The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-05-04
JUDGE MARVIN'S
INTERESTING LETTER

from Niles National Register
of january 10th, l841, the follow
ing is taken as an interesting Sc
quel to the massacre at Indian
Key:
1.-THE Savannah Republican of
Monday last says that the news in
relation to the capture of the In
dams by Col. Harvey, is con-
firmed by the arrival at this port
last evening of the schooner Lau-
rama, Capt. Swasey, in "a hours
from St. Augustine.
1T appears that Col. Harvey, at
the head of 80 men, came upon a
camp of some so Indians about IS
miles from Key Biscayne. The
Indians were at their breakfast.
The attack was sharp, short and
decisive, and the result most for
tunate. Ten of the warriors were
killed in the encouter, one hung
afterwards. and As women and
children were taken prisoners.
Col. Harvey lost one man, killed,
and five were wounded. The
prisoners were brought into Key
Biscayne, from which post Col. H.
again set out on the 18th ult. with
detachment of rs men, in quest
of Sam Jones' camp, to which one
of the warriors, who was spared
to act as a guide, promised to con-
duct him.
'The following is letter from
Judge Marvin to the editors of
the Tallahassee Floridian, giving
some additional particulars of the
expedition of Col. Harvey:
"'On board the brig Waculla,
est. Marks, Dec 81, 1910.
"'Dear Sir:
"'News had arrived at Key
West before my leaving there
that Col. Harvey. of the U.S.A.,
about the 18th inst. had rencon-
tire with the Indians in the in
terror of the Everglades. With a
force of about 80 men he entered
the Everglades in canoes guided
by John, negro who was cap
tured by the Indians in 1885,
from his master, DR.. Crews, and
who escaped and came into the
camp at Cape Florida a few
months since. The negro con-
Quoted the Col. through the Ever
glades to the Indian town, and he
surrounded it and fired upon
them, killing one or two Indians,
and taking 38 prisoners. In the
assault the chief of the band,
Chai-ki-ka, escaped, but was pur-
sued several miles by one of the
dragons. and overtaken and
shot. Among the prisoners taken
were 10 warriors, nine of whom
! were hung; the life of the tenth
being saved for a future guide.
The rest of the prisoners were
women and children, and were all
spared and taken to the post at
Cape Florida.
""This band of Indians is known
as the..Spanish Band, and the
same who murdered Mr.. Cooley's
family and several others at Cape
Florida, and Capt. Walton of the
| lightship, and DR.. Crews. They
are the same Indians. too, who
surprised Col. Harvey a year
since, at Caloosahattchie, under
Macomb's treaty of peace; and
the same who recently burned
and destroyed the settlements on
Indian Key. killing men, women
and children. and mutilating their
bodies in most barberous man.
ner. This band of Indians, with
this same Chai-ki-ka at their
head, has been the terror of the
south for years. and have prob
ably drank as much white blood
as any in the territory.
"The Colonel recaptufed Is or
ID Of Colts rifles, taken from him
at Caloosahatchie by the Indians,
and about two thousand dollars
worth Of goods carried off by the
Indians from Indian Key.
"'This affair of Col. Harney's
will do more to strike terror into
the Indians. and bring about a
real peace. than anything that has
occurred for. a long time. The
Everglades is no longer the refuge
of the Indian. His own Businesses
are penetrated by the white
man."
A. v. S. SMITH,
DeLand and Indian Key, Fla.