The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-05-10

Pensacola. OF course, Spain protested at this
unwarranted invasion of her territory and the
United States placated her by censoring Jackson
in manner that was something of polite slap
on the wrist.
The upshot of the whole affair was that Spain,
seeing the handwriting the WALL agreed to
sell Florida to the United States. And that,
more than any great desire to punish the Semi
noles for their depredations, was what the Amer
lean government wanted. But in thus making
the Seminoles pawns in game of diplomacy the
United States storing up trouble for itself.
1t broke out after Florida became our
territory. Friction between the settlers and the
Seminoles continued mainly because the settlers
wanted the lands held by the Indians. By the
treaty of Fort Moultrie in 1923 the SeminOles
coded most of their lands except small res
ervation. But the land-hungry whites began
crowding insupon them there and demanding that
they be removed across the Mississippi as had
other southeastern tribes.
So another treaty was made at Payne's Land
ing in 1882 by which the Seminoles, at least
part of Them agreed to migrate within, three
years. The majority of the Indians, however re-
pudated the treaty. Matters came to a crisis in
November, 1885, when Amathla, a chief who had
signed the treaty and received his share of the
money for doing so, was shot by party under
the leadership of Micanopy, the head-chief, and
Osceola half-breed war-leader.
Gen. A. r. Thompson agent for the Seminoles,
exerted all pressure possible to get the Semi
nOles to agree to the removal and during coun-
Gil became so angry with Osceola that he ordered
the Seminole leader arrested and held in irons.
Enraged at this treatment Osceola, while agree
ing to sign the treaty, plotted revenge on the
agent.
Removing his people to places of safety, Osce-
ola and his warriors began attacks on the white
anrafC ,frok tod in EInp-
ida to protect the settlers and force the removal
of the Seminoles On December "a, 1885, an ex-
petition of 10S officers and men, commanded by
Maj. Francis L. Dade. set out from Fort Brooks
to meet a force from Fort King for a punitive
expedition against the Seminoles.
Four days later Dades force reached the
banks of the Withlacoochee river. What took
place there-and tragic though it was, it is one
of tales of high heroism in the annals Of the
American army-is recorded the side of
monument which stands the grounds of the
United States Military academy at West Point,
n. 7. 1t reads: ITO commemorate the battle of
the 2Sth of December 1885, between a detach-
ment of 10S United States troops and the Semi
noles of Florida in which all of the detachment
save three fell without an attempt to retreat"
On the same day Osceola made daring raid
against Fort King, killed and scalped General
Thompson and four others who were dining at
house outside the fort and made his escape.
AS the result of this and the Dade tragedy
great outcry went up all over the country for
the determination of the SeminOles. But officer
after officer sent against the Indians failed to
crush them and at last General Jessup spurred
on by this cry, forever sullied his name as
soldier by Selling Osceola while holding a
ference with him under flag Of truce and send
ing him away to prison.
Osceola died in Fort Moultrie Fla, on Janu-
airy 30. 1885, But even the loss of their leader
did not break the spirit of the Seminoles. The
war dragged on for four years more before the
Indians finally acknowledged defeat in August,
1872 1t had lasted for nearly eight years at
cost of the lives of 1000 soldiers and nearly as
many civilians, not to mention a money cost of
S20,OO0OO0l
The Seminoles who were removed to Okla
homa became known as the Seminole Nation,
one of the Five Civilized Tribes" Even with
the removal of nearly 1900 Seminoles In IL diff
ferent parties between 1886 and 1912, some 300
remained in the Businesses of the Everglades at
the close of the war. There was still some trou-
BILE with them later and In 1853 Chief Billy Bow
legs and $50 of his followers were sent west.
But there still remained approximately 100 Sem
inoles who refused to leave their ancestral home
and from these are descended the 460odd Semi
noles who live In Florida today.
Q by Western Newspaper Union