The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-07-29
osoEoLA AND Silly eowLeas.
A Story OF the Florida Everglades Recalled
BY Recent Transfer OF Land.

A Story OF the Florida Everglades Recalled
BY n Recent Transfer of Land.
Up to few years ago all that was
known of the vast inland sea on the
southern border OF Georgia called the
0kefenokce swamp was that it had
once been the stronghold of "Billy
Bowlegs." Even those who had heard
Of the euphonious name often enough
to form some idea as to the topography
Of the swamp received an entirely erro-
neous impression of its character.
They regarded 1t as mere waste of
nalarial waters, like the everglades of
Florida or the dismal swamp of Vir-
yinia. Within the past two years,
however, the invasion of capital into
the -ecesses of its cypress and mag
nolia groves has revealed wealth Of |
natural resources unsurpassed, and |
shown that, instead of being an impen-
etrable swamp, the Okenfenol<ee is n
great inland sea of very much the |
same type in the quality of its water
rs Lake Superior. Away back in the
early days of the century, just prior to |
the Seminole war, Gen. Clinch, of
ticorgia, marched into Florida and
penetrated the everglades with n regi-
ment of soldiers, his purpose being to
induce the Seminole chiefs to sign
treaty relinquishing their possessions
to the government. He pitched his
tent in the heart of the swamp, and in
vited the Indian chief tains to a confer
ence at which they were to sign papers
ceding the land to the United States.
The chief of the Seminoles at that
time was a half-breed named Smith--a
| man of strillingly handsome appear
ance, over six feet in height and as
| straight as an arrow. This leader, to-
| gether with two of its sub-chiefs, was
standing in Gen. Clinch'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, Gen. Clinch, asked:
"Iou can write your name, Smith ?"
eyes" lie replied quickly "but this
is one time when intend to make my
mark
Quick thought the powerful half
breed whipped out a long, keen knife
and lightninglille buried it to the hi!t
in the heart of one of the sub-chiefs,
then in that of the other, and finally in
the breast of the government agent,
killing the three almost instantly. The
soldiers about General Clinch flew to
arms and were in the act of making
Smith their prisoner when he calmly
1,1 to fbo,, To fcsI sIf flo {.p
Doing SO they found the camp COM
pletely surroun ded by band of at
least 5000 Indian braves ready to obey
their chiefs command. Smith did not
order the massa ere of the company, but
without as much rs harming a hair OF
the head of Gen sral Clinch or any OF
his soldiers, mar ,f,ed them to the edge
of the swamp and, in parting, said:
"Now, General Clinch, you and your
soldiers may go, but warn you that if
ever a white man places his foot upon
, our lands again he had better beware
of the Seminoles."
AS General Clinch marched his men
| away the Indian braves enthusiast.
cally crowded about their great chief
and, raising him high upon their shoul
ders, cried out in q mighty chorus
"Osceola Osceola y which means ''the
5 rising SUM-" This was the beginning
, | of the Seminole war. anCi it was in thi
!. way that the half-breed chieftain re
. aeived the name by which he is known
; to history.
The end of his career is familiar tc
! all. The manner in which he was en-
ticed to Washington, where he attract
, ed much attention and was the " oh
I served of all observers" under cover O.
: flag of truce, and his confinement un
t til his death in Fort Moultrie, at Charles
ton, are well remembered. Smith.
successor in command of the Seminole:
was Billy Bowlegs IL chief of diminu
tive stature but undaunted courage
During the war which followed Billy
found refuge in Ol1efenokee swamp ani
one of the principal islands of this in
: land sea now bears his name. OlSe
I fenokee swamp was, until 1890, the
!. property of the State of Georgia. Al
: act of the legislature, approved in DC
0 tober, 1889, provided for the sale of tn,
g swamp to the highest bidder, the mini
Y mum price being fixed at twelve ant
e a-half cents an acre. When the bid
y were opened by Governor Gordon OF
y March is, 1890, that Offering twenty
t six and a-half cents per acre was nc
! eepted. Atlanta Journal.
0 Learning Chinese.
! People reared in an environment o
Anglo-SaXon custom and tradition hav,
Q always found Chinese the most Difficult
i of all languages to acquire. 1t is no
very surprising, therefore, to learn tina
! the British army authorities have founc
it almost impossible, even by the mos
r persuasive inducements, to get thei
Il offices to undertake the study of tn
mandarin tongue. Ten years ago tn
government offered handsome prizes t.
S any officer who could show satisfactor,
progress in learning Chinese, and nov
o \ reward of two thousand rupees i
u promised to all officers passing evel
S an elementary examination in this dif
= ficult language of monosyllab'es. II
V the United States Chinese is but littl
studied. About ten years ago Iiarvar,
college offered II course of instruction
y in It, and imported Il most imposin,
o mandarin, to teach it, but hardly hal
e dozen students out of the 1,500 ther
= made use of the opportunity. Yet
IS number of Harvard students durin,
Q the last twenty years have gone t
u China after graduation and ''piche
y up the language very handily--Ch