The National tribune., 1910-08-11
THE SEMINOLE INDIANS OF FLORIDA.
Missionary Work Among Remnant of the Seminole Tribe in the
Everglades Habits Empoyments and characteristics and
Friendlness to Missionaries.

Probably few peop3esare aware that
, in the wilds of the Big Cypress and the
|, Everglades of Florida thereG exists a
remnant of the Seminole tribe of In
r ldians Il
As tribe they do not date back more
than about 200 years, being an offshoot
from the Creeks, by whom they were
termed "Seminolis" or runaway In
tdians.
These people settled in the northern
portion of the State, and were first al
lowed to do so in peace by the native
tribes, but as they increased in num-
berS, wealth and Importance the yari-
Gus native tribes decided the time had
lcome to oppose them, which they did
unSuCcessfully, the Seminoies absorbing
such of the native tribes as they did not
destroy in the wars between them.
Nearly every school boy knows the
history of the Seminole War. Suffice il
therefore to say that when the bulk of
the tribe were deported to Indian Ter
ritory at the close of the war there was
only small remnant left behind, vari-
ously estimated at from rs to 125 per-
sons. These people have increased, so
that to-day, according to the best in
| formation obtainable from themselves,
they number between 600 and 700. They
are divided into three main bands or
clans. one living in the neighborhood of
| Fort Pierce, north of Lake Okeechobee,
| known as the Cow Greeks; a second
| living along the east coast stretching as
| far south as Miami and known as the
Miami Indians, and third band located
| in the Big Cypress, called the Big Cy-
press Indians. There is intercommuni-
cation between all of these bands, but
principally between the Miamis and the
| Big Cypress Indians.
There is a small reservation, situate
principally to township 48 south, range
| "a feyu of the India
are living there, 1t being totally made
quate as regards size, the bulk being
the gerater part of the year under wa
| ter. Here, in section Is, at point
known as the Boat or Canoe Landing a
ltrading post has long been situated. Two
and half years ago this store was
acquired by the Seminole Mission, with
a view to improving their means of con-
tact with the Indians
The Episcopal Mission.
The mission to the Seminole Indians
was begun some IS or 10 years ago by
the National Indian Association. then
under the leadership Of Mrs. Quinton.
AS is customary with that society, when
the mission had been fairly started they
passed 1t ever into the permanent
charge of one of the churches. In this
instance the duties were assumed by
the Episcopal Church, under Bishop
VIM. Crane Gray, Bishop of southern
Florida, in whose missionary jurisdic-
tion it Is situated.
Up to this time DR.. and Mrs. Brecht
had been in charge of the work. and at
the Bishops request so continued until
he was able to send the Rev. Henry and
Mrs. Gibbs to take their place. 30
i During this period the Government
had an agency at Immokalee, dn Lee
County, Fla, 80 miles from Fort Myers
where the headquarters Of the mission
were then established. However, in
spite of all the efforts,lof Government
agents and missionaries. the Seminole,
naturally suspicious of the bonatfides Of
the white man, which suspicion was
from time to time encouraged by such
persons who for their own purposes de-
sired to keep the contact with the In
dians for their own gain, such as the
dealers in. whisky, known to the Indians
as "nehome," and took fright at the
near approach to their homes and hunt
ing grounds of the emissaries of the
Government, and decided to "hiephus"
or depart into the recesses OF the Ever
glades and the Big Cypress. After a
few years the Government closed the
agency, but the Bishop advanced his
forces still farther south another 81
miles to a point now known as Glade
Cross, about three miles from the Boat
Landing.
Here the missionaries would come
from time to time, still keeping their
headquarters at Immokalee, till about
six years ago. when DR. w. j. Golden
was sent by the Bishop to establish
permanent quarters at Glade Cross, be-
ing afterwards Joined by the Rev. Ire
naeus Trout on the retirement of Mr..
and Mrs. Gibbs.
The Bishop was induced to take this
step from the experience of the Rev.
Mr. Gibbs of the value of medical aid
given to the Indians on various occa-
sions. .lr
Acceptance of Medical Treatment. !
The work of the medical missionary
has been steadily growing, and between
three and four years ago. when the hos
pital was only half built, an epidemic !