Part 1
THE SEMINOLES OF FLORIDA
THE SEMINOLES
OF
FLORIDA
MINNIE MOORE-WILLSON
ILLUSTRATED
NEW YORK MOFFAT, YARD AND COMPANY 1920
Copyright 1896, 1910 and 1920 by MINNIE MOORE-WILLSON
_First Edition_, _Jan., 1896_ _Second_ ” _Jan., 1910_ _Third_ ” _Dec., 1911_ _Fourth_ ” _Sept., 1912_ _Fifth_ ” _Aug., 1914_ _Sixth_ ” _Oct., 1916_ _Seventh_ ” _Feb., 1920_
Printed in the United States of America
MEMORIAL TRIBUTE
MRS. ELIZABETH STAUFFER-MOORE
IN GRATEFUL RECOGNITION OF HER PHILANTHROPIC INTEREST IN A BRAVE AND HEROIC REMNANT OF THE ABORIGINAL AMERICANS, THE SEMINOLES OF FLORIDA, THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.
HER TIMELY AID IN THE CRISIS OF THEIR EXISTENCE HELPED TO RESCUE THEM FROM OBLIVION AND TO PROVIDE FOR THEM THE RIGHTS OF A FREE PEOPLE.
MINNIE MOORE-WILLSON.
FOREWORD
When most of the Seminoles were moved from Florida to Indian Territory, a few score of them were unwilling to go. Of these who remained, the descendants, ten years ago, numbered about six hundred. An effort was made at that time to buy for this band the land on which they lived and a few hundred dollars was given for that purpose.
In the study of this fragment in their singular surroundings as portrayed in the pages of this book, one gets, as it were, a glimpse of their camp-fire life, a view of their sun-bleached wigwams and an insight into the character of these proud but homeless people.
Not much apparently can be done for this home-keeping remnant of the Florida aborigines, but it is help and a protection to them that their continuing presence in Florida and the conditions of their life there should be known to the rest of the Americans and especially to those who go to Florida or are concerned with the development of that State.
To diffuse this helpful knowledge and give these Indians such protection as may come from it, is the aim of the present book.
EDWARD S. MARTIN.
New York, Nov. 9, 1909.
PREFACE
That there is yet a tribe, or tribes of Indians in Florida is a fact unknown to a large part of the people of this country; there are even students of history who have scarcely known it. These people, driven, about seventy or more years ago, into the dreary Everglades of that Southern Peninsular, have kept themselves secluded from the ever encroaching white population of the State. Only occasionally would a very small number visit a town or a city to engage in traffic. They have had no faith in the white man, or the white man’s government. They have aimed to be peaceful, but have, with inveterate purpose, abstained from intercourse with any of the agencies of our government. My friends, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Willson, Jr., of Kissimmee, Florida, have found their way to a large degree of confidence in the hearts of this people. They have learned something of their history, and have studied their manner of life, their character and habits.
Mr. Willson has been allowed, and invited to go with some of their men on familiar hunting expeditions. He has seen them in the swamps, in their homes, and in their general life environments. He has been admitted to their confidence and friendship. He has consequently become deeply interested in them. Mrs. Willson also has become acquainted with some of their chief personages. Both have learned to sympathize with these Indians in their hardships and in their treatment at the hands of the white race.
Mrs. Willson began to write about them and her writing has grown into a book; and she has been encouraged to give this book to the world, in the hope that the attention of good people may be drawn toward them, and that at least a true interest may be awakened in their moral and material well-being. They are truly an interesting people, living, although secluded, almost at our doors.
Mrs. Willson has written earnestly, enthusiastically, and lovingly regarding them, and it is to be hoped that a new interest may soon be taken in them both by the churches and the government, and that they may soon enter upon new realizations, and be encouraged to place a confidence in the white race to which, until quite recently, they have been utter strangers.
Mr. Willson has prepared the vocabulary. The words and phrases here given have been gathered by him in the course of ten or fifteen years of friendly intercourse with members of the tribe. They have assisted him in getting the true Indian or Seminole word and in finding its signification. Old Chief Tallahassee has been especially and kindly helpful; so has Chief Tom Tiger. This vocabulary of this peculiar Indian tribe, though not complete, ought to prove helpful to those who are interested in the languages of the people who roamed the forests of this great land before it became the home and the domain of those who now live and rule in it.
This book, in its first part, gives some account of the earlier years of the Seminole history. In the second part the reader is introduced to the later and present state of things and facts regarding them.
In the third part is found the vocabulary--a number of Seminole words, phrases and names, with their interpretation into our own tongue.
