The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-05-20
0SCCE(NI I
tOration)
EDWARD HENDERSON


ests, once tribes of red men roam@d.
came to the American continent, We 10
not know. In their happy. savage
state, generation after generation lived
without making any material progress.
Happy l say. for why should they not
| be happy? Their minds were free from
the cares of busy world. their hearts
knew no fear They We're ''monarchs
of all they surveyed" and might roam
| whittier they wished, unless restrain
ed by some hostile tribe.
! AS in other uncivilized countries,
these American Indians lived a con-
tented, simple life. They knew nothing
| of farming, mining or manufacturing
| in an advanced stage, but spent their
Itime making. in their rude way, the
few necessities of life. Such was the
condition of the American Indians
when the great discoverer OF America
and his follows first came to this coun-
Itry.
| Little did the Indians realize when
ithey saw the first white man step from
his strange ship that peace and safety
for them were now at an end. Dur
ling the first two hundred years fol-
lowing the discovery of America. Eng
Hand. France and Spain strove with
one another in seiZing this new land.
In the English settlements there We're
often disputes between the whites and
1.-The Indians. In the Spanish settlements,
the Indians were often murdered. This
lcondition of affairs could not long eN-
ist, either the whites must abandon the
icountry or the Indians must be driven
back. The strife continued in the col
Ionies until they proclaimed themselves
"a free and independent nation"
The Indians then lived in peace un-
til our country spread towards the
west. They must again seek a new
thome. And where should this new
home be? The government would not
permit them to longer roam whittier
tthey wished. but sent them to reser-
vations. The Indians everywhere, and
!especially the Seminoles in Florida, op-
posed this plan.
In the war which followed the re-
sistance of the Seminoles, sad and hor-
trible deeds We're committed both by the
Indians and by the writes. Indians
were attacked at every opportunity:
. whites were murdered and their homes
. burned Yet, there was one Indian in
this war who received more than his
j., share of grief That man was OSceola
This son of Creek woman and white
| trader fled to Florida from Georgia al
, the time when Andrew Jackson broke
: the power of the Creek Indians. From
/ that time until his death. he lived the
} typical life of a Seminole. He grew
up in the company of boys who looked
r on him as leader, thus giving hin
} confidence in himself which made hin
so dreaded a man in the Seminole war
' Not only this, but ne had been taugh
from youth to hate the white man.
Although he was practically un
E known when the war began, he SooI
0 showed to his people that he was no
e a common Indian. but one that pos
e lsessed all those characteristics which
n make up the life of a singularly brav
4 man. They looked with admiration a
n that brave figure as he stood befor
/ the council of white men and plead tn
n Icause of the Indians. They recognize
: Ihim as a leader when he exclaimed tina
: ihe would never make peace with tn
whites. They followed him on the war
: path and d his command even willing =
: lly offered themselves to certain death
e It seems strange to Us that a ma
f born amid savage surroundings, havin
y no education and having never bee
e taught any difference between righ
: and wrong could have a heart file
i with love and pity. Yet. Osceola. dur
IL ing his entire life as a warrior. show
i these traits of character. on the war
/ path, he always spared the lives q
: women and children. 1t is not upo
n them that we draw the scalping knit,
k but upon men. Let US act like men,
II was his order. Even when the path c
d his ambition grew dark and dreary
n when the gallant troops of the Amer
l. cans were steadily overcoming his ow
:, dusky warriors; when he realized tina
/ victory was impossible, il seems ths
ar he would have begun the slaughter
ip women. But no such stain can be pla,
l. ed on the character of OSceola.
lie He was not only kind. but ne W.
ii also brave. He cherished that val
lie hope in his heart that he might be
e. victor. To accomplish this he nev-
al shirked danger. but always encouragt
e. his men by placing himself at the ba
IN ties front and lighting with all h
r might.
Like all great men, OSceoIa had n
as faults. We find him kind and brave
no the one hand. but equally cruel and
ne ceitful on the other. When a whi
an man CHANGED TO pass by or when 20
no diers were captured, ne drew his seal
ey ing knife and committed bloody dee
r ed. he would lie in wait for his eneu
a and rush forth unexpectedly, slaughte
Ii ing the helpless. while giving q
free war whoop.
he After long years Of war. OsceoIa T
he allied that he would never he conque
ng or. He had wasted the flower Of l
Id dian youth. his people had been co
Of stantIy driven back. and now Z
ur American soldiers were searching T
We the small number who yet remained
Of swamps. marshes and hammoci
" Something must be done. Childre
ne freedom, home. all were being tax
We from them. In . short while the
en- would be nothing left but the memorl
he of bloody war
les Osceola now did that which he n
declared he would never do-seek pea
nd of the whites. While in tears befc
'or the American commander. begging
TO the life Of his countrymen. Osceola "
ce. taken prisoner. He was snatched FRI
i've home from friends and from loved OF
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