had landed on Indian
Kew. Immediately after the moon had gone Down;
they think from 100 to 80 in number, that NOR
nino and had Murdered all of its inhabitants
and burnt their houses. A party from this, i'm
mediately went on board OF the wrecking sloop
Vevilia. and started They had not proceeded
many miles, when they encountered the wreck
ING schooner Gen, Washington, direct from In
dian Key, whose captain informed them, that it
was unnecessary for them to proceed further, as
all of the houses, except one, owned and occu-
pied by Mr. Charles Howe, Inspector of Gus
IONS. were destroyed-and that the Indians had
left the Island about 10 o'clock, A, M, of tue
7tb taking away all that they wanted, in the
as the alarm was given by the yes of the In
dams, Mr.. Houseman and wife, and Mr. Howe,
wife. and FIVE children, were successful in max
ing their escape, and went to Tea-Tahle Key,
which is about one mile and a half
DIR. Perrine, wife, and three children, remain
cd in their house for short time, when the Doc
for went to the Cupalo and spoke to the Indians
in Spanlsh-but it is supposed they then shot
him. for he was not again seen. His lady, with
her two daughters and son, retreated to the Tur-
tie Crawl, near the house, watched their oppor-
tunity, and while the Indians were plundering,
started in a boat for an old hulk, lying about
two hundred yards from the Key, where they re-
NAMED until daylight, when they were taken
away by boat from Tea Table Key. Mr.. John
Motto. master Of the wrecking sloop Key West,
with his wife, two children, and his mother,
tired. for the purpose of secreting them ia the
privy; but, poor unfortunate people, they were
ICON dragged out, and Mr.. Motto and wife were
sbot-the mother escaping to the water, by which
Che was saved-theY then dashed out the brains
r the two infants against the rocks, and left
thep, with the corpses OF the parents AS the
house of DIR. p, was burnt, his body must have
been consumed in it. A lad, about IL years old,
hrotber of Mrs f, Smith, hid himself in the els
torn of MIR. Housemans housewife a carpen-
Tor named Bloclss--the latter was saved, but
much burnt; the lad persisted in the flames
TLe only other person on the Key, at the time of
the attack. hurt, was Mr. 0TIs, carpenter-he
was wounded by rifle ball, which has been ex-
tracted, and he is doing well. At Tea Table
Key, U. S. post, about one mile and hall
from Indian Key, there We're about IL invalids,
in cbarge of a Doctor of the U. S. Army. The
nost al the detachment of Marines, under com
wand of Lieut. SLOAN, had left about As hours
before. in the u. S. schooner Wace, for Cape
Romano, to Join the expedition OF boats in the
everglades, under command OF Lieut., Com'g
McTauqhlin Nevertheless, the Doctor, SO soon
~ no tapk af
lids. and MIR. Houseman, pushed towards the
scene Of action, with a barge, in which was
,nonntad a gun, which they discharged, on APP
uroaohing the place---it recoiled and went over
ho.rd. The Indians left their plumber, and
walked as far as they could in the water towar
tha boats. distributing themselves and firing, by
which they wounded one OF the Doctors men,
and obliged him to haul oil.
The following persons were on the Key at the
attack-Mr. Houseman and wife, MIR. Charles
Howe. wife and children, DIR, Perrine, wife
and children, Mrs. Elliott Smith, child, brother
and mother, John Motto, wife and children,
Messrs. Otis Blocks, and Glass, carpenters, MIR.
Cooahue. clerk OF Mr.. Houseman, men, crew
of yvrecking sloop Key Vest, and some 10 or
10 negroes the latter all saved. Out of this
number. MIR. Motto, wife and 2 children, are de-
stroyed, and DIR. Pcrrine and the brother OF Mrs
Smith, with all of the houses, except one OF Mr.
Uowe's boat in charge of CHARLES STUART,
was Immediately sent from this place with the
news to Cape Florida, and one from this to
Cape Romano, with the hopes that some OF the
Indians might be intercepted on their RETURN
CHALEs STUART and one other man had been
hunting, and were in the act Of landing on lndi-
an Key, when they We're warned by the yells OF
the savages in time 10 make their escape.
= MIR. Howe's family, and the rest of the unfor-
tunate sufferers, are on board of the wrecking
schooner iSylrh, at Indian Key, awaiting clothes,
provisions, sc. from this all of which have been
sent them by the sloop reoii'a, Capt Wood
This is rather an imperfect account, but all OF
the facts are strictly stated.