Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-07-31
A STORY OF The EVERGLADES.
Recalled by the Transfer of Billy Bowlegs'
Refuge to Private Owners.

Recalled by the Transfer of BILLY Bowlegs'
Refuge to Private Owners.
Up to few years ago all that was known
OF that vast inland sea on the southern Dor
der Of Georgia called the Okefinokee swamp
was that it once had been the stronghold of
BILLY Bowlegs" Even those who had
heard the euphonious name often enough
to form some idea of the topography of the
swamp received an entirely erroneous im-
preston Of its character They regarded IL
as mere waste Of malarial waters, like the
Everglades of Florida or the Dismal swamp
Of Virginia. Within the past two years,
however, the invasion Of capital into the re-
cesses OF its cypress and magnolia groves
has revealed a wealth Of resources unsur-
passed and shown that instead of being an
tmpenetrable swamp the Okefinokee is a
type In the quality Of its waters as Lake
Superior.
Away back in the early days Of the ecu
tury, just prior to the Seminole war, Gen
eral Clinch Of Georgia marched into Flori-
dA and penetrated the Everglades with q
regiment Of soldiers his purpose being to
induce the Seminole chiefs to Sign treaty
relinquishing their possessions TO the gov
eminent He pitched his tent In the heart
OF the swamp and invited the Indian chief
tains to a conference at which they were 70
sign the papers ceding the land to the Unit
ed States. The chief Of the Seminoles at
that time was half breed named Smith, q
man of strikingly handsome appearance,
over feet in height and as straight rs an
arrow. This leader, together with two Of
his subchiefA vas standing in General
Cffnch's tent listening TO the reading Of
the deed which took away their lands. At
the conclusion of the reading the two sub
chiefs, who could neither read nor write,
made their marks. Turning to Smith,
who stood in contemplative mood, gazing
with fixed eyes upon the papers before
them. General Clinch asked:
You can write your name, SMITH"
Yes" he replied quickly, but this is
one time when intend to make my mark. :"
Quick as thought the powerful half breed
whipped out long, keen knife, and light
ninRlike buried 1t to the hilt In the heart OF
one Of the subchiefs. then in that of the
other and finally in the breast of the gov
eminent agent, killing the three almost in
stantly.
The soldiers about General Clinch few to
arms and were in the act of making Smith
prisoner when he calmly called to them
to look outside the tent Doing 80. they
found the camp completely surrounded by
a band Of at least 5 900 Indian braves ready
to obey their chiefs command Smith did
not order the massacre Of the company, but
without as much as harming hair of the
head OF General Clinch or any of his sol
dters marched them to the edge of tic
swamp, and in parting said:
Now, General Clinch, you and your SOL
diers may go, but l warn you that If ever a
white man places his foot upon our lands
again he had better beware Of the Semi
noleS."
As General Clinch marched his men away
the Indian braves enthusiastically crowded
about their great chief, and raising him
high upon their shoulders cried out in
mighty chorus, "Osceolai Osceolar which
means 1.-THE rising SUM-" This was the be
ginning Of the Seminole war. and it was in
this way that the half breed chieftain re-
ceived the name by which be is known to
history.
The end of his career Is familiar to all.
The manner IN which he was enticed to,
washington, where he attracted much at
tention and was the observed Of all OBJ
servers" under cover of flag OF truce, and
his conAnemSnt until his death in Fort
Moultrie at Charleston are well remem-
bered ....- .. rs.
Smiths successor in command Of the
Semineles was Billy Bowlegs, chief Of
dimtnutive stature, but undaunted courage.
During the war which followed Bully
found refnse in Okefnokee swamp, and
oneof The principal islands of this inland
sea now bears his name. =. ,. nv
Okcfnokee swamp was until 1890 the
property Of the state Of Georgia An net of
the legislasuxe, approved in October, 1850,
provided for the sale Of the swamp to the
highest bidder, the minimum price beng
4 at 124 cents an acre. When the bids
were opened By Governor Gordon on March
Is, 1890. that Offering 261s cents per acre
was accepted-AtlantaJ journal.