This little book is given to the world in the hope that it will be found both interesting and valuable to many readers.
R. BRADEN MOORE.
CONTENTS
PART FIRST
PAGE
FACTS OF THE EARLIER DAYS 1
ORIGIN OF TROUBLES 6
EFFORTS AT INDIAN REMOVAL 11
THE MASSACRE OF GENERAL THOMPSON AND OF DADE’S FORCES 15
A DISHONORED TREATY 19
AS-SE-HO-LAR, THE RISING SUN, OR OSCEOLA 21
OSCEOLA’S CAPTURE 26
THE HIDDEN WAR CAMP 30
WILD CAT AND GENERAL WORTH 33
INDIAN WARFARE 38
“DAT SEMINOLE TREATY DINNER” 41
PART SECOND
THE PRESENT CONDITION AND ATTITUDE OF THE SEMINOLES 53
NATIONAL INDIAN ASSOCIATION, ITS WORK, AND ITS RESULTS, EPISCOPAL MISSION 65
THE FRIENDS OF THE FLORIDA SEMINOLES 68
OUR DUTY TO THESE WARDS OF THE NATION 76
CHIEFTAIN TALLAHASSEE 79
INCREASING 84
APPEARANCE AND DRESS 87
INDEPENDENCE AND HONOR 90
THE SEMINOLE’S UNWRITTEN VERDICT OF THE WHITE RACE 93
ENDURANCE AND FEASTS 95
THE HUNTING DANCE 100
SLAVERY 106
HANNAH 107
UNWRITTEN LAWS 108
GENS AND MARRIAGE 114
BEAUTY AND MUSIC 116
RELATIONSHIP TO THE AZTECS AND EASTERN TRIBES 118
SEMINOLES AT HOME--THE EVERGLADES 126
ALLIGATOR HUNTING 139
BEAR HUNTING WITH THE SEMINOLES 142
CAPTAIN TOM TIGER (MIC-CO-TUS-TE-NUG-GE) 148
NANCY OSCEOLA 154
BILLY BOWLEGS 155
RELIGION 162
BROUGHT BACK 168
MOUNDS 169
PICTURE WRITING 171
MEDICINE 172
ABIDING WORDS OF BEAUTY 174
CONCLUSION 179
SUPPLEMENT
THE LEAST KNOWN WILDERNESS OF AMERICA 185
THE LAND OF THE SEMINOLE 187
CROSSING THE EVERGLADES BY AEROPLANE 190
EVERGLADE GEYSER 192
SEMINOLE HISTORY REVIEWED 194
THE 1917 LAND BILL 199
A VISIT TO A SEMINOLE CAMP 204
VISITORS FROM THE EVERGLADES 207
STEM-O-LA-KEE 214
HOME AND RELIGION 223
SEMINOLE INCIDENTS 224
MESSAGES FROM THE EVERGLADES 227
SEMINOLES FIRST SUFFRAGISTS 229
OSCEOLA--THE GARIBALDI OF THE SEMINOLES 231
SHALL OSCEOLA’S BONES BE REMOVED? 234
A BRONZE STATUE IN THE EVERGLADES 236
THE POCAHONTAS OF FLORIDA 242
VOCABULARY
INTRODUCTION TO VOCABULARY 253
WORDS REGARDING PERSONS 255
PARTS OF THE BODY 256
DRESS AND ORNAMENTS 258
DWELLINGS, IMPLEMENTS, ETC. 260
FOOD 264
COLORS 265
NUMERALS 265
DIVISIONS OF TIME 266
ANIMALS, PARTS OF BODY, ETC. 268
BIRDS 269
FISH AND REPTILES 270
INSECTS 271
PLANTS 272
THE FIRMAMENT, PHYSICAL PHENOMENA, ETC. 273
KINSHIP 274
VERBS, PHRASES, SENTENCES 274
INDIAN NAMES OF SOME PRESENT SEMINOLES 279
RHYTHMICAL NAMES OF SOME FLORIDA RIVERS AND TOWNS 280
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Hoke-ti-chee, “Little Girl with the Bright Eyes” _Frontispiece_
Florida Indians Carrying Their Crops to the Storehouse 6
An Indian Retreat During the Seminole War 16
Micanopy 20
One of the Last Seminole Battle Grounds 24
Osceola 30
Martha Jane, “Bandanna Mammy” 42
A Seminole Dwelling 60
A Seminole Camp-fire 70
Chieftain Tallahassee 76
A Seminole Group of the Tallahassee Band 86
Chief Tallahassee, Martha Tiger, She Yo Hee, Tommy Hill and Milakee 90
Billy Bowlegs and Tommy Doctor 98
Hannah, the Only Remaining Slave of the Seminoles 108
A Picturesque Group 114
An Enchanting Study of the Younger Generation 122
Seminoles on the Miami River 130
Tiger Tail 140
Indian Mode of Hunting Alligators in Florida 144
Captain Tom Tiger 148
The Indian’s Hunting Ground 150
A Section of a Saw Grass Swamp 156
Hi-e-tee, Captain Tom Tiger, Ho-ti-yee and “Little Tiger” 164
Dr. Jimmie Tustanogee with His Two Wives and the Children 168
Billy Buster, Tommy Hill, Tallahassee and Charlie Peacock 172
The Wild Heron in Domestication 176
The White Plumed Egret in a Florida Yard 180
Coacoochee 188
Latest Photograph of Billy Bowlegs 192
Billy Bowlegs and His Sister 194
Osceola, the Napoleon of the Seminoles 200
Billy Bowlegs Photographed While Visiting the Author 202
THE SEMINOLES OF FLORIDA
PART FIRST
FACTS OF EARLIER DAYS
The history of the American Indian is a very Iliad of tragedy. From the day Columbus made the first footprints of the European in the damp sands of Cat Island, the story of the original owners of fair America has been full of melancholy, and fills with its dark pages every day of a quartet of centuries.
