Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-03
AMONG THE sE,rrNoLEs.
Peculiar Manners and Customs Of the
Remnant of the Tribe.
Written 81 II. N. Folsom


in the peninsula of southern Florida. In
the inaccessible wilds OF the great ever
glade region there were then existing two
distinct tribes of the great Seminole ma
tion OF southern Indians.
The larger tribe was Seminole prop err,
and lived in what is known all over the
State as "The Big Cypress" dark
swamp stretching across the peninsula
near the northern end Of the everglades.
There were then several hundred of the
warriors of that tribe. The smaller
tribe, consisting of some forty or fifty
warriors, staid on reservation near the
head of Pease creek and the Little Outh-
iacOochee river. The chief of that tribe
was ChIpco.
Chipco was noted character. He had
two sons, Billy Buster and Billy Harvey.
The latter was named tor Gen. Harvey,
tor whom Chlpco had a profound respect
and admiration.
One night l had an opportunity Of max
ing ChIpcO's acquaintance at the little
trading post where lived a man named
Collins, who acted as government agent.
We were out at the little store in the dusk
of the evening, when suddenly two strap
ping warriors came striding up to the
door, and each threw down his pack OF
skins, which he mad brought along to bar
ter for goods. Both grunted out their sal
utatious in broken English, and then seat
ed themselves on log near the store,
which was located near the public road,
in the edge OF little clearing surround
ed by the boundless forest stretching
away for miles and miles on every
hand
AS it grew darker Collins told them
to start fire, and prepare Tor their
camp.
''Chipco comm, chief. Be here soon,"
remarked one OF the warriors, as he col
lected a quantity of dry wood and kind
led a fire.
Noticed that instead OF making a roar
ing blaze, around which they might
lounge and chat, the Indians found a lit
tie hollow, and placing the ends of the
fagots together, they crouched close about
it as if to prevent their light being Obser-
vable at any great distance,
Might, in that latitude, is ever beautl-
full. No matter how stormy the day
may prove, at nightiall the clouds melt
away beyond the horizon line, and the
glowing considerations march in majestic
beauty across the caVernous depths of the
blue sky. Nor is the night dark and MUIR
ky like it Is further north. The sun drops
down behind the low sand ridges, and
dusky gloom but half obscures the land
scape, and fantastic shadows fit about
the dimly visible aisles Of the great pine
forest. On this particular night the moon
just little past the full, rose above the
solid line of hammock to the eastward,
and deluged the drear woods, with
food OF bdued light. ~ tt~
A little lake, tour or i've miles long by
perhaps a mile in width lay 70 the north
east, and in this wonderful moonlight it
looked nike a great vessel OF molten sill
YER, ffinged with serubby pines and
spreading oak trees, dFaped from bottom
to top IN the sombre gray moss that waved
to and fro IN every breeze. Harsh and
dIscOftlant notes OF rare birds and water
fowl came from the reedy marshes, inJOned
by the deep bass notes of an alligator, or
the Selink, clank, clinkHo Of the black
smith bird4e fr.c5 oi li5sTuog
While watching the two savages as
they sat in silence arphni their camp fire
| was a little startled by a deep-Voiced
''HOWdee" at my elbow, and turning
beheld tall, muscular man, of command
ing appearance, with a rather stern cOun-
tenance and understandable air of man
accustomed to command. 1t was Chip
co .9GTbea other two rose at the ap-
proaeh Of their chief and saluLed him re-
specially, saying as few words as posi-
bic, and making themselves understood
by gestures. 80 "a .s9Y
ChiDc0 threw down long buckskin
bag and began to empty nit. What was
my surprise TO see thasthe bag contained
gOphersl There were ten or a dozen Of
the rDlfgh-loOkings old tortoises in the
sack, and il must nave weighed between
100 and $50 pounds. aoAoD4
The old CHEF spoke a few words to Col
Inns and myself, and then invited US to
take seat by the camp ire. We did so,
and then, at a sign from the Chief the
younger of the two warriors, who, as Col
Inns told me, was young Tgertail, a sen
of the noted chief Of that name, arse aud
began to relate the days experience in
the Seminole language. Collins lnterpre-
ted portions OF IL In whispers, and found
that it was quite commonplace, but 1 can
never forget the impression it made upon
me, delivered in the manner peculiar to
the race.
The warrior stood up, STRENGTHENING
himself to mis- full height, and with arms
folded and head erect, he began to detail
the occurrences OF the day. Inc NOON
light fell on his handsome features,
bringing out every detail OF the striking
profile, which would have made a study
for a painter.
In low, subdued voice he began. First
he told of the early start he made, and,
by gestures, indicated that the sun was
just rising. AS he proceeded his voice rose
with the sun, and from time To time he
raised his brawny arm and pointed TO the
quarter of the heavens where the sun
was at the time the incident occurred
which he was then detailing. 1 was lost
in amazed wonder and admiration, but
this was only a prelude. HIS auditors
showed their attentiYeness by occasional
grunts, but not word was uttered until
be had completed his tale. AT the close
he sat down, and the others mildly APP
plauded him by favorable comments on
his speech.
Then the other warrior, who was called
Tustenugge, and who was the rightful
chief OF one OF the petty clans of the Big
Cypress tribe, began in the same manner
and repeated his adventures, which were
similar 10 tue first, because they had traY.
eled together.
Collins afterward told me that this
young man had been defrauded Of his
chieftalnship by political rival, and had
left The tribe and attached himself to
CbipcO's band.
When be had concluded. the chief him.
self arose.
1 can see him now as be stood there in
the moonlight, mis- manly form clad In
semi-savage dress, ana mis- head poised as
proudly as any knight Of old, and the
fierce flashing of mis- eye AS he gazed at
the distant lake Tor an instant, the sill.
very moonlight adding 70 The welrdness
of the scene. lie was then about 80 years
OF age, aud tue firm mouth, high bred nos
tril ana magnificent physique OF the man