Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-22
THE SEMINOLES IN 1896.
What is Being Done for Them III
Florida.

The Seminoles now number only
about 1900, perhaps somewhat less,
though during the last few years :
large increase among them has been
noted by others and reported by them
| selves. As time has advanced, says
the Jacksonville Citizen, and civiliza-
ton making rapid strides along the
coast, the Seminole has scented dan
ger to all he loved most; and as the
habitatl0ns of the white man came
nearer. he has retTeated before the adj
vancing Toe, going further in toward
the interior o. the state, until now he
inhabits the central portion of the
Everglades, visiting white settlements
at rarer intervals and keeping his
whereabouts and numbers diligently
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 after
them in any manner, though indi-
vidual philanthropists have time and
again manifested an interest in the In
dams warfare. Within this time some
effort has been made to get their edu-
cation and social training we'll under
way.
No government reservation has ever
been set aside for the Seminoles in
Florida, but the governor of the state,
IN 1892, appointed three commissioners
to select 5000 acres Of state lands for
their homes. The general government
las sent an agent among them, DR.. J.
E. Brecht, of Fort Myers, and the Wo-
mans National Indian association has
selected Mrs. Brecht, the Doctors wife.
as its representative among the Iu-
dians. The Woman's association began
its work through Mrs. Brecht before
the government appointed her husband.
the government making its appoint
ment through the efforts of the associa-
ton. The association bought some land
for station, and the government in
time bought of the association, the two
working along tremendously.
In the meantime, the Episcopal
church, through the bishop of the
sothern diocese, w. C. Gray, began
work among the Indians. He appoint
ed a resident missionary, 50 that now
the church, the government and the
humane society are all united in an eff
fort to educate the Seminole
Efforts are being made to teach the
Indians useful, homely arts, and in
this the agents are succeeding. The
woman use sewing machines, ard they
are beginning to learn the use of con-
ventional cooking utensils and table
ware, as we'll as household furniture,
while the men learn the use of farm
tools, carpenters tools, etc. But they
oppose all efforts to teach them En-
glish or to instruct them in the rudi-
ments Of learning or of the Christian
religion.
1t is only recently that photographers
have been able to secure pictures Of the
Seminole. When the first man was
approached and told what was wanted
he said: me shoot white man he take
picture" But gradually the prejudice
10 ~ lis away anu oOluC I'll IuSllJ diS
really anxious to be photographed,
especially the young bucks who, per-
haps, like to show Off their courage in
facing 50 deyilish an apparatus.
Many queer experiences are related
that have made us better acquainted
with the Indian and his attitude. He
has q great dislike to being considered
a meudler or interfering in any way,
and when the Western Union stretched
its wire across the great alpatti
Swamp to connect with the Nassau
cable the line ran through a village.
The chief Immediately moved, because,
as he said, ''Pickaninny shoot down
bottle from the poles, and he dreaded
the consequence even of childish med
lding with the white mans talking
debiliment"
They consider that they hold the
Everglades by right and by treaty, and
the various movements through that
section looking to its ultimate reclaim
alton arouse anxiety and bitter feeling.