Columbus describes the innocent happiness of these people. “They were no wild savages, but very gentle and courteous,” he says, “without knowing what evil is, without stealing, without killing.” They gave to him a new world for Castile and Leon, while in exchange he gave to them “some glass beads and little red caps.” The tragedy of the new world began when we find this same admiral writing to the Spanish majesties that he would be able to furnish them with gold, cotton, spices, and slaves--“slaves! as many as their Highnesses shall command to be shipped”; and thus, this land, a paradise of almost primeval loveliness, was transformed into a land of cruel bondage, desolation and death.
History scarcely records an instance when hospitality was not extended by the red man to our first explorers. Swift canoes shot out from the shaded shores, filled with men clad in gorgeous mantles, and, in broken accents, their greeting was “Welcome!” “Come, see the people from Heaven,” they cried, but were soon destined to believe they were from a very different region.
From old Spanish accounts we conclude that the Indian population of De Soto’s time was very large, and that the natives were in a higher state of civilization than at any later period; that their speech, though brief, was chaste, unaffected, and evinced a generous sentiment. Cortez found the Aztecs and their dependencies challenging comparison with the proudest nations of the world, and in their barbarous magnificence rivaling the splendors of the Orient. Advanced in the arts, dwelling in cities, and living under a well-organized government, they were happy in their position and circumstances.
Who were the barbarians of the early history of America, our Mayflower ancestors, or the Red Men of the forest?
With a careful study of the early records, the question answers itself.
Four hundred years ago Indian warfare began. Shall it continue until we exterminate the race? When it is, alas, too late, the American people will awaken to the fact that the preservation of the Indian race will be a theme that will stir the very heart of the Nation.
Shall Justice blush as the future historian pens the account of the vanished Indian and our treatment of his race? Will Patriotism hang her head in shame and confusion as the pen portrays the history of the red heroes, who gave up their lives for their home and liberty?
Since that sunny day in May, 1539, when De Soto, amid the salutes of artillery, the music of trumpets, the cheers of thousands of Castilians, sailed into Tampa Bay, Florida has been the scene of stirring events--with the Aborigines forming a tragical background.
Marching across the flower-bedecked country with his gallant men of Spain, with his cavalry, with fleet greyhounds and furious bloodhounds to turn loose upon the savages, also handcuffs, chains and collars to secure them, with priests, workmen and provisions, this proud adventurer reached the present site of Tallahassee. Here, in this vicinity, they came upon a fruitful land, thickly populated.
Ever pressing onward for the gold that was supposed to abound in this new land, one village after another was passed, when provisions and welcome were furnished by the Laziques.
On, on, the proud and haughty Spaniards marched, until they reached the province of Cofaqui. Here the splendor of the reception would amaze us, even to-day. The chieftain and the people gave up their village for the Spanish quarters, moving to another town for the occasion. The following day the chief returned, offering De Soto 8,000 armed Indians, with maize, dried fruits and meat for the journey, 4,000 to act as defenders, 4,000 as burden bearers, to escort the Spaniards through a wilderness of several days’ journey. Such were the proud and generous people the Caucasians found in America.
