The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-11-07
NEW LIGHT THROWN
ON A VANISHING RACE

reply came like a bullet, mol"
Sometimes Seminoles will work for
farmers in the fields, but as laborers
they are not to be depended upon.
An Indian who mad refused to do some
light work for a dollar a day, yet Of
fereds to give me live otter, without
trap marks or other injury, for a mod
crate sum. He spent some weeks Sc
curing the creature, which he said ne
ran down on tle prairie. Although the
otter had bitten his thumb half OH,
the Seminole seemed satisfied with his
compensation, which was far less than
he could have earned by much lighter
work. Yet after all, / sympathiZed
with the Indian. | would myself much
rather chase offers than hoe toma-
toes
Even in his own country of the Ev-
erglades, the Seminole is an tnSaJis-
factory guide, and 1 much prefer, as
an exploring companion, a white man,
who doesn't know the country 10 an
Indian who does. The latter lacks
stamina and resOurcefulness, is easily
discouraged. quite regardless of all
contracts of service, and has to be
coddled like d spoiled child. OF
course. some are better than others,
or, rather, some are worse than 9TH
ers- If the trail is dry and the ca
noe must be hauled through mud and
Sawgrass, the Indian Is liable to lie
down and say: Me sick OjuS, want
whyOme," ana if he doesn't get 1t, to
throw up his job instanter. Yet the
Seminole is reliable in sports, with his
own sense of honor, which, however,
may not always run parallel with the
more commercial code of the white
man.
Charley Billy, son of Miami Billy,
was accounted a worthless Indian, yet
he had certain ideas of honor that
tOted quite up TO the paleface stand
ard. His last trading was done at
Everglade, after ne knew that SEN
tence of death had been passed upon
him, and as he left the store. 10 re-
turn to his camp for execution, he
turned to the trader and said:
Me hiepus, big sleep come pretty
quicks' On his return home he was
shot, mis- body dragged cut on the
prairie and Left unburied, for beasts
and birds TO devour. The newborn
child of the woman in the case was
thrown alive TO the buzzards, and she
| was given to wife TO Charley DiXey,
| the half-negro executiOner. Several
years have passed. she mas two pick
-
| edy remains stamped upon her mourn
| full face.
/ Charley Dixey and his negress
mother were once condemned to
| death by the tribe. but Tommy Osce-
! ola, grandson of the great Osceola
| obtained a reprieve, Offering himself
| as a hostage for their good behavior,
| and pledging his life thereto.
I The Seninoles have few supersti-
| tons, odds and ends of religious be-
! lief, and a distrust of white men, in
creasing in depth in the order NAM
ed.
! During a trip through the Ever
glades and BiggCypress. Charley Tom
! my was interpreter, and frequently
/ talked with refreshing frdnkness {
mis- people.
Charley Tommy, why DO you no
come to Tampa, bring other Indians
see big show, get plenty money?
! You Savyey?"
Me savvey-want to gold chief
got no sense-won't let me go-says
don't like young men see much white
nan-maybe SO. big sleep come pretty
quick l go-siXty-five years ago Billy
! Bowlegs hiepus with white man-nC
| come back"
Think so you want your pickanin-
| MES so to school, learn to read, have
store and trade?"
NO use. Old chief no want store
in Big Cypress. Me savey. want to
go 10 school two weeks"
Two weeks not enough, must &C
! long time 10 learn.
No. me smart, learn ojus (plenty).
/ Occasionally a Seminole would tall
of his religious belief.
You talk sometimes Great Spirit
''Unca (yes.
What you say"
I'm UNI. Me hunt two. three days
get no echu (deer); have big talk
Great Spirit. get echu. Me want to 90
in canoe, no osilee twaterl: me talk
Great spirit, askee come ojus. Ne
bury one more Injun; he buy pipe and
sugar water. make whyOme. drink
jojus; me tell him stop. he no stop
drink, drink. all same Waite man; me
| bury him, then me say lilly Bit
Treatment of the Dead.
SeminoleS bury their dead on toy
OF the STond. after wrapping them in
blankets, but always leave the top OF
the head exposed. They build a peI
over the body, and usually chink i
with eartn. When his SQuaw dies, the
| husband wears his shirt until it rotE
off, which is not strikingly distinct
I'VE w men the HuSDGuu ultS, l4iS
! squaw doesn't comb her hair for three
months. Little reverence is shown
for the dead When Tom Tigers grave
was robbed and his bones taken for
exhibition, the cutlery over the desc
Grafton was almost wholly a newspa
per affair. The nearest settlers werC
unbalanced and the Indians Indifferent
Mr.. Storter. a trader on the west
coast of Florida, asked Johnny Osce-
ola about Indiana debtors.
NO pay one year all right. no pay
two years. get Indians with big sticks
| in line, make him run between, hit
him one time for every dollar"
Little Billy, he pay me-
. ''Unca, he good Indian. He pay"
BILLY Tommy, he pay me, think
so?"
Dunno, lazy Ojus, no hunt. Injun
just like white man; some pay. some
no pay: some good; some holowangus
Ia1