Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-04-25

The older tragedies of the Ever
glades, dark as they were. hold the
most interest. 1t was on the edge OF
the jungle country that Osceola, the
Seminole, when asked to sign a treaty
with the whites by which the land
was to be given up. drew his knife,
struck Its blade through the document
Of transfer, and said: There is my
signature"
1t has been said that 1t takes only
n drop of red blood to make an
American Indian. The Everglades
once furnished proof OF the saying.
One OF the witnesses Nof Osceola's act
was a soldier OF the army in whose
veins there was a slight admixture OF
Indian blood. He was SO stirred with
admiration for Osceola's deed that ne
swore to himself that later he would
aid the Seminole'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 al 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-
tial, and the guide was sentenced to
be shot at sunrise. His last request
was granted. He removed from his
person the uniform OF 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 inc
company of the famous old Fourth in
fantry, and with the men of the two
light batteries of artillery, Z Dade
marched into a part of the Everglades
where the country was comparative
ly open, to give battle to a Seminole
chief name Micanopy. The guide OF
this expedition was a negro named
Lewis, and, like the former guide, he
was a 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 ca~relessly along. Behind every
palmetto lay a Seminole. The Indians
o~utnumbered the soldiers three to one.
The firing distance was less than for
ty yards when Micanopy shouted a
signal and every Indian rifle spoke.
One-half of the unsuspecting troopers
fell at the first discharge. Dade was
killed.
The soldiers had a 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 Seminoles cir
cled to the rear and picked OF the
whites n by one When the last
man had fallen the Indians closed in
and despoiled the dead. One man:
sorely wounded, awoke to conscious
mes 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 Hero7
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 1t 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 1t 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
curing of that need Of individual
glory which som men claim the SOU
of John Paul Jones craved.