Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-06-13


J ing the confidence Of the Seminoles.
One Of these Indians was on his way
to town with $500 worth Of alligator
hides, when he was murdered and
robbed by white man named Ashley.
AS the local authorities did not seem
Jealous in pursuing Ashley, Commits
sioner Sells sent Federal officer after
him. After a dramatic hunt through
the Everglades, Ashley was caught and
turned over to the authorities for trial,
and the government man went home.
During his trial Ashley mysteriously
escaped. The government man was
sent back, and after another long hunt
again caught Ashley, who was finally
convicted. This incident convinced at
least some Of the Indians that the
United States government has a sense
Of justice.
A couple Of years ago Mr.. Sells sent
to. Florida a Shawee Indian named
Frank e. Brandon, to act as sort Of
wandering supervisor Of the Indians.
His real work is to win their conf
dence. To do this he has travelled all
over the Seminole territory with an OK
team and a couple Of Indian guides,
talking to the people, and trying to ex-
plain what the government wants to do
for them. Until their confidence Is
won, and they are willing to cooperate,
It is useless, Mr.. Sells explains, to ex-
pend the appropriations which have
been made for them. There Is no use
in building schools when the Indians
shun them as works Of the devil.
The commissioners plan is to fence
the tract Of $4,000 acres, which is the
only good land the Indians possess,
to stock 1t with cattle. The Indians
will be taught to be herdsmen and the
cattle will ultimately be divided among
them. Their education will come after
they have been provided with the
means Of making living.
The debate in congress over the
Seminoles brought out the curious fact
that a number Of the congressman had
visited these Indians. Some went as
members of commission for that pur-
pose, but others went merely out OF
curiosity while spending winter hoH-
days in Florida. All Of them were
shocked at the uLcivilized looks OF the
Indians, and were filed with a mighty
zeal to help them.
when we entered into any treaty
with them" said Congressman Emer-
son, 1T was like entering into a treaty
with a lot of alligators down there
They ere the most ignorant class of peo-
ple ever saw They were all bare
footed =. The women wear 40 or
so rows of beads around their necks-
the most peculiar things ever saw IN
my life. Those strings Of beads look
like a great muffier such as a farmer
up in New England might wear IN the
dead Of winter. Forty or so or 75 rows
of beads are worn, and one row is sup
posed to be worn for each year Of their
age"
The beads were apparently too much
for Mr.. Emerson.
sAfter looking at them decided not
to visit them in their camp" he con-
cluded dramatically. II thought 1
would go back to Miami. where l was
staying"
In his own opinion, the Seminole Is
not nearly so unfortunate as he ap-
peared to Congressman Emerson. He
lives a free life, such as he is accus-
toned to. He fas enough to eat, and
all that he cor siders necessary in the
way of clothes. These Indians are
fairly healthy.
Mr.. Emerson thinks the Seminoles
are on a par with the alligators as
treaty makers, but the Seminoles have
found the alligators far more reliable
than the white men.