The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-02-29
Great Indians of Old Florida.

Great Indians of Old Florida.
A representative of the United
States government was sent to Florl-
da in 1882 to settle upon terms of
capitulation wherein it was specified
that the Indians we're to give up their
lands upon receipt of SIS, 400, to be
presented with a new home, each
male to receive a blanket and each
female a new homespun frock, says
the Kansas City Star.
This was the agreement made by
President Jackson in order to acquire
from the Seminoles valuable lands in
Florida. The Indians were assembled
and the contract was read for them.
''I will sign your paper" said one
of the gaudily attired Seminoles STEP
ping forward.
But just as the second of the chiefs
was about to sign there stepped be-
tween him and the paper a stalwart
chief with bow and arrow in hand.
He gave one sharp glance about him
and then spoke:
''No treaty shall be signed which
uobs us of our lands. The man who
sets his hand on such paper dies at
my hand"
The speaker was As-se-he-ho-lar
(meaning Black DRINK The name
has been shortened in history to Os-
ceola.
Il shall never sign these lies,' he
said, with violence. t'You whites are
all towards and cheats!" and, cast
ing his bow to one side, he seized
his long knife in his right hand and
plunged it through the paper with
such force that it went clean through
the table upon which it lay. He then
turned and haughtily left the room.
The conference broke up in disor-
der. Osceola's hatred of the whites
was increased ten-fold when they
captured his young wife and sold her
as slave. He himself was captured,
but escaped from Jail in two days.
After that it was war to the death.
Soon all the Seminoles were in arms
and the government of the United
States was plunged into desperate
conflict which was to last seven long
and tedious years.
Osceola looked on the Indian agent
as his worst enemy. Soon after
ward the agents dead body was
found pierced with IA bullets. Major
Lee, with 10 soldiers, was march
ing inland from Tampa when Osceola
and a band of braves flung them
selves on his troops and slaughtered
all but three of them. Then, with an
inferior force he marched against
General Clinch and 1000 soldiers.
The Indians held off the troops until
all their ammunition was gone. Then
they retreated in safety.
Battle followed battle with varying
results. At last in 1887 temporary
peace was patched up. Under flag
of truce and promise of safety Osce-
ola went by invitation to a confer
ence in General Jessup's camp. When
Jessup heard that the savage Semi
mole was nearby he Immediately de-
vised a scheme for capturing him.
Finding that he could not entice him
into the fort he ordered one of his
officers, with over hundred soldiers,
to seize the chief under flag of
truce. This sharp trick was success
fully operated, and although it was
a piece of the most fragrant treach-
cry, the willy enemy to white govern
ment was at last secured.
In spite of his vigorous protests
Osceola was sent to St. Augustine
and afterward confined in the dun
geon at Fort Moultrie, S. c. Crush
ed by the humiliating position tc
which he had sunk and brooding
over the misfortunes of his race, he
pined away and died within year.
The chief being dead and the wal
being over the great bulk of the Sem
inoles were sent beyond the Missis
sippi, and few, who were harmless
were allowed to remain in Florida.
Osceola's mother was the daugh
ter of a Greek Indian chief and his