The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-09-11

en-, and III manner so as to Illustrate,
partially, the designs of the savages,
and by the providence of God, part
OF the devoted victims, snatched from
swift destruction, were permitted to
escape their intended doom. But as
full account of the bloody tragedy is
intended to be given from another
source, we shall confne,our narrative
to the part acted by the family OF
DIR. Perrine.
AT the time of the attack, the fam
lily were sleeping in the second story
OF their dwelling, and the Ii ghts for
the first time in a number Of nights
had been extinguished. % Mrs. JPer-
rine and her eldest daughter were
still invalids, having been indisposed
and confined to their rooms for some
weeks previous. The first intimation
of danger was the savage war-hoop
and the discharge of rifes,accompan-
led by the falling of glass, as the shots
passed through the windows around
them. This was an awful change in
the quiet stiffness Of that hour; but
the family at once realized their per-
filous situation. The danger was too
near at hand to admit of a doubt
too startling and sensible to be imag-
ined as a dream, or an illusion of the
fancy.
| 1t appears that the dwelling of DR..
Perrine was situated on the edge oi
the island and constructed upon a
pier, 80 that part of the house ex
tended over the water. On top wa
a cupola and underneath cellar. b.
! means of trap door. From 9Th
bathing room there was marrow
: passage under the pier leading to tn
> NIT the influx of the tide to the room
I The passage ands room were nov
: nearly filed with water. At the enc
ofthe passage and extended out ovel
the pier above, was a large turtle
. crawl, constructed by driving palmet
| to posts or piles deeply into the
mari beneath.
Upon the alarm and yell of the In
dians the family instantly sprang from
; their beds and sought concealment in
this bathing room. ?rhe Doctor hav-
ing conducted them hither, left them
) at the door, telling them that he
wouldG Greturn and speak with the In
dams, and see what he could do. lie
, had no means of defense His re-
. peating rifle and pistols were useless
| to him, as he had no caps for either.
: His only hope was parley with them,
: and with great deliberat;on he ascend
} ed again to the top Of the house and
. called to the Indians in Spanish,
} these being of that tribe known in
? Florida as the Spanish Indians,) and
: told them that he was a physician,
| aud they must spare him. Ii had the
!, desired effect for the moment. They
. Listened to his words, gave a shout,
and turned their attacks upon other
, dwellings in the vicinity. The Doc
, tor then descended, drew large seed
chest over the trap-door that led to
, the bathing room, thinking, no doubt,
by secreting his family, he would be
able to manage tie savages and save
himself and them from destruction.
He then returned to the cupalo, and
/, shortly after the attack was renewed
} by the Indians with determination
, not to be again diverted from their
purpose. Seeing that he had nothing
to hope from them, his object then
appears to have been to fasten the
massive trap-door by which he ascend.
ed the cupalo, and prevent their
access to him, or knowledge of his