The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-25
THE eLEEs" of nrLLrs ISLAND.
The Only Human Inhabitant In the
OkefenoIkee swamp.

miles nearer the western side of the Oke-
fenokee swamp than the eastern side.
There are three approaches 10 the Island,
the Haines river route, the Suwannee ca
nal route from the east and the pocket
route from the west. To reach the island
by the first route one starts from Fort
Nudge, twelve miles from Waycross, on
the Waycross Short Line, and reaches
Haines river after a few hours ride in a
wagon, and thence he transports himself
down the river TO the island, distance of
over fifty miles, in canoe. The trip
down the river requires about three days.
The second route is from Folkston, TWEEN
ty-five miles south of Fort Nudge. to
Camp Cornelia, twelve miles, and thence
fifteen miles by canal, and from the end
of the canal about two miles through
jungle and marsh to the island. To reach
the island by the third route, one leaves
bonneville, twenty-seven miles from
Waycross, in wagon for about twenty
miles. and thence through the swamp
about ten miles in canoe. Either route
is travelled with difficulty, and a trip to
Billy's Island, allowing a stay of three
days, requires eleven days by the first
and third routes, and eight days by the
second route. The name "Billy's" was
applied to the island by the people of this
region after Billy Bowlegs the famous
Seminole chief, whose massacre of the
Wilds family, three miles from Waycross,
and other cruel acts against the white
settlers, are matters Of history. After the
massacre Of the Wilds family. Billy Bow
legs and his tribe retreated into the oke-
fenokee swamp, and sought refuge
on Billy's Island, where they re-
manned several months, and then
removed to the Everglades of
Florida, the present home of the de-
scendants of this tribe of Indians. 1t is
said that Billy Bowegs died of malaria
after living several years in the Ever
glades. Mr.. and Mrs. James Lee were the
first white people that ever lived on Billy's
Island. They came from North Carolina,
| and were honest, respectable people. it
was over forty years ago that they remov-
ed to the island, and from that time until
their death, period of over twenty-five
years, they lived happily in their hermit
| age, and never again visited the outside
world. They had some few thousand dol
lars. it is said, and Mr.. Lee, becoming
weary of contact with the world, sought
| seclusion in the Okefenokee swamp.
He was eccentric, and his pecu-
liarities are the heritage Of his
daughter, the only child of his
marriage. Mr.. and Mrs. Lee were reputed
to have been intelligent, fairly educated
| and of good families. Their daughter soon
! grew up into womanhood, and was unusu-
| ally good looking. The girl had never at
tended school and was not taught to read
| and write. There was no other human
residence in the whole OF Okefenokee
| swamp, an area of about 945 square miles,
and there were no preachers, churches,
| physicians, lawyers and courts within
| thirty-five or more miles. Happily there
was no sickness among the family, and
| physician was never really required. The
mode of living with this peculiar family
was of primitive style. They made their
| clothes from the wool of their sheep, and
from cotton goods they purchased from
time to time when Mr.. Lee ventured out of
| the swamp to some convenient market,
| which he did once a year or probably twice
| a year. On these trips he carried with him
| otter hides, bear skins, sheep skins, tallow,
| beeswax and with them he purchased a
few necessaries. The island then, as now,
was hunters paradise. Deer, bear, quail,
| fish and other game were plentiful, and Mr..
Lee was very devoted to his daily outings
| with his gun and rod and line. He cleared
| a few acres of ground around his rude log
! hut, and planted small crops Of corn, pota-
toes, peas and vegetables and started a
! fruit orchard. Hogs, sheep, cattle and
| poultry were raised on his farm. and he
had milk and butter in plenty.
He was often referred to as the
king of the Okefenokee swamp, and after
ward that title descended to his son-in-law.
The family did not possess Bible or any
books, papers and periodicals. Miss Lee
Daniel Lee, a near relative of the Lees,
visited them every few years, and when
| Miss Lee was about 20 years of age, he
married her. They remained on the island,
| and their union has been blessed with a
! family of thirteen sons and daughters.
James Lee and his wife was laid to rest
about ten or fifteen years ago in the Lee
cemetery on Billy's Island. They died
from old age and had never been sick
since they came to the island. A cemetery
was never thought of by the Lees until
the first death occurred, and then a small
lot near the lake shore (Billy's lake., was
selected. This was the first human death
ever occurring on the island so far as is
known. Daniel Lee then succeeded to the
title of King of the Okefenokee swamp.
He built double pen log house for the
| kings palace, and he and his family have
| lived there ever since. A son and
! daughter of the Lees are married and they
live at home with their parents. The death
of two small grandchildren of Daniel Lee
recently caused the erection of two small
mounds in the Lee cemetery. There are
now three families on the island, Mr.. and
Mrs. Daniel Lee and family, young Lee
and family, and Mrs. Lee a grass widow.
| The house consists of two rooms. The
three families, consisting of sixteen souls,
sleep in one room, and the other room
| is the dining room and kitchen. The
surrendered with shade trees, and cab
bage, palmetto and flowers. There is no
other human residence in the swamp.
and the Lees. though possessing no deed
for titles to their farm, are kings of that
| region.
| The American universal geography, by
Jedidiah Morse A. NJ, printed at Boston
in 1893, referring to the Okefenokee swamp
says: 1.-THE swamp is lake or marsh,
called Qua, Qua-Phe-No-Gaw trembling
EARTH, 300 miles in circumference. In wet
seasons it appears like an open sea, and
has several large islands Of rich land one
of which, Billy's Island, the present Creek
| Indians represent as the most blissful spot
on earth. They say it is inhabited by a
| peculiar race of Indians. whose women
are incomparably beautiful. They tell
you also that his terrestrial paradise has
been seen by some enterprising hunters,
when in pursuit Of their game. who, being
lost in inextricable swamp and boys, and
were on the point of perishing, were UNI
expectedly relieved by a company Of beau
tiful women whom they called daughters
of the sun, who kindly gave them such
provisions as they had with them, consist