West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-03-05

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The finest ones aud gave the Indian
aquarter. telling him to keep il, as
the oranges were cheap at that.
Others crowded around and the
willy old aboriginal raised to quar-
ter dozen at oace. But this seemed
dirt cheap for such fine looking
oranges, bigger than lin cups, and
there was general rush for them
from every car, while quarters
rained down IN the old Seminole's
hat till ne bad enough to start
bank account. Lots of the crowd
nlled their hats. pockets AMI Cured
their arms IN full until the seats
were ioaded with as fine looking lot
OF the citros fruit rs you ever saw.
and we were all chuckling over uur
good luck in gottisg such fine
oranges to bring home With us.
Nobody took time to eat any till we
started, leaving the Indians with
all the quarters on the train and
smiling grimIy to themselves over
their good luck fishing that day.
1t was the biggest haul of suckers
ever taken in, for when we came to
sample our oranges, we found they
were wild ones and so bitter that
quinlne or disappointed old maid
was strained honey by comparison.
and we had to throw them .awsy.
We got even to some extent by toss
ing them TO the picaninies at future
stoppages. Most Of them needed a
draw string to Their ivory cave any
how, to keep from catching cold in
their kidneys. 1t was q good joke
on the train load of northern news
paper people, who hardly ever get
sold, and We laughed heartily
over it.
These Indians live in the Ever
gladcs and were once a powerful
people, so that short sketch of
them and their great chief, Osceola,
may not be inappropriate here.
Not more than thirty years ago
the biographies in the schools pic
tured the State as Astounding in
inalarious swamps, noxious wild
woods. lagoons full of reptiles, AMI
everglades poopled with hostile In.
dians. The few GeorgIans who were
domiciled there were cut off from
civilization, and remained 80 until
the railroad and steamboat BEGAN
to push their way slowly into its
northern borders. Florida has been
discovered aud re discovered man7
times; has been bought and sold
and banded about among nations
like "a shuttlecock. The United
States acquired final title to it in
1920, but the territory slept on in
undisturbed repose until it was ad
mltted as State in 1915.
Not altogether undisturbed, for
the Seminoles were there, and so
was Osceola. their great. uncompro
missing chief, and it took thousands
Of soldiers and thirty millions of
money to subdue him and the rem
nant of his tribe. At last he was
betrayed, made prisoner, and
died in Fort Moultrie when only
thirty years old. His life work ia
80 identified with the history Of the
State, that it cannot be out Of place
to mention here that he was born
in Muscogee, Georgia, IN 1904. His
father was an Englishman named
Powell, and his mother an Indian
princess, who was the daughter of
chief of the Creeks. His father
~"bhN hthi W ACdu anu WTlLcs ana
in course OF time he removed with
his mother to Florida ard became
identified with the Semlnoles. Be
fore serious hostilities began, it was
known that he was opposed to a
cession of their lands and was a
disturber Of friendly relations with
the whites. Accordingly, his wife
vas seized as q hostage for his &c cd
behavior by Gen. WHY Thorn pson
Of the United States Army. In
threatening language he demanded
her release, and was himself seized
and imprisoned. In few DAYS
they we're both released aud he re.
turned to the tribe with an Indians
thirst FOR vengeance in his heart.
The chief Of the Sominoles was.
however, in favor Of the treaty, and
I gathered his tribe nc the time and
place appointed TO sign it. Gen.