Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-03-27

S"oteIeo oy my person. Their aim, thong
quickly taken, was fatal to three of our men, bu
now, as we closed within half pistol shot. on
turn commenced, and our muskeis, loaded wit
heavy buckshot soon silenced them.
Ihe boat having drifted in to the shore durin.
the heat of the contest, enabled the few survivor
10 leap In the glades, whittier we as quickly pur
sued.
struck off on trail with one Of my boat.
crew, ana mad not run over one hundred yards be-
tore stumbled over the body of child three OF
Tour years old, with thong Of buckskin wound
so tightly around its little neck as 10 have pro-
duced sirangulation, and its head forced under
The roots OF bunch of grass, where it had pfoba.
oily been placed by some of the fngitves TO pre-.
vent II from giving an alarm. In about fifteen
minutes, we overlook squaw, who bore on her
back young infant AS soon as she saw that
escape was impossible, she calmly turned around,
and, without the least sign Of emotion visible
on her dark countenance, awaited our approach,
placing her hand on her bosom as a sign Of sub.
mission
Finding her TO be the only one on this trail, we
returned towards the boats. On our back trail
we passed by the body of the dead child, and
now learned from the broken language Of the wo-
man that the infant was hers, and that TO prevent
its CRIES from leading us in our pursuit, she had
killed II with her own hands. This information
was impaired to me, by her, without tear or
sigh, as III II had been but common-pl ace thing
She evinced the same stoical want Of feeling,
when, on reaching the canoes, she discovered her
husband lying dead in the grass at The margin of
The lagoon. She even smiled when made her
present os my blanket, to cover the wants of
The dress which she had torn from her limbs in
her flight.
When we had again with the bugle call gath
cred our forces together, made an inspection.
On examination we found that only three Of our
crew were killed, though several others were bad
Iy nIured.-Fourteen of the warriors had been
killed, and four women and three children were
captured.
We found that one warrior and his squaw had
escaped our search Hastily our forces were
scattered through the swamp, yet our pursuit was
made in vain, and night closed over our unsuc-
cessiul efforts. We tried TO the grass on fire,
Dutlt would not burn, therefore we were Obliged
TO huddle into our boats, and there await the ap-
proach of day, for there was no land within sight,
where we might pitch our camp
We were prevented from sleeping all night by
the bowling of several dogs, which had los, their
masters In the days fight, and were now scatter
ed about the swamp.
we learned from the captive women, that the
warrior who had made his escape was "Chiee,"
celebrated sub-chef, guide and warrior. who
nad been originally connected with the ''Spanish
fishing Indians" Before the war, he had been
quite iavorite among the settlers and wreckers
on the southern coast being of an enquiring and
ingenious mind, and in return for instructions in
the manufacture OF various little articles, which
were useful in his way Of life, he used to fish and
hunt for them.
ne was noted tor his activity In all manly OK
ercises; his skill in the use of the bow, rife and
harpoon, and for fund of good humor and kind
ness seldom found in Of his tribe That
which we know of his history is sufficiently ro-
mantle and Interesting TO merit recording. For
the benefit of ourself and the accommodation Of
our readers, we will proceed to relate it.
,uith tba dato IF
my own knowledge of his career.
About four months before the commencement
OF the Seminole hostilities, Chiee went on board
the government light ship, which is stationed as
beacon on Carysfou's reef. near Cape Florida.
The vessel was commanded by Capt. Walton,
who resided on board with his family.
During Chiee's stay on board, he, in some
manner offended Captain Walton, who, in the
momentary heat OF passion, snatched ropes
end from the deck and struck him. In an instant
the Indians coal black eye Redeemed with anger
his keen knife glitered in the air, and for a
second remained poised over the hear, OF the in
snter, bat, when death seemed to rest trembling
on its point. he sprang into his canoe and pushed
from the side of the ship, throwing back one look
expressive of deadly, whitening hate upon the
tonlshed commander, and screamed in his rage,
"Nle see you more, Walion!'
He knew that then and there was not the time
or place to fill the measure of vengeance; but the
racters that blood and blood only could efFace.
An Indian never torgets either kindness or nlu-
ries.
Several times, ere he had passed from view,
Chee was seen TO rise in his lettering canoe and
look back, seeming half determined to return,
but finally he disappeared in the direction of the
Everglades.
Long before the war, Walton had cultivated
small garden on Key Largo, an island situated
about i've miles from the anchorage Of the YES
sci, Tor The purpose Of supplying himself and
crew with vegetables. Although often warned
by those who knew the undying hatred of an in
Jured savage, he still persisted in visiting this
spot occasionally IN order TO gather the fruit Of
his labor. Nearly half year had elapsed after
the commencement of hoslilities, and no signs of
the enemy having been seen on Key Largo. the
most timerous began 10 feel secure, thinking that
the islands and the main land deferred the
Indians from making descent upon them.
One morning about This period, Walton left
the light ship with two men to row his boat, and
proceeded to the garden landing.
When he had reached the shore, leaving the
two men TO take care Of the boat, he walked up
10 the garden, which was two or three hundred
yards from the landing place. fIe had barely
stepped within the enclosure, when Chee sprang
out from behind large Mahogany uee,* and in
tone of bitter mockery, cried, "Me Chiee
Walton, know Chipe now, eh ~
Walton was totally unarmcd /; he turned 10 fly,
but ball from Chiee's never falling rifle check.
cd his flight. He fell, and black revenge laved
her feverish hands in the purple stream of life.
Long cherished, heart bfoojed vengeance was
satisfied, the stain Of insult blotted out by the
blood Of the insuller.
At the crack Of Chiee's rife. the boaimen had
pushed from the shore, but before they gained
one hundred yards from the beach, fifteen or TWEEN
~ painted and yelling warriors rushed from the
woody covert, and one thar was instantly killed
by their fire, the other being severely wounded
! However, rs the wind was blowing off from the
island the boat soon drifted beyond tho reach o
! fhpir and oil ii