The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-05-28
THE CRAVE OF A
SEMINOLE INDIAN
GREATEST CURIOSITY EVER DIS.
COVERED IN THE FLORIDA
EVERGLADES.
miami Metropolis.)


A few weeks ago a representative
of the Metropolis, while passing
through Fort Lauderdale,i was inform
ed that there were many Indians in
that vicinity In highly excited state
OF mind. making many threats, and ex.
pressing much displeasure because
the grave OF member of their tribe
had been discovered and robbed. Ii
was impossible to obtain authentic in
formation on the subject. as those who
knew anything of the affair were very
cloSe-mouthed about il. 1t was learn
ed though. that representative OF the
United States government arrived in
Fo.t Lauderdale and was making an
investigation. Ii was afterwards re-
ported that the body had been return
ed to the Indians, but from the follow
ing from the Times-Union, it would
seem either the body was not returned
or that it was recovered and shipped
north. The Times-Union says:
An Indian in his grave, the greatest
curiosity ever discovered in the Ever
glades in Florida, was in Jacksonville
yesterday being prepared for shipment
to Atlantic City, n J.
This great curiosity was found by
II. NJ Neal, well-known resident of
West Palm Beach, about two months
ago, just seventy-five miles west Of
that place.
The coffin, or grave, rs the Indians
term it. is made of cypress timbers,
a half-tree forming the sides and half
trees making the BOTTOM and top.
This Indian grave was found on an IS
land in the heart of tRe Everglades in
a dense thicket, SO dense, in fact, that
Mr.. Neal was compelled TO use an AK
TO cut away the tangled mass Of bushes
and vines TO get to the treasure.
When reached the coffin was found
mounted on poles about ten inches
above the ground and covered with pal
metto bushes. On the inside is the
skeleton OF Seminole Indian. Near
the skull, on the left side, are four
pipes, such as are used by Indians,
and great quantity of matches with
the phosphorus off. To the right OF
the skeleton is a Ballard rife of SO
calibre, and to the left is an old muz-
zle loading shot gun, II gauge.
Several small files, three knives, one
measuring three feet, match box, a
pocket knife, spools OF thread, scis-
sors, metal pot containing bones, sup
posed TO be that OF a deer, a string
containing four small terrapins, with
holes drilled In the upper part of the
shells, a 50-cent piece, beads, shells,
cartridges, and several other articles
too numerous to mention
Mr.. Neal was seen by a Times
Union reporter yesterday morning, and
was shown the curiosity. Mr.. Neal
stated that the superstition Is that the
Indian was buried about ten years ago.
He also has this dead Indians canoe
and one That he was making when he
died, also the hut in which he FORM
erly lived
This is the first body of a Seminole
Indian ever brought from the Ever
glades of Florida in his grave, and it
Is such a curiosity Mr.. Neal will, no
doubt make fortune in exhibiting it
about the country.
He leaves Jacksonville this morning
with his treasure for Atlanta. Ga,
where he will place 1t on exhibition
for a few days, then proceed TO Allan
tic City, Y. j., where he will remain
for some time. Mr.. Neal said yester-
day that ne would probably bring the
curiosity to Jacksonville during the
next Trades Carnival, so that the
people of his own state can have a look
at it.