The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-17
STRANGE FLORIDA sEMlNolEs.


rible. and often noble. Of the Indian OF
reality little need be said. We carry in our
minds eve the picture Of his degradation
If he slouehes about the railroad statious
OF the far west in an old hat besotted and
sqCalid, we car nut pity him and re-
member the long period Of his glory be-
fore that mercileSs jusgeTGaut. the march
of progress. had crushed rim ike any
other mound OF dust IN its path.
But I would show a composite picture
Of these two-an Indian who. while pos
sessiEg all the romantic interest and finer
qualities of the peacelble Uncas. Is bur
dened with few of the vices cf his depen-
dent western brother: Who hunts, shoots,
and fishes over 2.eo square miles OF ter-
ritory. untrammelled by the in6ian agent
and as free and independent as bird
Of the air. asking cf the white man
nothing save 10 be let alone
Extending over the larger portion Of
southern Florida. from the head Of Lake
Okeechcbee on the north. and for hun
dred and fifty miles south to that point
where the peninsula. narrowing down,
finally slips into the sea. is q region al
most as obscure and mysterious as the
far-famed land of Prester John Here
lie the famous Everglades- hunting
ground OF the Seminole Inoians. Sweep
ing away 10 the horizon and dotted here
and there with elumps or islands of pine
timber the territory gives the impression
of 2 huge green checkerbQard In the
winter season il is a vast prairie of wav-
ing saw-grass, interpreted with rowing
cactus. but when the heavy rains IN the
late sprirg flush the brooks and rivers, it
is usually submerged TO a depth or three
or four feet covering an area Of over 1000
square miles.
Mysterious, silent and seemingly de-
void of life, save where. perhaps. a snowy
crane. standing on one leg. blinks SOL
EMMY in thu sun, or an Indian canoe
glides silently over the placid surface.
this broad expanse, 50 fun of legend and
mystery, strikes 4 nameless terror 10 the
heart Of the traveller as of something
weird and uncanny. 1t is easy to picture
the horrible ambuscades during the Semin-
ole wars; the noisome swamps and impsn-
etrable rnorasses. far in the interior.
which have claimed in the past the life of
many a daring hunter; and one almost
can credit the current tales OF caDtiyes
ncld in bondage and OF black slaves. born
and grown old in the Indians service,
who. it is said, have never seen white
mans face.
AS one stands upon the margin and sur
veys the great lakes. with the strong sun
upon ones shoulders warming the heart
a canoe may suddenly appear on the glas-
sy surface, lending life and color to the
picturesque scene. Darling from out the
shadows Of wooded island. it slips along
as stealthiiy as a black snake. At the
extreme rear Ca post of imminent danger
for the novice) stands a stalwart brown
figure. whose steady stroke with a long
pole holds perpetual Roadway on the
treacEerous craft. A squaw sits at his
feet as motiOnless as a bronze idol. with
a face as fat as expressionless as blank
wall. Two or three pickaninnnies are
punched together near her. like nest of
yellow kittens; and heaped about are
piles of Duckskin. live terrapin and fresh
veniscn, TO be used for trade AT the store
in Miami.
Years ago I learned the character OF the
Seminole tine before the railroad, wad-
ing through the swamps at the north.
plunged across the pine woods Of Dade
county. leaving in its noisy wake groups
of wooden houses and habits of csviliza-
ton: time. in fact. when the little viii
lage OF Miami was almost unheard Of
SAKE by the plume-hunter or itinerant
land-specuiator, and when the entire re-
giOn lay as obscure and dormant. in the
prolonged sunshine, as q bud of one of its
own Spanish bavonets," before bursting
upon the world in the full flower
I ar told there arc people who do not
care for tropical or semi-tropical scenery
and l fird il hard to believe. For my
part. when I wish to picture to myself q
scene of peace and restfulness, I do not
think of the yale of Sharon" or Of the
Valley of Emma" nor yet Of the Concord
woods. SO dear to Ihoreau. but I smut my
eyes and see a broad blue hay cleaning
in golden sunlight. fringeG about by dark
" wooded keys: a gurglinG little river
bounding into It from the Everglades.
and passing on its way a group OF three
modest houses .perched near the point.
and tucked about by tropical shrubbery
like birds in a nest; and nest: and opposite
across the rivera quaint old west IN
dian mansion. staring white in spots
through the luxuriant foliage with long
spacious verandas. cool ard shaded
Derfumed. mellow atmosphere bathing all
while overhead hangs a cloudless sky
Of brilliant blue.
It was here the Indiars used to come
and trade at the time of which ] write
! am told they do SO still but the charm
has long since fed. Where stood the old
mansion. a big. pOmpOus hotel stares out
of hundred blazing eyes over Biscayne
Bay ir. the hot sun The trees are felled
the shrubbery is gone. and the enterprise
that used 70 divert itself In hunting tur-
ties eggs and making starch. has since
laid out streets. built churches. houses. /
shops and wharves Miami is prosperous
and no doubt il is better SO.
The old mansion where TIE little store
was kept. stood on the northern point
and removed. equally about 2fo yards from
Miami river and Biscayne Bay Origin /
ally. It had been the manor-house OF a /
large Spanish plantation. it was low. /
rambling. lir7e-rCck structure NJ two stor- !
les built with massive walls and sur |
rounded by dceD-trellise6 vcrandas over 1
which vines Of honeysuckle and jessarnine /
climbed ia rank prcfusion. The Land. /
gently sioping before il 10 the water 4
nourished; q wealth Of tropical verdure.
j. goo0-sized room on the ground /
fOor-the southeast corner. 20 be exact /
was located a typical country store. Like 4
ali its kind. il carried the usual INSECT /
Ianeous stock Of seTviceahies. from /
shoe strings 10 anchors and from buttons
o. boots. 4 counter extended the whole
length of the room. and behind u rain-
bow shelves Of canned meats gazeG lafItF
DOWN on q collection ~ boxes, barrels
and coils of tarred rope heaTed about
The walls were decorated with Hamples
of game baes. fishing taClle- cartridge
belts and Winchester rifles. chairs stood
about invltingir. and. rarge1 against the
wall outside q wooden heuca-oyer which
usually hung larEe punches ~ ~ bananas
IRE freshea as well as rec0Tdel The care
marks az a loving constituency. while /
over all. perru-stng everything fout-d
an atmosphere ~ TrilEieJ spicy odorH
that cioyed Ike ire p1ipabie hreath n a
,rOpic island.
II the oia mansion 7 occupied a nom
The prorerty-at that time Owned re tha
1orfh-wrs fn solo charge ~ a Esuiienar
.siuca dead whom ! VIII designate 49, NJ
Sd friend the Judge. lie vas SIS "a
Judge. ara e1-lsWFer. and eE-soidIer ~
.he c1nfe5eracy. end Terhaps m0rr-l
never inquired. iIe bad Is strong. lsg1-
ne cosnteaaac.. a,d head 81 s4Fer hair
hat calfTaste1 SHARPLY uitn h,s Eics ~