Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-09-13
A STORY OF THE EVERGLADES.


Recalled by the Transfer Of Billy Bow.
legs Last Refuge to Private Owners.
Up to few years ago, says the At
lanta Journal, all that was known Of
that vast inland sea on the southern
border of Georgia called the Okefeno-
kee swamp was that it had once been
the stronghold Of "Billy Bowlegs."
Even those who had heard the eu.
phOnious name often enough to form
some idea as to the topography of the
swamp received an entirely erroneous
impression of its character. They re.
garded it as mere waste of malarial
waters. like the everglades of Florida
or the Dismal swamp of Virginia.
Within the last two years, however,
the invasion of the capital into the
recesses OF its cypress and magnolia
groves has revealed a wealth of nat
ural resources unsurpassed and shown
that, instead Of being an impenetra-
BILE swamp the Okefenokee is a great
inland sea Of very much the same
type In the quality OF its waters as
Lake Superior.
AWAY back in the early days of the
century, just prior to the Seminole
war, Gen. Clinch of Georgia marched
into Florida and penetrated the ever.
glades with regiment of soldiers, his
purpose being to induce the Seminole
chiefs TO sign treaty relinquishlng
their possessions to the government
He pitched his tent in the heart of a
swamp. and invited the Indian chief
talns to a conference at which they
were to sign the papers ceding the
land to the United States. The chief
OF the Seminoles at that time Was
half-breed named Smith-a mar of
strikingly handsome appearance, over
six feet In height, and as straight as
an arrow. This leader, together with
Two OF his subchiefs, 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 subchiefs, 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:
''You can write your name,
Smith?"
yes" he replied quickly, "but
this is one time when l intend to
make my mark"
Quick as thought the powerful half
breed whipped out long, keen knife,
and, lightning like, buried it to the
hjlt in the heart of one of the SUBJ
chiefs, then in that of the other, and
finally in the breast OF the govern
ment agent, killing the three almost
instantly.
The soldiers about Gen Clinch flew
to arms. and were in the act OF max
ing Smith their prisoner when he
calmly called to them to look outside
the tent Doing So they found the
camp completely surrounded by
band OF at least 5000 Indian braves
ready to obey their chiefs command.
Smith did not order the massacre of
the company, bnt without as much
as harming hair of The head of Gen.
Clinch or any or his soldiers, marched
them to the edge OF the swamp, and
in parting said:
'Now, Gen. Clinch, you and your
soldiers may go, but warn you that
II ever a white man places his foot
upon our lands again he had better
beware of the SeminOles."
AS Gen. Clinch marched his men
away the Indian braves enthusiast
tically crowded about their great
chief and raising him high upon their
shoulders cried out IN mighty
chorus, "Osceola! Osceola!" which
means "the rising sum-" This was
the beginning of the Seminole war,
and it was in this way that the half
breed chieftain received the name by
which he is known to history.
The end of his career is familiar to
all The manner in which he was
enticed to Washington, where he at.
tracted much attention and was the
observed of all Observers" under
cover Of flag OF truce, and his con-
finement until his death in Fort
Moultrie, at Charleston, are we'll re.
membered.
Smiths successor in command of
the Seminoles was Billy Bowlegs, a.
chief Of diminutive stature but un-
daunted courage. During the war
which followed Billy found refuge in
Okefenokee swamp, and one of the
principal islands Of this inland sea
now bears his name.
Okefenokee swamp was. until 1890,
the property of the State of Georgia.
An act of the legislature. approved
in October, 1889, provided for the
sale OF the swamp to the highest
bidder, the minimum price being
fxed at l22 cents an acre. When
the bids were opened by Gov. Gordon
March IS, 1880, that Offering 264
cents per acre was accepted.
Big Endless Chain.