The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-09-12
tKansas CITY a

(Kansas City Star.)
Within the boundaries of the Unit
ed States exists an Independent nation
that recognizes no department of u
government and has its own rulers.
laws, customs and language. The
United States is as much a foreign
country to it as England OF France.
This nation. numbering about 500 per-
sons, is confined to the Everglades, in
the most southern part of Florida. 1t
is all that remains intact Of the
Seminole Indians. formerly n of the
most powerful tribes. numerically. in
North America. The nation as at
cent, but as a relic of the past 1t dates
back to the re-Columbian period.
Just 10 years ago a peace agree
nent was declared which ended a
seven years war between the Sem
inoles and the United States govern
ment. The Seminole tribe was made
UP of two bands Of Creeks. who with
drew from the main body in 1850 and
moved to Florida. where they were
come in contact with the Spaniards.
They were hostile to the white set
tiers and caused the Americans a
great deal of trouble during the Revo-
lutionary war. They affiliated with
the Spaniards in 1893. and again
showed their enmity to the United
States in the war of 1912. A few
years later the seminoles. together
with a large number of runaway
negroes. began making raids and
massacres throughout the frontier set
Elements Of Georgia and Alabama. In
a little less than a year they We're COM
pletely subdued by General. Andrew
Jackson.
The Indians signed a treaty in 1923
In which they agreed to give up nearly
all Of their Florida land for q certain
consideration. Some. however. object
ed to these conditions and were al
lowed to remain. with the understand
ing that they were to live peaceably
and surrender all fugitive slaves. This
was unsatisfactory to the Georgians,
who demanded that the Indians be re-
moved by force. An attempt to do
this in 1885 pfecipitated the second
Seminole war, which lasted seven
years and which Is said to have been
the bloodiest Indian war in American
history.
Under the leadership Of Osceola,
who combined both cunning and hero
ism, the Indians we're remarkably sue
cessful. In m Of the massacres
General Thomson was avenged by o.
ceola's W hand for having once i'm
prisoned the chief for a day. Several
ucoSicb we're uO bOOHcT WdUe tndn
they were violated, usually through
Osceola's influence.
The war continued year after year,
many troops p%erishing in the swamps
either from poisonous insect and snake
bits or from fevers. In October, 1887.
O%sceloa. with several Of his chiefs, ap-
peared in the camp Of General Jesup,
who at that time was in chief COM
mand in Florida. Although the In
dams carried a nag Of truce Jesup or
dered them seized. Osceola wal sent
to Charleston. where he was confined
In Fort Moultrie. He died In a little
more than a year. Jesup was severely
crttized for violating the flag Of truce.
but he explained Osceola's treachery,
declaring that 1t was the only way to
end the war.
The capture Of Osceola was a severe
blow to the Seminoles, Nevertheless.
under other competent chiefs they
continued the war for their freedom
and their country five years longer.
Peace was finally declared August II.