Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-04-13
JACOB MICHLeR, The SCOUT.
Description Of the remarkable Man Who
Captured the Florida seminoIe>.

Captured the Florida seminoleS.
Two companies of Florida volunteers
acted with the regulars in an expedition,
said Capt James Murphy, of Beverly. v
J.. 10 a Philadelphia Times reporter. They
were a sorry looking set of rdgamuffiu>
alongside Uncle Sans troops The contrast
was striking Nearly all of them shook
with the ague. We're raw-buned had yellow.
rmatiated faces. and were clad in hutternut
suits. Their head coverings were old broad
brimmed hats. Mounted on wretched-look-
ing beasts. both men and animals appeared
d. if they were in the last stages of con
sumption. The morning they came into
Fort Center they reSembled ragged funeral
prnceS>ionS. They bvOuacked near Us at
might. The animals were picketed Ia ropes
the men carried with them and they talked
to their horses in confidential manner
about ratiOnS.
After they had departed across the lake
in tlat-bOatS. Company { was left sole pos
>t4SSurS of Fort Center. About a week
afterward a stranger walked into the m,.S>
room of the quarters of Company {. He
was a remarkable looking man. about
medium height slightly but firmly built.
atIelrtic. >inewy ami active. He WAS
dressed in "A blue flannel shirt, Sky-bluc
0verall> tucked into the legs OF a long pair
ot boots. On his head was a broad white
ttlt hat. His complexion WAS dark. His
eyes were cual-blark. The latter Sparkl,t
Ike diamonds and were deeply penetrating.
His hair was long and heavy. black MUS
tachr covered his thin lips. He carried a
rifle on hi shoulder. and by his side hung
a beaded ShOt-bag ON the other side. >ua-
p .nded from his shoulder was large ham
mock with double flaps.
His name was Jacob Mchler lie was
born in the old city of San Augustine of
Spanish parents and educated for the pre-
ftN>iun of civil engineer. He had been ell
gagged ia surveying portions Of his native
state aud making maps of his surveys. In
his travels he had met Cen Harvey. and
the old soldier had taken 4 great liking Ia
him. Con. Harney deemed MichIrr the
proper person to guide the troops through
the famous live-Oak hummocks. the ever
gladeS. and other hauntS. of the Indians. and
gave the officers implicit instructions to
obey his directions.
One day a mounted messenger from
Fort Myers gave Us orders tu move. The
boa : wcr. manned and We flOated down
the lake Ia the kiS>immee river. where We
met Company l.. with a cruel brrvtt major
in command. We went along the KiSSim-
mer in the direction of Lake Stukpagr,
landed near some timber. went into the
nearest hummurk. and secuted all ,ia,,
This kind Of work continued for about 4 .
month, when the breyrt major. who had
taken a violent dislike Ia Mirhltr became.
insulting and il-tempered.
''Michler. growing tired of the majors .
inSulence. returned Ia Tampa and reported
Ia General IIarney. He asked the veteran
to give him authority Ia raise a regiment of
volunteers. and he would bring every Im-
dian out of the everglades inside of two
months after his command started. lie Of .
frre'l I" pay his own mth. His request was
granted.
''Some time before the departure of com
pany { 10 Fort Myers. there was a great .
shouting and running toward the Fort Den
aud road. The garrison turned out Ia wit
ness Il novel sight. First came a hur>eman
caparis0ned in all the tTappings of wild
Indian chief. with beautiful bead work. leg
gimgS belt, sash and shot pouch. His head
was decked with feathers. All he Irt-led
was the war paint tO make him an Indian
chief in reality. 1t was Jacob Mchler
with his Florida regiment. There was a
whole tribe of Indian warriors. SquawS,
PapooSes and ponies. with camp equipage.
guarded by the long, lean. lank men OF his
command"