Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-08-06
uHDfAN CRUELTY--A THRILLING INCi.
DENT.

An incident occurred at the Key Bis
cayne lighthouse, during the Florida war,
which is perhaps, worth recording. The
lighthouse was kept by "a man named
Thompson. His only companion was an
old negro man; they both lived in small
hut near the lighthouse. One evening a.
bout dusk they discovered party OF some
fifteen or twenty Indians creeping upon
them, upon which they Immediately retreat
ed into the lighthouse, carrying with tneni
keg of gunpowder. with the guns ard ann
munition. From the windows OF the light.
house Thompson fred upon them several
times, but the moment he would show him.
self at window, the glasses would be IN
stantly riddled by rife balls, and ne had no
alternative but to lie close. The Indians
meanwhile, getting out of patience. at not
being able to force the door which Thomp-
son had secured, collected piles OF wood,
which being placed against the door and set
fire to. in process Of time not only burnt
through the door, but also set IRE to the
stair case conducting to the lantern, into
which Thompson and the negro were ccm-
pelIed to retreat. From this too they were
finally driven by the encroachlng tames
and were forced outside on the carpet waH'
which was not more than three feet WIDE.
The flames now began to ascend as from
q chimney some fifteen or twenty feet a.
boye the light. house. These two men had
to lie in this situation some seventy feet a.
bove the ground, with blazing furnace
roasting them on one side, and the Indians
on the other, embracing every occasion, as
soon as any part of the body was exposed
to pop at them. The negroincautiously ex-
posing himself, was killed, while Thompson
received several balls in his feet, which he
had projected beyond the wall. Nearly
roasted to death, in fit OF desperation,
Thompson seized the keg of gunpowder,
which he had still preserved to keep from
the hands of the enemy, threw it into
the blazing lighthouse, hoping to end his
own suffering and destroy the sayages. In
a few moments it exploded. but the walls
were too strong to be shaken, and the ex-
plosion took place out of the Lighthouse as
though it had been fred from their gun.
The effect Of the concussion was to throw
down the blazing materials level with the
ground, so as to produce subsidence OF the
fiameS, ana tnen lHoinPsoh was PSi
to remain exempt from their influence
Before day the Indians were off, and Ihomp-
son being left alone was compelled to throw
of the body of the negro, while strength
was yet left him, and before it purified.
The gunpowder was heard on board rev.
enue cutter, at some distance, which imme-
diately proceeded TO the spot to ascertain
what had occurred, when they. found the
lighthouse burnt, and the keeper above on
top of it. Various expediepts were resorted
to, to get him down and finally kite was
made and raised with strong twine, and SO
manevered as to bring the Line within his
reach, to which rope OF good size was
next attached and hauled up by Thompson.
Finally, block, which being fastened to
the lighthouse, and having a rope over it,.
enabled the crew to haul up couple OF
men, by whose aid Thompson was safely
landed on terra frma. The Indians had az
tempted to reach him by means OF the hight
ming rod to which they had attached
thongs of buckskin, but could not succeed
in getting more than half way uP.-char.
NprS,