Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-04-25
A FOREIGN NATION IN FLORIDA
Seminole Indians Recognize No Cow
ernment but Their Own.

ooHinoio iHoians noco9nixo NO 1ov-
ernment but Their Own.
Within the boundaries Of the United
States exists an Independent nation
that recognizes no department Of our
government and has Its own rulers,
laws, customs and language. The Unit
ted States Is as much Of a foreign coun-
try to 1t as England or France. This
nation, numbering about 500 persons,
is confined to the Everglades, in the
most southern part Of Florida. It Is all
that remains intact of the Seminole
Indians, formerly one Of the most
powerful tribes, numerically, in North
America. The nation as at present or
ganized is comparatively recent, but as
relic Of the past It dates back to
the pre- Columbian period.
Just 10 years ago peace agreement
was declared which ended a seven
years war between the Seminoles and
the United States government. The
Seminole tribe was made up Of two
bands Of Creeks, who. withdrew from
the main body in 1750 and moved to
Florida, where they were Joined by
remnants Of tribes that had come in
contact with the Spaniards. They
were hostile to the white settlers and
caused the Americans great deal Of
trouble during the Revolutionary war.
They afaliated 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 large number of rum
away negroes, began making raids and
massacres throughout the frontier
settlements o. Georgia and Alabama
In a little less than a year there were
completely subdued by General An
drew Jackson. ..,g. s,sj ~, g sr
The Indians signed treaty in 1923
in which they agreed to give UP nearly
all Of their Florida land for q certain
consideration. Some, however, OBJ
jected 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 precipitated the second Semi
mole war, which lasted seven years
and which is said to have been the
bloodiest Indian war In American his
tory.
Under the leadership Of Osceola, who
combined both cunning and heroism,
the Indians were remarkably success
full. In one Of the massacres General
Thomson was avenged by Osceola's
own hand for having once imprisoned
the chief for a day. Several treaties
were no sooner made than they were
violated, usually through osceola's in
fluence.
I The war continued year after year,
many troops perishing in the swamps
either from poisonous insect and snake
bites or from fevers. In October, 1887,
Osceola, 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 flag Of truce Jesup or
dered them seized. Osceola was sent
to Charleston. where he was confined
in Fort Moultrie. He died in a little
more than a year. Jesup was severely
criticised 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 Sc
we're blow to the Seminoles. Never
theless, under other competent chiefs
they continued the war for tneir free
dom and their country five years longer.
Peace was finally declared August IA.
1912. In the seven years Of fighting
the United States had lost 1,466 lives
and s1O.000.000. The Indians had suf-
fered severely in the numbers killed.
The whole Seminole tribe. with the
exception of about 800, was removed to
the Indian Territory, where land was
apportioned to each member. The