The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-04-15


 heart of the Everglades of Florida. The Semilones, or at least that portion of them who defied the United States government and refused to leave Florida are the most interesting of all the tribes of American aborigfnes and my visit to their Fyerglade villages was an experience that l would not have missed for a great deal, and also it was one that I would not repeat for a great deal more.
 Friday morning before Easter, accom- panied by Professor Blake of Hartford. Conn. l left Miami. Fla, o2er the Homestead extension of the Florida East Coast railroad for the railroad point near est the quarters of Cypress Tiger, the most celebrated of living Seminole chiefs. MT. Carty. a large tomato grower near Cutler the principal Indian trading point for that section, loaned us | guide in the person of Sam" Nassau negro. or "Conch' as they are called in Flor ida. Due to the fact That neither animals nor vehicles can be taken into the Ever gladss and Sam had all our freight to carry our only baggage was big camera and the ten miles walk through bogs and over the sharp stone formations that cover the surface of Everglade land was a most tiresome one.
 We arrived about oclock in the after noon at Cypress Tigers village and were met about two hundred yards from the entrance by the old chief and several members of his council. After consider able pariying it was decided to receive us. We were shown to our apartments which consisted of a dropping palmetto leaf covered shelter supported by pal metto tree posts about six feet high and Furnished with three bare board benches or tables. We we're servd with sup pr of biscuit bacon and coffee within q half hour After supper Cypress Tiger, accompanied by his council, brought us a pipe each, two brands of smoking tobacco and two kinds of chewing to- bacco and a box of maches and said as he presented the outfit:
 Pipe, Indian pipe, take, keep always; Indian he giva you he your friend, you his friend-smoke.'
 For half hour following this the great est smoking match between Indians and pale faces that ever took place in Flor ida was on.
 After the smoking bee was over we were escorted to the five other settle inents belonging to the Cypress Tiger camp, introduced to all the leaders and n number of dances given in our honor. We returned to Tigers headquarters about 10 o'clock and were put to bed on the same table that we had eaten and smoked on with nothing under us but the bare boards and covered only with A blanket intended to protect us from the mosquitoes.
 Here gentle reader. as the noyelists .,,. Ia prhara dry detail ends and real interest commences.
 About midnight I opened my eyes and saw standing over me as silent and in- passive as stone statue, the gigantic form of old Cypress Tiger. He was staring me straight in the eyes and was the vilest and most dangerous looking Indian that l ever beheld. Neither of us spoke word for perhaps a minute. Tiger reach ed down. put his huge hand under my head and rised me to a sitting position He continued to stare at me without uttering a sound for about half min ute and then said:
 You know meg' pointing his index finger to his breast. 'No' ] don't Know you" I replied.
 'aThink so," was his only comment and without the move of a muscle. Then he continued
 Me Cypress Tiger; think so. Me kill 'em, pale face, kill 'em fifty, with Billy Bowlegs. Shoot em with rifle. OJus' (Ojus means 6 plenty and Is the semi nole's favorite expression)
 "Al1 right" Colonel Tiger I said VI am delighted to meet you but don't you get it Into your head to run that list up to 51 tonight"
 Think so," was all he said but then went to tho object of his midnight call.
 Me dry" he said, "set 'e1n up-httle bit wihomie." (Wihomie is whislSy)
 "Got none, not a drop" l replied
 No, no wihomie," come, little bit, set lem up; me so dry " he continued With out having changed his position or oattea his eyes since raising me up. lie had got it into his head some way that the big camera case was package ot wnis- 1y. and that Blake was willing to give him some of It. but that l interfered
 Come" he insisted. "big box he full me not, me dry; little bit. wihonie.
 He kept repeating the same words fin the same manner for at least ten ninntes. He finally found that he was not going to get drink and as ne sat me straight up and with his eyes flash sng with rage he pointed towards the railroad station In the most dramatic style and fairly hissed,
 Got no wilhomle, hollWogus' esholusus' oiusi'
 The English of this is, "1f you have got no whisky you are no good, go. A r,lonty." 1t was a plenty, too, ana | went, .darted into the darkness of the village. in the direction of the railroad station leaving Professor Blake crawling around under his bunk hunting for a lost shoe and shouting every breath wait for me.
 lust as I was passing out of tho vil- iare bounds Charley Willie. a nephew of Cypress Tiger. who has to an extent sue ceeded the old and i'll humored chief in fhe active control of the camp, stepped from bunch of banana bushes directly in front of me and said:
 "Where go? Me think pale face he rleep."
 .I was asleep" I replied, Out Tiger came and told me to get up and go
 "Tiger? He say go?
 ..Yes. and I'm going. too, good night, I called back az I started to move on as the policemen say.
 .You go where?'
 q am going to Cutler"
 "You go when?
 "Pm going right this second''
 "No." said the big Indian as he pointed his finger to a star directly over his head, mo. Cutler, he ten miles; he dark, pale face no safe. come?"
 twin this he led me back to my bunk where Tiger was still standing just as had left him, and lifting me up like a child laid me on the board bed and pulling the blanket up over me said as he held my head in his great hand:
 My bed. me glva you. he your bed