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.


Down on the border If the v.-. -. ,,
derness of waving marsh and lagoon. |
encirled islands which from the Ever.
giades 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
offspring-a somewhat lazy existence
enlivened by much hunting and fishing,
the only visible means Of support.
Among themsclves these seminoles are
extremely loQuacious, but tho 'sts~egsr
has small chance Of hearing any Of their
stories and traditions unless introduced
by some accepted cheap good white
man."
So, although had heard vaguely of
white saint who had been worshiped by
the forefathers of Osceola three hun
drcd years ago, / could not for a 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. Lucic river
one balmy January night. The flaring
lightwood fire threw out in weirdly
trembling relief the dark background OF
palmetto and moss -draped magnolia
trees, their trunks entwineG with tropi-
cal creepers, in the rear, stretch OF
flashing phosphorescent river; the forms
IF the braves sprawling around the fire,
tic half fscorc of lank battle-scarrcd bcai
dogs skulkiag without the circle, and
the deer and alligator skins stretched on
-<fryfny framcsN gn$cu vfvcci FOCAL color to
the narration.
The full moon, rising yellow and warm
"a the heavy air, over a cypress swamp,
seemed to awaken sleeping memories III
the breast of the wrinklcd old Seminole.
Without my urging he began speaking in
a guttcral monotone, very difficult TO fol-
low. In mixture of Seminole and En-
glish, he unfoldcd 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 forcst-Covcred
peninsula. With Il colony from Minorca
there came a young Spanish priest.
Nothing of his history has survived the
e(Tacing touch Of the years. Without
hesitation, as with q mission plainly re-
vcalcd, he commenced the fearfully peril
| Gus pilgrimage down the east coast
among the scattered Indian villages.
| Although Spaniard and Seminole were
constantly warning, the missionary went
uunarncd by canoes and on foot, south
TO the Great Marshes and west to the
gulf.
His holy zeal and devotion won for MIN
minglng of reverent love and fear from
he Indians, who thus received the strange
'ew story of the Savior of men as q mes
sage from the Great Spirit. For many
gears this herald OF the cross toilcd on,
preaching in the palmetto thatched vii
lagc huts, and healing the sick in won
dcrful manner.
At the last when all had como to love
him. aud his body was bent with cruc
sulrerinGs of score of years denial, the
GIcat Spirit took him to Himself
While attempting to cross the wide
Indian river in the face OF a furious
"northcr.r to minister to n dying con
vert. his light canoe was overturned
And :hus he died, alone with his Goo
and the storm.
On the top of n swelling mound. over
.hadowing the broad lagoon, stands ;
; group of trees, az stately one hundrc,
S4h5apeh elliei tAsin uI brSngh ~, h
pine trees "'
But on the night of full moons in cacl
,uIh.n mp a strange thing happens
"hetlcc tAc surface Of the blue watcr i,
Mep' mo dancing rirplcs by the nigh,
"ind, or whether it is calm and sill
.,;!TuS'i INC plne boushs there sweeps a
m'Sh'y rIsh'nG wind, and they toss and
moan WIN WaIilng and sadness which
','aNcS weep Whoever may hear. This is
."c sp'''' OF the "lndian Father" the
MESSENGER from the beyond, who returns
- c'''n I" watch owe: his beloved
HcmlnolcS, and he mourns because tbo
race Is SO swiftly vanishing.
o"cn III nrIci Is tins tradition, which
",.lo"?li chVci"pcG III a mist and haze of
II"pc. ''l''"h; nevertheless stands out a
p''Sh, an" no!y ni%t'rc from the dark.
'''" vi us 'ii':cS. RALPH ID. PAINE.