The Coolidge examiner., 1932-11-18

| &1He eENEaSsa proud, fierce, brave
to desperation, able
Osceola to endure hardships
without flinching,
and when treated with treachery,
cOurting death in preference to
dishonOred life.
Osceola's grandfather was a
Scotchman, and something more
than a paler skin and European fea-
/ lures were transmitted to the grand
son; the traits which both peoples
| possessed in common were doubly
strong in him. Like so many prom
| leadership, but became a chief
through his efforts in behalf of his
people, and, like others, these eff
forts centered in holding the lands
of the Indians against the whites.
Sitting Bull tried this; so did Te-
cumseh and King Philip. Pope, the
PeublO, was more successful in his
plans, but none endured. And Osce-
ola was just another of those de-
voted 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
ceded to the United States, although
the Indians kept a central reserva-
tion. The white people wanted them
entirely moved out, and in 1882, they
| made an agreement to move beyond
the Mississippi 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 Os-
ceola became the leader of these
people. Emathala, who had been
the principal signer of the treaty of
removal was killed. SO also was
Gen. A. r. Thompson, who opposed
the Seminoles who wanted to re-
main. On this account troops were
sent to the swamp land, and the Sec
ond Seminole war began in earnest.
The noncombatants, women and
children, were hidden in the Ever
glades, through which the Indians
knew their way, while to the white
troops it was an impossible terri
tory. While the soldiers were try
ing in vain to find the hidden In
dians, Osceola and his warriors
were upon them like a swarm of
mosquitoes, annoying and harass-
ing the already rather bewildered
| troops.
The first detachment to attack
| the Indians, under Major Dade, was
cut off, and only a few wounded es-
caped-some say only one. But
still the troops continued to attempt
the almost impossible. One leader
after another was placed in charge,
and each in turn was frustrated.
Caesar never fought Indians, or he
would have reversed his celebrated
saying, "'Tis easier to foil than to
| find them"
This game of hide and seek last
ed for eight years. The general pub
lie, which did not understand the
vast obstacles in the way of the
troops, became impatient and a
good deal of unearne6 criticism was
bestowed on the succession Of Off
GERS, who had vainly tried to ac-
complish what could not be done.
Nearly 1900 United States troops
had been killed in the course of the
war, and $2OOOO,OOO had been spent,
vet the Seminoles were still in
Florida, and Osceola was still alive
and active.
Finally, General Jessup, who was
becoming annoyed to evaporation
by the attitude of the public, threw
ethics to the winds. A conference
was called, which Osceola and his
lieutenants attended under the pro-
lection Of a flag Of truce, but in
stead of holding the council, Jessup
seized the Seminole chief as prison
er. This act, while 1t had a pow
erful effect on the war, turned the
tide of public sentiment, and the
tickle people who had urged him on,
now condemned Jessup and refused
to find excuse for his act.
Osceola was placed in prison at
Saint Augustine. He was no longer
free to rove the Everglades, no long
er leader Of his eager warriors,
no longer the savior of his people.
This would not have seemed quite
so melancholy to the young chief.
had it been accomplished as the for
tune of war, but to have been taken
by treachery was the final blow. 1t
is said that his broken spirit and
sad thoughts, more than the catar-
rhal fever which then attacked him,
caused the death of Osceola at the
early age of thirty-fve. He died in
prison at Fort Moultrie, Fla, in
January, 1888.
(0. 1892. Western Newspaper Union.)