The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-11-18

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treachery. counting death in prefer
ence to a dishonored life.
Osceola's grandfather was Scotch
man, and something more than paler
skin and European features were
transmitted to the grandson; the
traits which both peoples possessed in
common were doubly strong in him.
Like so many prominent chiefs, he
was not born to leadership, but be-
came. chief through his efforts in
behalf Of his people, and, like others,
these efforts centered in holding the
lands Of the Indians against the
whites. Sitting Bull tried this; so did
Tecumseh and King Philip. Pope, the
Pueblo, was more successful in his
plans, but none endured. And Osce-
ola was just another of those devoted
men who made the effort and failed.
The second Seminole war, in 1885,
precipitated trouble which had been
accommodating for some time. Four
teen years previous to this time most
Of the Seminole lands had been coded
to the United States, although the In
dams kept central reservation. The
white people wanted them entirely
moved out, and in 1882, they made
an agreement to move beyond the Mis-
sissippi before the end of three years.
A large number of the tribe who
did not favor this removal, began to
get ready for resistance, and Osceola
became the leader of these people.
Emathla, who had been the principal
signer of the treaty Of removal, was
killed. So also was Gen. A. r. Thomp-
son, who opposed the Seminole who
wanted to remain. On this account
troops were sent to the swamp land,
and the second Seminole war began in
earnest.
The noncombatants, women and chill
dren, were hidden in the Everglades,
through which the Indians knew their
way, while to the white troops it was
an impossible territory. While the SOL
diers were trying in vain to find the
hidden Indians, Osceola and his war
riors were upon them like swarm OF
mosquitoes, annoying and harassing
the already rather bewildered troops.
The first detachment to attack the
Indians, under Major Dade, was cut
off, and only few wounded escaped
some say only one. But still the
troops continued to attempt the almost
impossible. One leader after anoth-
er was placed in charge, and each Of
fees in turn was frustrated. Caesar
never fought Indians, or he would have
reversed his celebrated saying, ''Tis
easier to foil than find Them"
This game of hide and seek lasted
for eight years. The general public,
which did not understand the vast OBJ
stacles in the way of the troops, be-
came impatient and a good deal of
unearned criticism was bestowed on
the succession Of officers, who had
vainly tried to accomplish what could
not be done. Nearly 1,5O0 United
States troops had been killed in the
course of the war, and $2O.OOO,OOO had
been spent, yet the Seminoles were
still in Florida, and Osceola was still
alive and active.
Finally, General Jesup, who was be-
coming annoyed to evaporation by the
attitude of the public, threw ethics to
the winds. A conference was called,
which Osceola and his lieutenants at
tended under the protection Of flag
of truce, but instead Of holding the
council, Jesup seized the Seminole
chief as prisoner. This act, while 1t
had a powerful effect on the war,
turned the tide of public sentiment,
and the tickle people who had urged
him on, now condemned Jesup and re-
fused to find an excuse for his act.
Osceola was placed in prison at
Saint Augustine. He was no longer
free to rove the Everglades, no longer
the leader of his eager warriors, no
longer the savior of his people. This
would not have seemed quite so mel
ancholy to the young chief, had it
been accomplished as the fortune of
war, but to have been taken by treach-
cry was the final blow. 1t is said that
his broken spirit and sad thoughts,
more than the catarrhal fever which
then attacked him, caused the death
of Osceola at the early age Of thirty
five. He died in prison at Fort Moul-
trie, Fla, in January, 1888.
(G. 1892. Western Newspaper Union.)