The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-03-05

tMLzrxz4NAI collector, followed closely. We
IUkNNNNNlIl were a scientific expedition,
ANgIM4SIA pound for hidden Seminole camps,
- where we were to secure sDect-
mems FOR famous museum.
The Indian trail that we followed was blind and
before the end Of single day we were lost. Our
first encounters with serpents. not Semnoles.
The sawgrass was six feet high and drew blood Mt
touch. When darkness came the only spot avail
able for camp was beside clump of bushes on u
bit of muck, III which sank half leg Deep We
cut brush to cover the mud and blowing up mir
mattresses rested them upon It. When we tried to
mount they proved ms elusive as bucklng bronco
squrming reptile under my bare foot shocked me
like live wire and with leap landed in the
middle of my bed The boys slept in the canoes.
The snake had stepped on troubled my dreams
and my eyes opened in the morning the scientist
clutching small brown moccasin and plnching
open its jaws while he inspected its fangs
Lend Inc your pliers. want to pull these teeth"
was his greeting to ME. and lie seemed grleved to
learn that didn't sleep with the implement.
After cold breakfast an hour of hard work car
ried us out Of the strand of sawgrass and into the
beautiful open giades.
The collector gazed spellbound for a minute be.
fore exclaiming:-
What ever made me think of the Everglades as
n swamp: 1t is a beauty spot of the world and
deserves every letter of its name! 1t ought to be
kept as national park. 1t would be a shame to
drain 1t just to raise truck"
Two days OF polling, pushing and pulling brought
lis to sign of human hfe-an Indian canoe lying
across our course. From here a we'll marked trail
led us for two miles into the Big Cypress Swamp
and brought us to the first Of the people we were
seeking. Darling from clump Of bushes, splashine
thn xua+a md Of +T,n
their speed were three scared Riddles naked as
they were born, fleeing in fear OF their lives from
the dreaded white men,
There came sharp turn in our course and we
looked down lane Of open water upon scene
which probably no other white man had heheld.
Before us, on little key, was Seminole camp of
five shacks, open below, with tall high pitched roofs,
beautifully matched The tiny island was sur
rounded by flooded cypress forest and upon 1t were
orange, banana and guava trees. The whole scene
was backed by masses of brilliant clouds and a sky
of the most intense blue
When within fifty yards Of the camp we halted
as suddenly the wise man stops at the call of
Hands up! An Indian standing at the waters edge
ulenaced us with evelled rifle and motioned us back
speaking thrcateningly. My canoe man understood
the words and his hand reached for his Winchester
"Let yer rifle ben shouted Frank from the other
canoe. II know that feller 1 kin fix him."
Frank was the son Of the oldest trader with the
Scminolcs, and they had known him from his cradle
A long p0wwow followed. For time the red man
was obdurate. Again and again he shook his head,
scoHling and pointing his rifle toward us. Per.
sistenty Frank explained, scolded and coaxed. AT
length the surly Indian lay down his-weapon and
folded his arms With quick relief we waited
franks explanation.
HE snys this is Billy Conapatchee's camp No
white man lns come here ever. He says we can
come in, eat somethin, wait till Billy comes home
and maybe so all right maybe so Billy will shoot
us, he don't care l know Little Billy. He's got
sense, but Charley Cypress thought you're gov
crment men and was scarf enough Ter shoot"
Halt hour later Little Billy arrived: He
was followed by his squaw and two young girls
splashng along as they drove lot Of sduealing pigs
When the camp was reached the whole drove
scurried for the shacks and established themselves
under the tables upon which to eat and Sleep
Little Billy spoke first to Cypress. then talked
with Frank, after which he welcomed us with dig
nifty. The professor was quick to avail himself of
the freedom of the camp He played ball with the
children, using lines for balls. and the pqpooses
romped and yelled with all the abandon OF civilized
youngsters. The girls took hand and threw the
ball with the grace of Vassar athlete.
A Farm In the Swamp.
The frolic put the semtnoles in good humor for
the trading in which the professor quickly involved
them. He had bought mans ceremonial costume
with leather eggtns for the same, rattics made Of
turtle Shells skin scraper of bone, knife and scabbard
with file, silver bracelets and feather fan, when
Frank warned him that he was running prices up on
himself, whereupon business was adjourned for the
dag.
The home dress Of the Seminole is shirt Of
FF@t.z
bcads-pounds Of them. In addition she wears
waist and skirt, both OF bright colored calico, but
usually separated by some inches The costumes
of the children, when they have any commonly con-
sist OF one piece.
This Is convenient in many respects. The flowing
hem OF tho garment is available as handkerchief
and child can sit down in the mud without soilins
his dress.