The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-09-11
DrCnLn,I Indinm MassncrC.


"Again it becomes our melancholy duty l.
to record the cold blooded butchery OF
men, women and children, by the sangui-
nary Seminoles. Again have the trea-
cherous savages bathed their tomahawks
and scalping knives hilt deep in human
blood, burning houses and destroy ing
property, and been allowed deliberately |
to retire IN security to their Businesses, to
prepare for another attack on the defence
less inhabitants of Florida, whenever
favorable opportunity shall offer. The
intelligence OF this most disastrous occur
renee was brought to this port by Capt.
Kenyon, of the schooner Victoria, which |
arrived at Quarantine yesterday, from
| Key West. He states that a wrecking
vessel arrived at Key West, from Indian
Key, on the 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 9th inst. and,
after numbering part of the inhabitants,
and filling their canoes with plumber,
burnt the whole settlement, consisting of
about 80 houses, dwellings and stores.
The Indians remained until noon on the
following day. when they left for the
main. The survivors were concealed
during this time under a wharf, and left
Immediately after the Indians departed
for Key West. The survivors had left
their homes in consequence of the arrival
of a small boat, with some negroes from
Indian Key, on the morning of the 7lh,
who reported that number Of Indians
had Landed on Indian Key, Immediately
after the moon had gone down; they
think from 100 TO $50 III number that
morning, and had murdered all of its
inhabitants, and burnt their houses. A
party from this, Immediately went on
board of the wrccking sloop Vevila, and
started. They had not proceeded many
miles, when they encountered the wreck
ing schooner Gen. Washington, direct
from Indian Key, whose captain informed
them, that it was unnecessary for them
to proceed further, as all of the houses,
except one, owned and occupied by Mr..
Charles Howe, Inspector of Customs,
were destroyed, and that the Indians had
left the Island about 10 o'clock, A. Nj.
of the 18th, taking away all that they
wanted, in the boats belonging to the
Key.
1t appears, so soon as the alarm was
given by the yells of the Indians, Mr..
Houseman and wife, and Mr.. Howe,
wife and five children, were successful in
making their escape, and went to Tea
Table Key, which is about one mile and
a half - DR.. Perrine, wife and three
children, remained in their house for
short time, when the Doctor went TO the
Cupalo and spoke to the Indians in Span
ish'-but 1t is supposed they then shot
him, for he was not again seen. His
lady, with her two daughters and son,
reueated to the Turtle Crawl, near the
house, watched their opportunity, and
while the Indians were plundering, start
ed in boat for an old hulk lying about
300 yards from the Key, where they
remained until day light, 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, retired for
n the purpose of secreting them in the
a privy; but poor unfortunate people, they
e were soon dragged out, and Mr.. Motto
c and wife were shot--the mother escaping
, to the water, by which she was saved
y they then dashed out the brains of the
J. two infants against the rocks, and left
e them with the corpses of the parents
&c As the house of DR.. p. was burnt, his
e body must have been consumed in it.
A lad about IL years, brother of Mrs
E. Smith. hid himself in the cistern o
Mr.. Honseman' house, with carpente
named Blocks--the latter was saved, bu
much burnt; the lad persisted in tn,
rs flames. The Indians left their plumber
y and walked as Far as they could in TIT
water toward the boats, distributing them
ig selves and firing, by which they wounde,
nc one Of the Doctors men, and obliged hin
to haul of,
The following persons were on the Ike,
at the attack--Mr. Houseman and wife
% Mr.. Charles Howe, wife and five child
Of rem; DR.. Perfume, wife and 3 children
2, Mrs. Elliot Smith, child, brother an
$. mother; John Motto, wife and thre
C. children; Messrs. Oils, Blocks and Glass
re carpenters Mr.. Goodhue, clerk of MI
lie Houseman; eight men, crew of III