Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-04-25

o0ilA4 dIlOu LOT OSC6O1d u6Gu that LS
swore to himself that later he would
aid the SeminoIe's cause.
Maj. Francis L. Dade led an expedi-
ton into the Everglades against Os-
ceola and his band. The soldier with
the drop of Indian blood in his veins
was chosen by Dade as a guide. The
man led the command straight to an
ambush. which was discovered fortu-
nately just IN time to save Dade and
his men from humiliation
There was a drumhead court-mar-
dal, and the guide was sentenced to
be shot at sunrise. His last request
was granted. He removed from his
person the uniform CT the United
States army and put on Ieggings and
hunting shirt of deer skin, He paint
ed his face and said that he was ready
to die, and as the shots Of the execu-
ton squad were fred his voice rang
with the death song Of the Seminoles
Massacre Of Dade's Command.
Major Dade and his command es-
capped death on the day of the guides
treachery only to meet it later in the
fastness Of the Everglades. With one
company Of the famous old Fourth in
fantry, and with the men Of the two
light batteries of artillery, Dade
marched into a part of the Everglades
where the country was comparative
" open, to give battle to Seminole
chief name Micanopy. The guide OF
this expedition was a negro named
Lewis, and, like the former guide, he
was traitor. Lewis had sent word
to Micanopy, telling the Seminole the
trail by which he was to lead the
whites.
Major Dade and his command
reached a glade skirted by palmettos.
The troops were in open order, march
ing careIessly along. Behind every
palmetto lay a Seminole. The Indians
outnumbered the soldiers three to one.
The firing distance was less than for
ty yards when Micanopy shouted a
signal and every Indian rifle spoke.
Oue-haH of the unsuspecting troopers
fell at the first discharge. Dade was
killed.
The soldiers had light field piece
with them, and by the use of can
mister they scattered the savages and
afterward they managed to build a
barricade Of logs. The Semtnoles cir
cled to the rear and picked off the
whites one by one When the last
man had fallen the Indians closed in
and despoiled the dead. One man,
sorely wounded, awoke to conscious
ness after the Seminoles had left and
found himself the sole survivor of
three companies of regulars. He man
aged to reach Fort King with the
story of the Everglade fight that has
passed into history as "Dade's Mas
sacre."
Was Jones a Patriot or Hero2
In a few days there will be
dedicated in this capital city a mon
ument to the memory of John Paul
Jones, sea fighter. Recently in these
articles something has been told of
the trouble over the matter of Sc
curing a proper inscription for the
base of the statue. 1t was also told
how John Paul Jones body is wait
ing final interment in a crypt in the
Annapolis naval academy chapel. The
president of the United States will
delived an address when the monu-
ment Of Jones is unveiled in Potomac
Park, and thousands of sailors and
soldiers will be present when the COM
mander-in-chief Of the army and navy
speaks his words Of praise of him
whom some historians call "the great
est sea fighter of them ALL"
Some day it may be known definite
ly whether Americas first admiral
fought for the infant republic from
motives of pure patriotism or from the
spur of ambition. He fought with
nothing less than desperate courage
for the cause which he had espoused
but there are those things in John
Paul Jones life which make it seem
that he may have fought because of
sheer love for fighting and because
the immediate need of the struggling
colonies gave opportunity for the &C
quiring of that need of individual
glory which some men claim the soul
Of John Paul Jones craved.
Cooper's View of His Motives.
James Fenimore Cooper served in
the United States navy. In common
with his fellow sailors of the old oak
en- frigates he held in first place of
honor the alien admiral who COM
manded the first vessel flying the
American flag which compelled a ship
OF the supposedly invincible British
navy to strike col0rs. Yet James Fen
imore Cooper in that greatest of sea
tales, THE Pilot" points John Paul
Jones as hero rather than as a pa
triot. At the close of the story Coop
er puts into the mouth of one of his
chief characters, naval officer, these
words touching the life and motives
of John Paul Jones:
His devotion to America proceed
ed from desire for distinction, his
ruling passion. His love for liberty
may be the most questionable, for if
he commenced his deeds in tie cause
Of these free states, they terminated
in the services of a despot.
He is now dead, but had he lived
in times and under circumstances
when his consummate knowledge of
his profession, his cool, deliberate and
even desperate courage could have
been exercised in a regular and we'll
supported navy, and had the habits of
his youth better qualified him to have
borne meekly the honors he acquired
in his age, he would have left behind
him no name in its lists that would
have descended to the latest posterity
of his adopted countrymen with great.
er renown."
For Fact