The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-04-15
WORK AMONG THE SEMINOLES.
Their Slow Progress In Civilization
What the State Is Doing for Them.

what the State IS Doing f0r Them.
PALM BEACH, FLA, March H.
Only a remnant of the great Seminole
Indian tribe is now to be found in
Florida, where, sixty years ago, they
played such sad havoc among the
Americans who had goaded them to a
desperation, which took the form Of
the frebrand and the tomahawk.
Their home is in the Everglades and
Big Cypress Swamp, and the tribe now
numbers only about 1900, perhaps
somewhat less. though during the last
few years there has been a large in
crease among them.
They are shy and suspicious of the
whites, naturally; especially are the
older ones reserved. Young men and
women and boys are freer, seeming to
be more approachable, but tradition is
strong among them, and the majority
follow the example Of their elders. A
few whites, however, have access to
their villages and camps, and having
gradually won the confidence and es-
TEEN of the Indians, the intercourse
between the two races, while limited,
is friendly and ever cordial.
For many years after Osceola's cap
ture the Indians regarded the whites
with very bitter hatred, and their re-
fusal to leave this State for the West
ern reservation furnished by the Uni
ted States Government augmented the
mutual ill-feeling between the two
factions. They have steadfastly re-
fused to leave Florida, and have kept
their homes in the dismal Businesses
of swamp and creek, living on game,
fish and wild fruits, supplemented by
pumpkins, peas, corn and potatoes
raised by themselves. During the
last two decades, however, they have
somewhat overcome their spleen, and
they have been in the habit of making
frequent trading journeys into the
coast towns Of both the eastern
and western parts of Florida. They
bring in game, such az venison and 60
pliers and %terrapin, and feathers and
skins, exchanging them for clothing,
cloth, cheap watches, beads, and, when
they could get it, whiskey.
AS time had advanced, however,
and civilization has been making rap
id strides along the Florida coast, the
Seminole has scented danger to all he
loved most, and as the footsteps and
habitatious of the white man came
nearer, bringing enemies to his race
and tribe, he has r~etreated before the
advancing foe, going further in to-
wards the interior of the State, until
now he inhabits the central portion Of
the Everglades, visiting white settle
ments at rarer intervals, and keeping
his whereabouts and numbers diligent-
ly concealed from his paler brothers.
Only during the past five years has
any attempt been made either by
| Church, State or General Government
to better their condition or to look at
ter them in any manner, though sew
eral individuals have time and again
manifested an interest in the Indians
welfare. Within hat time, though,
considerable effort has been kept up
to get their education and social train
ing well under way.
No Government reservation has ever
been set aside for them in Florida,
but the Governor of the State has ap-
pointed three commissioners to select
5000 acres Of State lands for a reser-
walton for them. The General Gov
eminent has sent an agent among
them, DR.. j. E. Brecht, who is loca-
ted at Fort Myers, and the Woman's
National Indian Association has Sc
lected Mrs. Brecht, tie doctors wife,
as its representative among the In
dams. It must be said, however, that
the Woman's Indian Association be-
gan it's work through Mrs. Brecht be-
fore the Government appointed her
husband, the Government making his
appointment through the efforts of
the efforts of the Women's National
Indian Association. The Association
bought some land for a station, and
the Government in time bought of the
Association, and the two work along
tremendously, each represented by DR..
Brecht and Mrs. Brecht respectively.
In the meantime, the Episcopal
Church, through Bishop Gray, of the
Southern Diocese of Florida, began
work among the Indians. He appoint
ed a resident missionary, so that nov
the Church, the State Government
and the humane society are all uni
ted in an effort to educate the Semi
mole.
Over 400 acres of land, 43 miles
southeast of the town of Fort Myers,
and located heal the Everglades, COM
prise the Indian station of Florida.
Here DR.. and Mrs. Brecht and Mr..
Gibbs, the clergyman, pursue their la
bors.
Besides a dwelling for the instruc-
tors have been built a large house es-
pecially for visiting Indians, a black
smith shop, a saw mill operated for
the Indians exclusively, ard needful
%outhouses. A large garden is cult
waited, wagons and horses are kept for
use, and, whenever possible or practi-
cable, the Indians are pressed into SER
vice, that that they may have the
benefit of the experience. At first
they were very shy, refusing eve to
cross the grounds of the agency, but
now they will come in to "help' fire.
~quently. They buy of the agents and
agency institutions things useful and
convenient; several bought wagons,
and when these are out of repair they
bring them them in to the blacksmith
and assist him i%ntelligently in the
work Of mending. They also use gar
den tools, and seem to like the buzz
and whirl of the little saw mill, and
are becoming useful in many ways in
it's operations. The hope is entertain
ed that by teaching them useful meth
DDS of self-hclp first, they may be
gradually approached for Their purpos-
cs. Indeed, the workers have had to
H. T.