The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-11-20
SEMINOLE WAR IN FLORIDA
IS TOLD OF IN OLD PAPER

News of Florida, particularly con
corning the Seminole war, is con-
tanned in an eighty-year copy OF
the Philadelphia Saturday Courier
dated in March, 1886. Much of the
matter contained in this issue of the
paper will be of interest today, in
that it is of historical nature, close.
ly bearing on the Florida of the
early days.
One item from St. Augustine re-
lates the story of an ambush of
twenty men of the Irish volunteers
by fifty Indians. The soldiers had
gone out unarmed to get wood, an /
were fired on by the Indians when
about 250 yards from camp. Three
men were killed.
Another item mentions an inter
view of Osceola with the officers of
Fort Drane, in which the Indian de-
clared himself tired Of the war. He
expressed his willingness that hostil-
tiles should cease, but when required
to sign articles of agreement by
which he would bind himself to pro-
coed Immediately to Tampa Bay and
there embark fer Mississippi some
say that he objected to this mode of
removing, and wished to go by and
by, and others that he would not
promise to go at all, but wished to
live on the other side of the Witha-
coochie and to have that for the
boundary line between them and the
whites. During the meeting Os.
ceola asked the officers how they
were off for r.o','r' "a They tolt
him that they had plenty. He sait
he knew that they had not, and il
they would come over the river he
would give them two beeves and {
bottle of brandy.
A note from headquarters, Cam
lizard, Fla, on the Withlacooche
speaking of the state of starvation o
General Gaines army. says. "W'
found them eating horses, dogs, etc
Less than a gill of corn was issue
for a days ration. We brought bu
small quantity of provisions will
us, and I believe there are but few
men in camp who are not hungry a
this time. One soldier having stole
dog and killed it, sold one of tn
quarters for five dollars. For this &C
of stealing, killing, or selling, or al
together, he received severe fog
ging. We forbear to mention man.
other acts, showing what hunger will
compel one to do, which are related
of these patriotic men, thus sur
rounded and suffering in a savage
wilderness. Yet there was perfec
subordination, and every man wai
prompt in the discharge of his duty
! The Alachua volunteers cheerful.
distributed their biscuits and corr
Preserving none for themselves 2"
The movements of Osceola seemed
to have been shrouded in mystery
He sent word to General Gaines that
if he would send away the horsemen
(Alachua militia) they would come
and surrender their arms. I'VE know
not whether from suspicion or other
wise, the horsemen were not sent
away. After waiting three days to
hear more of Osceola, and not hav-
ing provisions to remain longer, Cen
eral Gaines returned to Fort Drane.
After reaching this fort he trans
ferred the command to General
Clinch and left for New Orleans by
way of Tallahassee. During some of
the engagements he received a
wound the ball passing through his
lip, knocking out two of his teeth,
but it's force being nearly spent It
did him no further injury"
There are in Florida today about
500 Seminole Indians, under the pro-
lection of the United States govern
ment, which retains an agent whose
business it is to look ont for their
welfare. 1t is an interesting fact
that Indians throughout the United
States are increasing in numbers
rather than decreasing, as is perhaps
the general belief Jacksonville
Metropolis.