The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-08
WHERE ID IS STILL ID
He LingerS as a Simon Pure
in the Everglades.
STORY OF THE SEMINOLE
Who Is Soon to Be Disturbed
by the Great Father.

ter their condition, the government IS now
taking energetic steps to aid the Seminole
Indians of Florida For full three gener-
|. atoms this remnant Of a once powerful
tribe has made its home in the Everglades
and the wild country surrounding. Num-
bering now less than six hundred, main
tanning tribal purity, following the ancient
laws and customs of the red man, and
wrestling livelihood from forest and flood
by the chase, they form an chronological
study exceeded in interest on this CONT
nent probably only by the Puebios.
An unusually interesting and intelligent
report on these Indians has found its way
into the Interior Department from one Of
its special agents. In the early spring Of
1898 the attention Of the department was
called to the subject by the Florida dele
cation in Congress, and, aided by others
who were interested in the subject, move
ment was started to extend the Seminoles
the same privileges that have been given
! other tribes. From time to time Congress
! has made meagre appropriations for civil
| lizing and educating the Seminoles. In 1891
| the state of Florida donated 5000 acres Of
| swamp-land for their Use. and appointed
| commission to allot it, but this effort was
| futile as far as actual results are concern
| ed In the same year the Woman's Ma
tionaI Indian Association took up the mat
! ter and erected a mission at a point about
! twenty-five miles from the nearest Indian
settlement. There they built church.
! schoOlhouse and other necessary buildings.
! Shortly afterwards the government sec
onded their efforts by the erection of a
| sawmill and some additional buildings, and
! Finally brought to a realization of the
actual condition, the Land Office was call
! ed into consultation, and a special agent
was sent to Florida to investigate and re-
port upon the pracucability of locating
these Indians upon permanent home
steads and gradually bringing them
to the ways of civilization. The
agent has made and exhaustive
report to the Land Office, which
is interesting aside from it's bearing upon
the final disposition of the Seminoles. He
has departed widely from the routine of
government reports and made valuable
addition to the scant literature relating to
this interesting people, their customs, ira
ditiOns, and religion. AS result Of his OBJ
servations and a wide experience among
the Indians of the West, he arrives at the
conclusion that the Florida Seminoles are
by far the best type of aborigines extent
retaining not only purity of race but most
of the tribal forms and beliefs of the
primative Indian.
With the circumstances that forced the
| Seminoles TO their present haunts most
J persons are familiar. The long and bloody
war that followed the attempt TO enforce
what is called the treaty Of Payne's Land
ing in 1892, a treaty that was not made
with the consent of the Seminoles, and
| since acknowledged to be fraudulent, is
thrilling chapter of history. The whole
Seminole nation arose, and there ensued a
seven-year war that cost the government
100000. Overwhelmed by the superior
number of troops, the Indians were driven
step by step towards the southern end Of
the Florida peninsula, and finally within
the Everglades. There they defied the
troops. The recesses of this dark inland
sea, its tortuous channels and gloomy for
ests were impenetrable TO even the train
ed woodsmen of the state troops. Eight
expeditions were organized, and after some
heavy losses the remnants of the tribe
were eventually forced to the cypress
swamps Rewards were offered for their
capture. but all efforts in this direction
proved futile, a truce was finally arranged
under which the Indians were allowed to
return 10 the hammocks and former set
Elements. where they are now living.
The report states that at the very outset
Of his Investigations the agent was forced
10 the conclusion that 1t would be an act
of great injustice and cruelty to remove
the Florida Seminoles to the reservations
in the West Nearly three-quarters of a
century of residence in their present home.
undisturbed by the federal authorities. has
led them 10 look upon the lands as their
own. - az q d
The family relations Of the Seminoles are
peculiar, differing largely from the other
tribes in that the mother is recognized as
representing the family and owning the
children. The law of consanguinity N
marrying is strictly observed, no one be-
ing allowed to marry into the clan to which
she belongs. no matter how remote the re-
iationshiQ- Their tribal laws are very
strict. and there is no appeal from the de-
csi7n of the elders in council. The free
dom Of their recent history from crime is
evidence OF the efficacy of the laws. Mr..
Duncan in his reports states that murder
and theft are unknown. and they are
scrupulously honest and truthful both in
all dealings among themselves and with
the whites. Their government seems 20
he directed mainly towards preventing the
Influences of civilization. Intercourse with
the whites in relation 10 all civil, educa-
tonal. and legal matters i strictly for
hidden. Too much familiarity or talk
with the white man IS met with severe
punishment. one penalty for this offense
/ being the cropping Of the ears of the rec
I reant. wailt marrying any but an Indian
is punishable with death
Among other beliefs that have gained
credeuce II connection with these Indians.
i the idea thar they sGu hold negroes as
slaves in their homes in the recesses Of -he
swamp Indeed. the yellow press has from
time 20 time printed startling stories OF
the slaves Of the Seminoles with all the
proper trimmings of whipp.ng-posts and
iudescr.hable crueities. This subject was
Investigated very carefully. with the result
thai among them were found but Two COL
ored people, an aged women known as
''old Lucy" and her son Dixie" These
are the last of the so-called slaves. though
prior 20 the war mid form Of slavery did
eN.sc- Old Lucy was captured when ,
child. and by the laws Of me Sa-ni-3.es all
her children were slaves 81 tha different
members ~ the family which owned aer
When The youngest Of the family. however
reaches majority, the trihal law declares
the slave free Old Lucy was freed many
years ago. while her son Dixie was MANN
United some years since by coming - age
of his oweur. This sisvry SENS .o1,ske
the form Of guardianship. rather than
bondage. the slave being wei cared for