Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-09-03
Death of a Seminole Chief.

ne hamoler OF The wayne county
Record, gives the following story Of the
Florida war. 1t is but one of the many
terrible scenes which that war brought
forth:
During the latter part of the winter of
1878, Colonel FOSTER, brave and
beloved officer, was detached with his
regiment of Georgia mounted volunteers,
TO examine the country in the neghbor-
hood of the Pearl River Swamp, where
he thought large body of Indians had
concentrated. In obedience to these or
ders, :he Colonel proceeded. and when
within perhaps half mile of the large
Hammoc surrounding the head of Pearl
River three Indians where seen-two
squaws and one man. Chase was imme.
diately given, and the Indians took TO
their heels like fine fellows. The squaws
however, where soon over,aken and put
under guard-but the man ran like an
antelope. One part of the division, how.
ever. succeeded in getting ahead of him,
and intercepted his flight TO the swamp.
Seeing body of troops coming up in
front the Indian wheeled about and ran
back across pond that was then dry
and was me, in that direction by the head
of the regiment, with Col. Foster in adj
vance, coming after them. Seeing himself
surrounded on all sides by large force
of well mounted and well armed soldiers.
leaving no hope of escape, the most in
trepld bravery, under such circumstances
would have given up the ship without
struggle. He was called to by the inter
prefer, who told him to surrender and he
should not be hurt. But no: the spirit
of Spartan martyrdom was there. He
resolved to die, and make the best of bis
end BY this time Col Foster, who was
pushing rapidly forward, had approached
within twenty PAGES Of the spot where
the Indian had crouched behind pine
tree. He saw the savage level his deadly
rifle at his breast. 1t was then too late
TO escape the sho. of so skllful a marks
man. The Col. halted, eveled his pistol
and fired. The Indians rifle cracked so
nearly at the same time, that the two fires
could not be distinguished apart. The
Colonel reeled in his saddle. The blood
gushed from his bosom; as well as from
his mouth and nose. The bold savage,
seeing that bis shot had taken effect,
sprang exulingly to his feet, and grasp
ing his huge knife in his right hand, and
his gun in his left, he raised 10 his full
reach, and u,tering wild scream of mad
defiance, he stood proudly erect until
pierced perhaps by fifty balls at the same
Instantly which he was literally riddled,
and bounding into the al, fell dead upon
the spot.
The only word the beloved Colonel
had spoken was-"I am dead man.
The Infatuated soldiery, thus driven to
madness by the supposed death Of their
fsvori,e commander. could scarcely con
tain their fury. Indeed, one of them
lost to sense of proprie,y; sprang from
bis plunged his bowie,knife into
the bosom of the once daring but now
Frustrated and bleeding savage-drew ou
his heart-and with fiendish smile, bore
it aloft on the point of his dagger. This
thrilling scene was the work of a single
moment.
Before the Col. was removed from hi:
HUIsts TIC SuCCCCuCu III ilUHtilIB VIC reg
menl towards the neighboring hammock
anticipating that the Indian was aiming
to get the troops into disorder, when
strong force in ambuscade would attac!
them in the swamp. No enemy appear
ed. however. The Colonel swooned
and was received into the arms of one o
, his aids. His wound was examined by
the surgeon, and found not to be mortal
The ball had struck the breast bone, ant
4 glancing to the left passed out under hi
, arm, leaving his vilals unframed. In
i few months he was able to take the feel
again.
Thus fell what consider, and thin
you will agree with me-one Of the brav
4 es, men the world has ever produced. :
|. Had he been Spartan; his name woul
have been handed down with that {
a Leonidas. Had he thus died in our ow
! Revolutionary struggle. martyr for on
\ country, his name would have been hant
ed down through all future generation:
: But he was poor Indian! His bod
was left to be food for wolves and vulture
while his name is buried in eternal obi,
!, ion. But | shall weary your patience
- | am still. The Rambler.