Western union. (City of Hannibal, Mo.) 1850-1851, 1851-08-21
Indian Cruelty.
A RfLLlNG iNCID ENT.

An Incident occurred at the Key B.cayne
light house, during the Florida war, which is,
perhaps, worth recording. The light house
was KEEP, by a man named Thompson. His on
ly companion was OH old negro man; they both
lived in ,mall hut near the light house. One
evening about dusk they discovered a party Of
some fifteen or twenty Indians creeping upon
Them, upon which they Immediately retrsated
into the light house, carrying with them keg
Of gunpowder, .ith the guns and ammunition.
From the window. Of the light house Thomp-
son fired upon them several times, but the mo-
ment he would make his appearance at win
dow the glasses would be Instantly riddled by
rifle balls, and he had no alternative but TO lie
close. The Indians meanwhile, -eting out Of
patience at not being able TO :. % the door,
which Thompson had secured, collected piles
wood, which being placed against the door and
set fire TO, in process of time not only burnt
through the door, but also set fire TO the stair
case leading to the lantern, into which Thomp-
son and the negro were compelled 10 retreatp-
From this too they were finally driven by the
encr oaching flames and were forced outsile on
the carpet WALL which was no. more than three
feet wide.
The flames now began to ascend rs from a
chimney, some fifteen OF twenty feet above the
light house. These two men had ~ lie in this
situation, some seventy feet above the ground,
with blazing furnace roasting them Oh one side
and the Indians on the other, embracing every
occasion, a. soon as any part of the body was
expO'ed. TO pop at them. The negro, incau-
tiously exposing himself was killed, while
Thompson received several balls in his feet,
which he had projected beyond the wall. Near.
ly roasted 70 death, in a fit Of desperation,
Thompson seized the keg Of gunpowder, which
ns had still preserved to keep from the hands
of the enemy, threw il into tho blazing light
house, hoping to end his own 'uiferings aud dc.
stroy the savages. In in n few moments il ex-
ploded, but the walls were too strong to be sha-
ken, and the explosion took place out Of the
ligh, house as though it had been fired from
their gun.
The effect Of the conclusion was TO throw
down the blazing materials level with the
ground, SO as to produce subsidence of the
flames, and then Thompson was permitted to re
main exempt from their influence. Before day
the Indians were Off, and Thompson being left
alone was compelled to throw of the body Of
the negro, while strength was ye, left HIN, and
before il purified.
The explosion was heard on board revenue
cutter, at some distance, which immediate J
proceeded to the spot to ascertain what had oc-
Cured, when they found the light house burnt
and the keeper above Oh top Of il. Various ex
pedients were resorted to, to get him down; ant
finally kite was made and raised with strong
twine, and so manGuvered as to bring the linz
within his reach, to which q rop. Of good siz,
YVES next attached and hauled up by Thompson
Finally, block, which being fastened to the
light house, and having 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 attempted to reach him y,
means of :he lightning rod, to which they hat
attached thongs of buckskin, but could not 'uo
ceed in getting more shan half way up Char
.NirS.