The Portland daily press., 1896-07-24
THE sEMINoLEs IN 1896.
What is Being Done by Them.
(Jac ksonville Citizen.)

\cdo AoOAtlllo OlUlZ6U.
The Saminoles now number only about
|. 500 perhaps somewhat less, though dur
ing the last few years large increase
among them has been noted by others
and reported by themselves AS time
has advanced, and civilization making
rapid strides along the coast, the Semi
mole has scented danger to all he loved
most; and as the habitations of the white
man come nearer, he has retreatsd before
the advancing foe. going further in to-
ward the interior of the State, until now
he inhabits the central portion of the
Everglades. visiting white settlements
at rarer inter yais and keeping his where
ahouts and nun bers diligently concealed
from his paler brothers.
Only during the past five years has any
attempt been made, either by church.
$ tate or general government to better
their condition or to look after-them
n any manner, though individual phil
anthropists have time and again mani
fesad On interest in the Indians warfare
Within this time some effort hns been
training we'll under way.
NO government reservation has ever
been set aside for the Seminoles in Flori-
da, but the governor of the State, in 1892,
appointed three commissioners 60 select
), 600 acres of State lands for their homes.
The general government has sent an
agent among them, DR.. j H. Breoht Of
Fort Myers and the Womans National
Indian Association has selected Mrs.
Breont the DOCTORS wife, as its represent
tative among the Indians. Tho Woman's
Association began Its work through Mrs.
Brecht before the government appointed
her husband, the government making Its
appointm ent through the efforts of the
association. The association bought
some land for a station, and the govern
| ment III time bought Of the association,
| the two working along harnonlously.
n the meantime, the Episcopal Church
through the bishop of the Southern Do
cose, W. O. Gray, began work among the
indians. He appointed resident mis-
eminent. and the humane society are all
| united in an effort to educate the SEMI
mole.
Efforts are being made to teach the
Indians useful, homely arts, and in this
the agents are succeeding. The women
use sewing machines, and they are begin
ming to learn the use Of conventional
COOKING utensils and tableware as well
as household furniture, while the mon
learn the use of farm tools, carpenters
tools, etc. But they oppose all efforts
to teach them English or to instruct them
| in the rudiments Of learning or of the
Christian religion.
| 1t is only recently that photographers
have hean able to secure pictures OF the
Seminole. When the first man was ap-
preached and told what was wanted, he
said: Me shoot white man he take pic
ture." But gradually the prejudice is
dying away and some Of them are really
anxious TO be photographed, especially
the younger bucks, who, perhaps. like to
show off their courage in facing so devil
ish an apparatus.
Many queer experiences ore related
that have made us better acquainted
with the Indian and his attitude. He
has great dislike to being considered a
meddler or "a interfering in any way,
and when the Western Union stretched
its wire across the great halpatti (swamp)
to connect with the Nassau cable, the
line ran through village. The chief
Immediately moved, because as he said,
"Pickaninny shoot down bottle from
the poles, and he dreaded the conse-
quepco even of childish meddling with
the white mans talking debilment.
They consider that they hold the Ever
glades by right and by treaty, and the
various movements through that section
loo king to it's ultimate reclamation
arouse anxiety and bitter feeling.