Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-08-26
RELIC OF THE SEMINOLES.
Oranges, Sugar Cane and Bananas in Big
Cypress swamp.

Frank ]. Hinson found two magnificent
orange groves a few weeks ago in the
big cypress swamp of far South Florida.
No man has valid claim to the property,
the groves being in the middle of one
of the most impregnable swamps in the
whole state. Up to ten years ago the
Big Cypress was put down on the map
as "impracticable' and ''unsurveyed."
Then it was surveyed, and islands Of fine
hummock land were found here and
there, but they were not of sufficient size
to tempt anybody. The section lines,
which ran a mile apart. seemed to have
missed the groves, which Mr.. Hinson got
wind of from an old Indian fighter, who
chased the SeminOles into the Big Cypress
and out again during the last Indian
war; On one of these islands during
the war village was found and burned.
Mr.. Hinson, with an old hunter as
guide, penetrated into the swamp and
found an island Of about 300 acres, beau
tifully wooded and containing fully 600
sour trees, all in full leaf and fruit. The
island did not contain a single grove,
but series of groves, some of them be-
ing as large as three acres. 'The fruit is
sour, but it is large and golden. The
trees average twenty-five feet in height"
On this island Mr.. Hinson also found
acres OF sugar cane, evidently planted by
the SeminOles years ago. 1t is Of mann
Banana plants were also found in abun-
dance and heavy with fruit.
Later Mr.. HinsOn penetrated farther
into the swamp and found another land,
richer in orange trees than the first.
Both islands seem to be wonderfully
fertile, trees of all kinds being giants in
size, and other vegetable growth Of the
most luXuriant character. One india rub
Der tree was found to measure % feet
around, while Hye-oak tree measured
33 feet. Wild figs were also growing
luXuriantly. Mr.. Hinson's theory is that
these islands, naturally fertile were. cent
uries ago, the rOokeries of millions of
water fowl, and thus became fortified
to the highest degree of perfection.
When the SeminOles ran away from
the Greeks they selected the richest of
lands on which to build their villages
and to laZily cultivate a few acres of
corn and pumpkins. During the last
war they were driven from place to
place and finally found refuge in the
cred themselves safe, as the Big Cypress
was regarded, even among the native
Indian fighters, as impregnable. Final
ly, however, an expedition was formed
and marched in and attacked the isl
ands, drove the Indians from their vii
lagos and chased them into the saw
grass, where the water was from knee
TO waist Tor several miles, keeping up
running fire, until the Indians who were
not captured or killed had disappeared
1t is thought that these villages were
founded long years before the last In
dian war. as the old fighters. some of
whom are now living tell of the feasts
they made in the villages on oranges
pumpkins and corn. How the groves got
there and, in fact, how oranges got into
Florida, is easily explained. Explorers
who sailed from Spain in the earlier
Those oranges which were not eaten on
the voyage were given to the Indians,
who Toasted on them around their camp
fires in the hummocks Of the state. The
seeds fell to the ground and grew into
trees.-Jacksonville Times-U Union.