The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-17

or the country in which Osceola was
 captured was very level and open; with
 out Few settlers. Indians could be easily traced. IL was not comparable
 with the country south Of St. Augus- | tine 10 hide and sustain his following.
 Tn the neighborhood, and about the same time osceola was taken, there lived man named links very strange man with very strange his- tory was this links. When young
 man he lived In the State of Maine; of
 excellent descent, finely educated. cul- tivated and wealthy. He chose the
 iegal profession and gave evidence of much ability. He entered politics and
 was making his way to the front; took
 his seat In the legislative halls of his state, and gave evidence of a splendid
 and conspicuous future. Suddenly he began to grow fat. and being a tall, slim man the change was very observ- able. From fat he became fatter.
 His friends joked him well. But the line of normality was passed and Jinke became alarmed. His friends jokes ceased to please him, but on marched the fat. He became sensi- tive and annoyed, but fat steadily &C., cumulated. He consulted the doctors and dieted himself. all to no purpose. links became fatter and fatter.
 Mortified and chagrined. the idea struck him to hide himself away in some wilderness. So he. took shipping
 for St. Augustine-then very much out Of the way--then to the country north of that town about twenty miles s; and there he built him a suitable house and made a settlement. He bought negroes and all things necessary to a comfortable but secluded home. And still links continued to accumulate fat. until he weighed. 1t is said, seven hundred pounds. He had but few neighbors; they were far apart and he had little dealings with anyone. When he came to St. Augustine. from his country place, he rode in a cov- cred wagon drawn by mules. When he drove into the yard of his city home, which was surrounded by a high stone wall. the gate was shut before he got out of his wagon: hence few people ever saw MT. links.
 Now when Osceola and his men were in this neighborhood. which was sell dom frequented by Indians, the half starved warriors proceeded to the links house expecting an easy thing of 1t. The negroes reported their com ing to their master who, not the least intimidated, armed himself with a powder keg and lighted candle. As the Indians entered the great hall. they were confronted by Jinks with his seven hundred pounds of flesh, powder keg and lighted candle in hand. asking with the voice of Stentor What the devil do you want?." and commanded them to leave instantly. which they did. not standing upon the order of their going" and stumbling over each other as they fled--never to visit links again.
 OSCE0LA IN a'RIs0N.
 Osceola and his party were taken to St. Augustine and incarcerated in Fort Marion, He was placed in cell near the northwestern corner and being sick man he was put in bed. and given over to the care of pr. Frederick Wee- don. by whom he was treated with the utmost care. A friendship grew up between the doctor and his patient. am proud to say that the doctor is ever the prisoners friend
 After sometime. Osceola was taken to Fort Moultrie s. C.. as the Govern ment thought 1t best to remove him from Florida and at his earnest sol- icitation Dr, Weedon was sent with him and remained with him until his death, which occurred the following December. in about the thirty-fifth year of his age. He was buried near the gate of the fort. Thus perished the man. who. with bloody hands. at- tempted to arrest the march of the in- evitable. and in so doing. cost the Gov ernment more than ten millions of dollars and over two thousand lives of white men. women and children and also fully as many lives of his own people.
 This grave at the gate of Fort marks the termination of tragic life, which filled the hearts of thousands upon thousands with aches, and eyes with bitter tears. No forest flowers nod their fragile heads over the lonely grave in the sand. No lofty pines and magnolias moan and shed their perfume above 1t. No moss- draped oaks. like surpliced priests stretch their arms in mute benediction across It. But only the sand, blown by the untempered Atlantic winds around 1t for seventy years.-only the sand.
 Truly the Indian fin his war-paint is the embodiment of folly.
 Just before his death. Osceola gave the doctor his rifle. clothes and orna-