The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1857-04-09
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Coacoochee's Talk,

the sons of the forest 1t also shows how
the love of friends and relations may dwell
IN the same breast with hatred for foes
how tender the heart may be towards one.
at the same time its vengeance is BURNING
towards another. We shall, ere long. fur,
n'sh a chapter on the philosophy of these
conditions. ...-........'' ......'. ..'-.--r
The talk Of Coacoochee, or Wild Cat,n
to Colonel Worth and to his own people,
exceeds, in point of pathos and deep feeling,
anything we ever heard ....- -. . .
a captive, and in irons, he had been told
by Worth, that he had been brought back
from New Orleans to Tampa Bay for the
purpose of aiding in bringing the war TO p
close at once. He was told that lie might
select five of his companions, who should be
permitted to go to his band, then in the
swamps, and induce them TO come in
" Name the time," said Worth ait shall be
granted but tell you, as | wish to tell
your friends, that, unless thev fulfil your de
mands, yourself and these warriors now seat.
ed before us shall be hung to the yards of
the vessel when the sun sets on the dav An.
pointed. with the irons on your hands and
ieet. tell you this, that we NAV under
stand each other do not wish to friphten
you you are too brave man for that but
what say mean, and I'll do it. 1t is for
the benefit of the white man and the red
man: This war must end, and You must
end it," ..... r.g -. .r.ltE -
Coacooehee rose, and turning to Colonel
Worth, SAID, in subdued tones, I" / was once
boy. Then ] saw the white man afar of.
hunted in these woods with a bow and ar.
row, then with rifle. | saw the white
man and was told he was my enemy. [
could not shoot him as | would a wolf or
bear; but like these he came upon me
horses, cattle and fields, he took from me.
lie said he was my friend he abused our
women and our children and told us 10 go
from the land. Still he gave me his hand
in friendship: we took it; whilst taking il
he had snake in the other; his tongue was
torked like serpent he lied and stunp us.
asked but for small piece of these lands.
enough to plant and live upon, far south, n
spot where could place the ashes of INV
kindred, spot sufficient to lay my wife and
child upon. This was not granted me. I
was put into prison | escaped | have again
been taken you have brought me back
am here, feel the irons in my heart.
have listened to your talk, you and your of.
ficers have taken us by the hand in friend.
ship. l thank you for bringing me back: |
can now see my warriors, my women and
children the Great Spirit thanks you-the
heart Of the poor Indian thanks YOU. We
know but little we have no books which
tell all things but we have the Great Spir-
it, moon and stars; these told me last night
you would be our friend. ! give you my
word it is the word Of warrior, a brave
ehief-it is the word of Coacoochec. 1t
is true have fought like a man; so have
my warriors; but the white man was too
strong for us. | wish now to have INV band
around me and 60 to Arkansas You say I
must end this war Look az these irons ,
Can | 60 to my warriorsl Coacoochee
chained No; do not ask me to see Them.
never wish to tread upon my land unless
am free. If can GO to them unclaimed.
they will follow me in but fear they will
not obey me when talk to them in irons.
They will say my heart is weak, am afraid.
Could 60 free, they will surrender and EN-,
igrate." ..-...-.- ........--...--
He was told in the most impressive. man.
ner that he could not be liberated until his
entire band was collected at Fort Brooke.
Then he might so on shore and meet them
unshackled. He saw that his fate was in.
evitabie. The vessel was two miles from
shore, sentinels were posted in every part of
the shis, and escape by stealth or contry-
ance was impossible. AS the reality forced
itself upon his mind that there were but two
alternatives, he became sad. detected. He
gathered his warriors about him, and select
ed FIVE who were to 60 to his band and in.
form them Of the straight in which their
chief and his fellow prisoners were placed.
Has not Coacoocbee," said he, !" sat
with you by the council fire when the wolf
and the white man was around us9 Have
not LED the war dance and sung the song
Of the Seminolel Did not the spirit of our
mothers. our wives and our children stand
around usi Has not my scalping knife
been red with blood; and the scalps of our
enemy been drying in our campsa Have
! not made the war path red with blood,
and has not the Seminole always found a
homo In myscampl Then will The warriors
Of Coacoochee desert himf Noi U vopy