The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-12-04
AMONG THE SEMINOLEs.
The Pathetic Tale They Tell of the
First White Missionary.

ShSs w 01J0 V1lSSlOu6TY.
Down on the border of the vast viii.
derness of waving marsh and lagoon.
encirled islands which from the Ever.
glades of Florida is the Seminole Indian
village of Tallafagesse half hidden 10
the green hammock. Here Chief Tom
Tiger and his band pursue the even tenor
OF domestic life with their consorts and
oftspring-a somewhat lazy existence
eniiyened by much hunting and fishing,
the only visible means of support.
Among themselves these Seminoles are
extremely loQuacious, but the stranger
haAsmall chance Of hearing any Of their
stories and traditions unless introduced
by some accepted cheap good white
man."
SO, although l had heard vaguely of a
white saint who had been worshiped by
the forefathers of Osceola three hun
drcd years ago, could not for long
time find any authority in the person of
IN Indian narrator
at last the tale was told me by old
Wauksemicco, the patriachal chief who
was murdered year ago. We were in
hunting camp on the ST. Lucie river
one balmy January night. The farng
lightwood fire threw out in weirdly
trembling relief the dark background OF
palmetto and moss-draped magnolia
trees, their trunks cntwined with tropi-
cal creepers, in the rear, stretch OF
flashing phosphorescent river; the forms
the braves sprawling around the fire,
the half-score of lank battle Scared bear
dogs skulkiag without the circle, and
The deer and alligator skins stretched on
drying frames garcu vfvcd local color to
the narration.
The full moon, rising yellow and warm
10 the heavy air, over cypress swamp,
seemed to awaken sleeping memories in
the breast of the wrinkled old Seminole.
without my urging he began speaking in
a gutteral monotone, very difficult TO fol-
low: In mixture of Seminole aud En-
glish, he unfolded the story which have
tried to outline.
The wonderful visitation took place
;hree centuries ago, when the fort and
few coquina horses of st. Augustine form
cd the only town in the forest covered
peninsula. With colony from Minorca
there came young Spanish priest.
Nothing of his history has survived the
euacing touch of the years. Without
hesitation, as with mission plainly rc-
vealed, he commenced the fearfully peril
ous pilgrimage down the east coast
among the scattered Indian villages.
Although Spaniard and Seminole were
constantly warning, the missionary went
unharncd by canoes and on foot, south
to the Great Marshes and west to the
gulf.
His holy zeal and devotion won for him
9 mingling of reverent love and fear from
Tho TnIinnc xx,1,D ~
'ew story of the Savior of men AS mes
sage from the Great Spirit. For many
years this herald of the cross toilcd on,
rrcaching in the palmetto matched viii
laSe huts, ana healing the sick in Q won
derful manner.
AT the last when all had come to love
iim. aud his body was bent with cruel
sulferings of score of years. denial, the
Great Spirit took him to Himself.
While attempting to cross the wide
indian river i'll the face OF furious
''norther,H to minister to a dying con-
vert, his light canoe was overturned.
And thus he died, alone with his God
and the storm.
On the top OF swelling mound. over
'hadowing the broad lagoon, stands n
group of trees, az stately one hundred
n;no deSoaRtgR tbsir us bFanGh 9p h;
But on the night of full moons i, o.o,,
u1nth w1 a strange thing banncns
Mnet'ier the surface of the blue watcr %
Meb' INTO dancing ripples by the MOL,
"inu, ,T, or whether it is calm and .t;m
lnrGugh the pine boughs there sweens '.,
nlgh'y rushing wind, and thew toss an,i
moan with a wailing and sadocs, wh;nS %
makes !, weep whoever NAV hear, Th;s -
,"ssl mc spirit OF the 'lndian Father" the
messenger u from the beyond, who returns
= earth to watch over his belovnI
"an 'e,ninolcs, and he mourns because tba
ace Is SO swiftly vanishing. Wv
,ti," Iooa 10 Driei is this tradition, which
,mo3n ,no,n ehVel"ped in mist and haze n
~, Its'.tioh, nevertheless stands out n
osS :au ,io!y picture from the dark.