Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1856-02-13
GBe familg Circle,
THE INDIAN MAIDEN.

Her father was denominated prophet
among the Seminoles, but was also chief
and warrior, and man of great renown
among his people. In the year Of 1872,
he Joined the British forces, and was con-
spicuous in several engagements, and a.
terror to all who heard his name among
Americans. He at one time visited Eng
land, and London paper saidin noticing
his arrival: The double sound Of
trumpet announced the approach of the
patriot Francis, who fought SO glorious in
our cause in America. He was dressed
in most splendid suit of red and god,
and by his side he wore a tomahawk,
mounted in gold"
These things were of course given him
by his English friends, as Indians were
not accustomed to dress in this manner
among themselves, and something Of his
princely bearing and accomplished man
ners may have been acquired by his asso-
citation with English officers, but his noble
form and fine countenance he obtained
from nature herself.
He had two daughters, who are said by
American historians to have been accom-
plished young ladies, who could speak En-
gish with remarkable fuency, as could all
the family, except the mother, who began
too late in life to succeed in learning a
foreign tongue.
During the war, all who were ranged
upon one side were of course considered
enemies to all who were upon the other
side, and the country was full of soldiers
and military stations, open at all times to
attack. At one time a soldier named
Duncan NJ. Krimmer, stationed at Fort
Gadsden, near Miledgeville, Georgia,
went forth upon fishing excursion, and
lost his way in the woods. For several
days he wandered about in the wilderness,
and at length was found by a party of In
dams who were commanded by the proph-
ct FraLcis. He was soldier, and by the
rules Of war, prisoner. and by the Indi-
an code of warfare doomed to die. The
ordinary preparations were made, and the
victim was bound to the stake. around
which faggots were piled that were soon
to be kindled to consume him.
But Milly, the youngest daughter OF
the chief looked on'in saGn ,ss. Why she
should have so much more grieved at such
Il sight now than ever before, we do not
know. 1t could not be the first time she
had witnessed death at the stake, but there
had been no recent battle, and therefore
none of the excitement which would at
tend the capture of prisoners of war on
an ordinary occasion, so perhaps it seem
ed to her a more cruel deed. Her people
had received no recent injury, and he
who was to suffer was not known to have
perpetrated any particular act Of Cypress
ion or outrage. 1t might be imagined
that some particular interest had been
awakened in her heart toward him, but
after circumstances prove this not to have
been the case. A sense of justice and
| svn,natl,,-
prompted her, when the torch was about
to be lighted, to throw herself between
the prisoner and the fatal knife which was
to slay him before the fire was kindled.
and declared that she, too, would die il
he was not spared.
All were astonished at so unexpected
an act, for not a word had been before
spoken to betray her intentions, and the
executioners paused as if peralyzed.-
Seeing there was hope she threw herself
at her fathers feet, and implored his
mercy.
The chief looked long and intently up
on her face, which was very beautiful, and
in silence listened to the tones of her
voice, which were full Of anguish, and
was melted from his fierce anger to yield
to the passionate entreatieS of his child.
The victim was released, and while he re-
manned among his captors, was treated
with, the utmost kindness, and from Milly
received many proofs of the noble and
generous spirit she had at first manifested
in offering herself sacrifice for the life
of a stranger and an enemy.
A few days afterward, Mr.. Kimmet
was ransomed by party of Spaniards,
and soon returned to his friends and his
duties as an American soldier.
Soon after this the American army was
reinforced, and very efficient measures ia
ken to destroy the Indian and Spanish
towns along the frontier. "They march
ed" said the historian, upon St. Marks,
a feeble Spanish town garrison, which
surrendered without firing a gun.
Among the prisoners who thus almost pas
sively fell into the hands of the enemy.
was the prophet Francis and his family.
The principles of honor, gratitude and
humanity, would prompt us to expect that
these would at least he spared an igno
minious death, after the magnanimity
which had been shown by them. 1t is I'M
blushingly recorded, Francis and anoth-
er chief were hung without trial and GER
emony."
They had probably shed much blood
and had long rung the warwhoop through
the wilderness. and fearlessly brandished
the war-club, but it was in self-defense.-
1t might, and probably would have been
bad policy to permit the proud chieftain
to go on free again, chafng with a sense
of the wrongs they experienced, and
would continue to experience, but ii
would seem to US that some way should
have been devised other than to hang the
father of Milly Francis, who had saved
the life of an American soldier, and with
out exacting from him any promise as to
his future course. as their friend or enemy,
had delivered him up to return to his post
and take up arms against them.
The Indian chief was decoyed on board
an American schooner, and his eldest
daughter, supposing it to be British YES
sci, soon came near in her light canoe, but
on discovering her mistake quickly
changed the dip of her oar, and glided
away. The younger was made prisoner
y -