The haughty Castilian continued his march till he reached the banks of the Mississippi, where he halted and sent his carrier to the chief on the opposite shore, with the usual message, that he was the “Offspring of the Sunne, and required submission and a visit from the chief.” But the chieftain sent back a reply, both magnanimous and proud, that if he were “the Childe of the Sunne, if he would drie up the River, he would believe him; that he was wont to visit none; therefore, if he desired to see him he would come thither, that if he came in peace he would receive him in special good will, and if in Warre in like manner he would attend him in the Towne where he was and for him or any other he would not shrinke one foot backe.”
Old history says this haughty repulse aggravated the illness of De Soto, “because he was not able to passe presently to the River and seeke him, to see if he could abate that Pride of his.”
Notwithstanding the hospitable treatment shown by the natives to the newcomers, the Castilians destroyed them by the thousands: One explorer after another wrote of these friendly people in the new land. “They are very liberal,” says the narrator, “for they give what they have.” Sir Ralph Lane describes the welcome by the natives, who came with “Tobacco, Corne and furs and kindly gestures to be friends with the strange white men,” etc., etc., but adds, “the Indians stole a Silver Cup, wherefore we burnt their Towne and spoylt their Corne,” etc., etc.
The time will soon be over for the study of the Aborigines of America. We have in 250 years wasted them from uncounted numbers to a scattering population of only about 275,000, while in the same length of time a cargo of dusky slaves from the African shores have become a people of millions, slaves no longer, but protected citizens. In the redskin, whom we have dispossessed of his native rights, we recognize no equality; yet the descendant of the barbarous black, whose tribe on the Golden Coast still trembles before a fetish, may now sit at the desk of Clay or Calhoun. Truly the tangled threads of modern morals are hard to unravel.
The first explorers made captives of the Indians, and carried them in irons to Spain, where they were sold as slaves to the Spanish grandees. Two hundred years later the people of Carolina sought to enslave those among them. The red men rebelled at the subjection, and in order to escape bondage, began to make their way to the “Indian country,” the present site of Georgia. African bondsmen soon followed the example of the Indian captives, and in time continued their journey to Florida.
_In the attempts to recapture runaway slaves, is based the primeval cause of the Seminole wars._
ORIGIN OF TROUBLES.
The history of the Seminoles of Florida begins with their separation from the Creeks of Georgia as early as 1750, the name Seminole, in Indian dialect meaning wild wanderers or runaways. Sea-coffee, their leader, conducted them to the territory of Florida, then under Spanish colonial policy. Here, they sought the protection of Spanish laws, refused in all after times to be represented in Creek councils, elected their own chiefs, and became, in all respects, a separate tribe.
To-day the Seminoles of Florida are only a frail remnant of that powerful tribe of Osceola’s day. Their history presents a character, a power, and a romance that impels respect and an acknowledgment of their superiority. Of the private life of the Seminole less is known, perhaps, than of any other band in the United States. His life has been one long struggle for a resting-place; he has fought for home, happy hunting grounds and the burial place of his fathers. At present we can only see a race whose destiny says extinction.
The wilds of Florida became a home for these Indians as well as for the fugitive negro slaves of the Southern States. The Indian and the negro refugee, settling in the same sections, became friendly, and in time some of their people intermarried. The same American spirit that refused to submit to “Taxation without Representation,” was strong in the breast of the Seminole, and Florida, belonging to Spain, afforded him a retreat for his independent pursuits. Subject only to the Spanish crown, the exiles found a home safe from the inexorable slave catchers. The Seminoles were now enjoying liberty, and a social solitude, and refused to make a treaty with the colonial government, or with the Creeks from whom they had separated. One demand after another was made upon the Spanish government at St. Augustine for the return of the fugitives, which was always rejected. African slaves continued to flee from their masters to find refuge with the exiles and the Indians. They were eagerly received, and kindly treated, and soon admitted to a footing of equality. The growing demand for slaves in the southern colonies now made the outlook serious, and from the attempts to compel the return of the negroes grew the first hostilities.
One of the first communications ever sent to Congress after it met was by the Georgia colony, stating that “a large number of continental troops would be required to prevent the slaves from deserting their masters.” But, in that momentous year of 1776, Congress had more important duties on hand, and it was not until 1790 that a treaty was entered into between the Creeks and the United States. In this treaty, the Creeks, now at enmity with the Seminoles, agreed to restore the slaves of the Georgia planters who had taken refuge among them. The Seminoles refused to recognize the treaty; they were no longer a part of the Creeks, they resided in Florida and considered themselves subject only to the crown of Spain. One can readily believe that the Spanish authorities encouraged their independence. Legally the exiles had become a free people.