The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-19

giades behind the Seminole villages.
Wise old chiefs, among whom was her
husband. Payne, foresaw that War was
inevitable and those who had faced Jack
sons rifiemen on the battlefield had good
reasons to fear the result Of such a con-
fict. The peace party argued that the
whites were trying TO provoke hostilities
that the eager frontier settlers might find
an excuse 10 exterminate the Indians and
steal their lands Therefore, Chief
Payne and his followers were in favor Of
accepting the conditions offered by the
United States commissioners and avoid
| ing the dangerous war by moving to the
Indian Territory. The treaty was made
Aunt Betsy says that she saw the great
chiefs and the white men signing the
paper under large tree in front Of her
husbands home, and she is sure that she
was the mother of four children at that
time. She certainly must have witnessed
this important event, for the facts as she
| states them are in close accord with writ
ten history Osceola. who was the most
influential and picturesque among the
younger leaders, positively refused 10
touch the paper, and he withdrew m sui
len silence 10 the shade OF tree near
where Aunt Betsy sat nursing her baby
He was afterward Joined by Alligator. Mi
canopy Jumper and several other war
ricrs who uspported his sentiments.
''Who knows anything about this hunt
ing ground under the setting sun that the
white says is good. If il is such fair
land and so good. why don't the white
man go and possess it. and let the Semin-
oles alone in their land Of warmth and
sunshine?" said Osceola.
I'VE all know" said Jumper. that It
gets colder where the sun goes to sleep
The rivers are ice and the grass and trees
cannot grow. There can be no hunting
grounds in that dark land. The white
man lies He wants our country. We
were here before he came. Let the white
man 60 to the good land he tells the
Seminole so much about. AS for Jumper.
he was born here by the beautiful rivers,
and here he will stay and die, with his
arms in his hands"
Aunt Betsy says that other young
chiefs talked in the same strain, uttering
their sentiments in a low tone, and that
after a short time they slowly withdrew
from the crowd and disappeared in the
forest. That night Aunt Betsy told her
husband that the treaty amounted 10
nothing and that the war was sure TO
come. Chief Payne said that If she were
right in her conjecture the Seminoles
were doomed. for it was evident that the
white men were determined TO possess all
Florida
There was a bare sembIance Of peace
for the next eighteen months, during
which period many chiefs were kept in a
friendly mood by the payment of small
sums Of money and great promises that
were 10 be fulfilled as soon as the senate
ratified the treaty.
The war party among the Seminoles IN
creased in strength. and Osceola, sup
ported by several other chiefs continued
70 display obstinacy, making little effort
to conceal hatred Of the white people.
Osceola's conduct finally so alarmed Cen
eraI Thompson. who was the Indian agent
ir Florida that he ordered him arrested
After living in chains for SIX days Osceo1a
affected to repent Of his former rebeIlious
attitude and declared himself ready to
accept the conditions offered by the COM
missioners and become the ally and
friend Of the whites for all time
He outwitted his captors in diplomacy.
for there was not a shadow Of truth in
his words and revenge was the only SEN
timent that prevailed in his breast He
proved himself the Roman warrior of his
tribe Thoroughly imbued with unrelent-
ing hatred toward his foes and scor1ing
danger in every form. no chief was bet
ter fitted to avenge the wrongs that his
people had suffered at the hands Of the
eace-- frOotierSDen
Bloodhound9 were used in the great IN
dian hunts that were carried on for seven
wears in the everglades of Florida. The
Southern planters said that there were
more runaway negroes in the swamps
than Indians.
Aunt Betsy proudly voasts that the
SeminoIes were the first abOlitionists in
America. and she thinks history should
credit them with humanitarian ideas in
advance Of the white people Of the north.
This greed for the land OF the Seminoles
and the desire of the southern planters
t. destroy the refuge for runaway slaves
involved the United States in cruel and
bloody war that lasted seven years and
cost the country 100000 and the lives
Of ]. 40 soldiers and 100 settlers.
Aunt Betsy has stood on the field Of
battle. and she has hunsered for weeks
and marched through the everglades with
a child on her back. often within hearing
Of the baying OF the fierce Bloodhound. in
whose white fanzs she knew there was
no mercy. She has seen villages burned
and children torn 70 shreds by dogs. and
vet erratic fortune has left her in her old
49, h.r- 4
proud OF her twenty-three descendants
now fighting for the same flag that float
ed over the ashes Of her wigwam and the
maneled body Of her warrior husband
sixty years ago.
The old woman says that she lived On
the warpath. moving from camp TO camp
with her children after this battle for
seven years. following the fortunes %
Osceola. Billy Bowlegs. and other famous
chiefs. Her old eyes fairly glictered with
rage and she clinched her bony fingers
when she described the conference and
the treachery Of Colonel JessuD, who in
duced OSceola 70 attend the meeting IN
der flag Of truce. solemnly plghting
his honor for the safety OF his distin-
suished foe Osceola was no sooner sur
rounded by the Americans than he was
arrested. The naughty warrior rehUked
General Jesup for his peridy- ard then
presented his naked neck. telling him 70
cut IL and see the blood Of brave man
The Seminoles soon found another leader
and continued the war in defense Of their
country.
The American soldiers had found foe
men worthy of their steel and many gen
erals whose names had commanded VIC
tory on other fields suffered defeat in ta4
sea-.-sT