Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1856-08-13
0ScGola.

This remarkable Indian. sometimes
called. PooceU, was born in the ever
glades of Florida, somewhere about
the year 1904. His father was Chief
of he tribe, but not otherwise notori-
Gus than by.his yagabond son, who
spent the earlier years of his life in
most inglorious barbarism. lie was
famou for his sagacity IN hunting,
his agility and strength in the sports
practiced among hi tribe, such as
dancing, racing, wres sting, ect. AS
he grew upzhe enter ed fully into the
grievances of his tribe with the whites,
and when tie ''war of Title other,
wise called Seminole war; com
menced he at once tpok the field in
defense of his fatherland. N lf@.... .
The iSenttnoSeS--the word signifies
runa icays-were tormerly1a part OF
the Creek nation, and emigrated to
to Florida, where they increased and
spread themselves abroad, Huntil they
became a great and powerful people.
As the country became occupied by
whites, the hunting grounds ofthese
'runaways' We're needed for the habi-
tatiorl of the white man, and accord
ingly, negotiations were set on foot
by our government for the territory
they occupied, which resulted iii a
treaty, STIMULATING the conditions of
the REIMBURSEMENT of their title
Here commenced the real difficulty.
the Seminoles declaring that they had
been deceived, and the treaty thereby
vitiated, and tile government insist
ing uponits fulfillment. Negotiation
followed negotiation, for d series of
years, when war was carried into the
homes Of the poor Indians, and one
Of the most Bloody and nlerciless
struggles took place the whites stri-
wing to expel the savages. and the
Indians struggling to maintain and
defend their homes and hunting
grounds. Immense treasures and
much blood were expended, and for
years nothing was won. / l. 49,.
In. the early part of the war, there
arose an athletic noble-looking Young
man, who, by universal consent, was
called to be the tleliverer of his peo-
pie. This was no other than Osceo-
la. With almost, super human
strength and energ y, he Travelled
through the length OF his tribe, en-
couraging' resistance and slaughter to
the whites. With most copsumate
skill he evaded the American auny,
and beguiled it into some fatal alh6ns-
cade, where it fell d prey to savage
cruelty. And when he could no lon
ger avoid taking the field, his pres
euce inspired his brethren, and his
wonderful feats in arms gave heart to
the tirnid, and fired each Brave with
within more determined will. He was
sure t0be where the blows fell fastest
and hardest, The unerring aim of
his rifle, and the exact and deadly
force Of his keen-edged .towakawk,
told. fearfnlly on the ranks Of the
whites, while he seemed to bear a
charmed mail, through which no
American bullet conld penetrate
His name became a terror TO his
enemies, and to his fellow-braves a
countersign to victory and glory.
Thus for years, did the gigastic
mind of this remarkable chief keep
at bay the wealth and wisdom of the
United States, when, at length, in
1888, he fell into asnare, and became
a captive. He was taken to Fort
Moqltrie, in South Carolina, where
his mighty spirit chafed itself in it's
chains, until poor Osceola died of d
broken heart, on the 31st day Of Jan.
uary, 1889, aged about thirty-five
years. Thus persisted, iIl the early
years If his manho ~ ophi ne tba fo,,.