The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-04-07
The Fate of Osceola.

Since the days of Ponce de Leon
and fernando De Sofa, the Seminole
Indians have been an important fac
tor in the history of Florida. They
occupied the southern half of that
beautiful peninsula and were noted
for their bravery and jealous attach
lnent to their native land. Under
their Spanish rulers they enjoyed
peace, and their rights had never
been restricted. But after the trans
fer of the territory to the United
States in 1891, their trouble began
Soon after this emigrants began
pouring into the new territory from
the older states. AS the United
States had not defined the limits of
settlement, or of the Indians pos
sessions, serious trouble soon arose
between the settlers and Indians in
r. Sard to their respective rights.
The Indians protested against the
and their stock range. A bitter ami
mostly was engendered between the
races, which soon eliminated in open
hostilities. The Indians began to
kill the whites. and very soon a state
OF war was declared. The United
States sent down troops to proceed
against the Indians several forts
y ere built and garrisoned, and sew
cral battles were fought, in which
the savages were defeated, and took
refuge in the everglades, and other
large swamps. Among The several
chiefs OF the tribe was OsceOla,
noted for his proves as a warrior
ana great influence over his tribe.
History records that he was be-
tiayed into the hands Of his enemies.
Eut this much is certain. He, in or
kder to try to reach some amicable
agreement with the whites, went into
u,t OF the forts, accompanied by a
! few of his tribe, under a white flag,
which is an emblem Of peace and
protection, according to the usuages
o. war. After the interviews had
ended he declared his wish to de
rart when he was told that he must
consider he and his friends were
prisoners OF war, OF course, he was
surprised and disappointed, Very
soon he and his companions were
ton, South Carolina where they were
confined for while in the city Jail.
Very soon after their arrival OsceOla
was taken sick and Dr. A. G. How
ard, who was in charge of the Marine
! hospital, was requested to visit him.
He visited him and did what he
could. but without avail. He died
after they had been removed to Fort
! MOultrie, seven miles east of Charles
ton, on Sullivan island Long years
after, Dr. Howard in referring to the
incident. said: Il found Osceola to
be a man of strong character. His
face indicated intelligence. and he
was courteous and dgnified to a
marked degree. | was much i'm
pressed with his personality" TIC
the right of the main gate into Fort
Moultrie. near the wall of the fort
his body reposes. A simple marble
slab. on which is inscribed "Osce
ola" marks his last resting place
small weeping willow was bend
ing it's boughs over the grave. fit
ting emblem of his sad and untimel,
fate. The United States forced thu
majority of the tribe to settle in thu
Indian territory. where they are in
cluded now among the five civilized
tribes. A remnant fed to thu
E swamps in southern Florida, wher,
, they are today. the government hav
, ing never molested them. Those il
!, the territory have made more ad
vancement toward civilization thar
those left behind.
JONvADn