New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-08-04
Indian Crueity-A Thrilling Incident.

An incident occurred al the hey BlScayne
loht house during the Florida which Is perhaps
worth recording. Tie lighthouse was Kept Oy
man named Thompson. It's only companion was an
old negro man they both lived IN small hut near
mo Tght-house One evening about dark they dis
covered a party OF some hiteen or twenty indians
creeprr upon them, upon which tncy Immediately
refrtated INTO the lighthouse. carrying Win lheih
keg If aunpOwder. with the guns and ammunition
From the windows OF The lighthouse thompson
fred upon them several times, but me inoneu' ne
would show himself az the WINDOW: the glass;
would be instantly Tldded by rife balls, ana he hdd
rn alternative but TO lie close. The Indians meah-
yhile getting out OF patience ~ not being aoe 20
force The door V hich Thompson had secured, col
ected piles OF wood. when, BEN place. dsd!ist e
Goor and set FIRE to- IN process OF time not OILY 0urhl
through the door. but also SET IRE 10 the staircase
conducting 70 the lantern, INTO winch thompson
ana the negro were compelled to retreat FROM
this too they were finally driven 0y the ehcfoach-
ing flames and were forced OUTSIDE on the pdldpe4
Nail which was not more than three feet vide
The flames now began TO ascend ~ from chIh
ney. some fifteen or twenty ieet ABOVE the HeHl
house. These men had 70 he IN TINS sudllo,l, some
seventy feet above the ground with blazing tulhace
roasting them on one side, and the inolus on she
other embracing every occasion, a. soon a. any par
o the body exposed, 10 pop a tlelh ne nc
mcautlOusly exposing himself. vas Alileu' 49,
Thompson received several Dails IN Ms iev1' WIN
he had projected beyond the wall <,--....,,
Nearly roasted 10 death and IN it oi cespeI d1iOl'
Thompson seized the keg Of gunpoNdef, winch nc
bad still pIeSerN Ell 10 keep from tle He4iu9 Va -
euemy threw II into the blazing lighthouse hoplIs
to end ms own suferngs and destroy Inc say So
H. q few moments L exploited. cut the walIs mere
too srong to be shaken and the explosion took pars
out Of the light house - though j LaA Oee'' HiS1
from gun. -. s,,,-,
The effect ofthe conclusion was 10 lhro" uoMA
the blazing materials level with the ground 70 = "
prCcuce >lIbSldence Of the flames ana theh honP-
son was permitted 10 remain exempt rom tleH IN,
auence. Before d.y the Indians were On, an.
Thomson being left alone. was compelled 70 thIo"
of the BODY OF the negro While strength was ieiI hl'
and before II purified 49,, -. .o,-s,,,s
The grnHo@der was heard on board revenue
cutter al some distance which immediately pIoceed-
"a ~ the spot 10 ascertain what had occurred, "heii
thew found the lighthouse burnt, and the keeper
abore on top OF H. Various eIpedients were resoI'
81 TO- TO get hm down and finally kite was MADE
and raised with strong twlne and 50 manGuvred o.
10 brIg the line within b. reach. 70 when rope oI
good size was next attached ard hauled up oy
Thompson.
Finally block vhichbein fastenei 70 the Ign -
house, and having rope TO IT, enabled 1,s cIe~ ~
haul UP couple OF men, by whose ala nom. SUI
was safely landed on feTTG JfrDlG.
The Indians had attempted 10 reach nun oy means
@. the lightning ROD. 70 which hey na1 a'.s.ne.
thongs 0: buckskn but could not succeed ~ gems
more than bsli way up