Ingraham Expedition: March 19, Saturday
Project Information
Ingraham Expedition: March 19, Saturday
Original Source
Encoded texts are derived from three typescript accounts of the 1892 Everglades Exploration Expedition found in the James E. Ingraham Papers and the Chase Collection in the Special and Area Studies Collections Department of the University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries. Digital reproductions of the typescripts are available at:
Moses, W.R., Record of the Everglade Exploration Expedition
Church, A., A Dash Through the Everglades
Contents
- Front Matter
- March 12, Saturday
- March 13, Sunday
- March 14, Monday
- March 15, Tuesday
- March 16, Wednesday
- March 17, Thursday
- March 18, Friday
- March 19, Saturday
- March 20, Sunday
- March 21, Monday
- March 22, Tuesday
- March 23, Wednesday
- March 24, Thursday
- March 25, Friday
- March 26, Saturday
- March 27, Sunday
- March 28, Monday
- March 29, Tuesday
- March 30, Wednesday
- March 31, Thursday
- April 1, Friday
- April 2, Saturday
- April 3, Sunday
- April 4, Monday
- April 5, Tuesday
- April 6, Wednesday
- April 7, Thursday
- April 8, Friday
- April 9, Saturday
- April 10, Sunday
- April 11, Monday
- April 12, Tuesday
- April 13, Wednesday
- April 14, Thursday
- April 15, Friday
- April 16, Saturday
- Back Matter
Electronic Publication Details:
Text encoding by John R. Nemmers
Published by John R. Nemmers.
George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
2015
Licensed for use under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License.
These manuscripts are available from this site for education purposes only.
Encoding Principles
The three accounts of the 1892 Ingraham Everglades Exploration Expedition have been transcribed and are represented in Text Encoding Initiative (TEI) P5 XML encoding.
Line and page breaks have not been preserved in the encoded manuscripts.
Text: 
CAMP NO. 4, Saturday Mar. 19th.
During the night the temperature continued to fall reaching 40 at 3 A.M. and 38 at sunrise. The wind still heavy from the N.W.
Broke camp at 6:40 A.M. and marched a nearly S.E. course 10 miles, pitching our tents on the site of old Fort Shackleford at 10:20 A.M.
CAMP NO. 5.
From noon yesterday until today the soil was apparently underlaid with the rock mentioned in the record of the 18th. Four of the party left the teams, after starting this morning on a hunting trip, going some two or more miles to the southward and following a course parallel to the line of march, reaching camp about an hour after the wagons. They brought in one snipe and the head and skin of a large wildcat. They found an indian camp about one mile N.W. of present camp occupied by a squaw, whom the Mr. Hendry's called Nancy, and three grandchildren of about 2, 4, _ 6 years, 2 or 3 dogs and a lot of chickens. She graciously received the party and gave them such information as possible to understand, her stock of english being apparently quite limited. The children were noticeable for their dignity and reserve, - much more so than with Anglo-Saxons of the same age. The little girl of 6 was rather light colored and had regular features. She was ornamented with a necklace of various colored beads. The children were fat and healthy.
Game continued very scarce being much more plentiful in the more thickly settled portions of the state.
The Indian squaw, Nancy, with the little girl above-mentioned called upon us in camp before dinner and was furnished with a meal. Several kodak shots were made by Mr. Chase of them. Upon being questioned in regard to the distance to Miami, she replied 100 miles and that an Indian could go from Shackleford to Miami in 4 days and accompanied with a chuckle, that it would take a white man 10 days which indicated amusement at their inferiority as compared with Indians ability in the woods or glades.
Nancy claims to be the widow of Osceola, the great Chief of that name. She is the widow [mother?], also of Billy Jumper, who was drowned in the Miami river some 10 days or 2 weeks since. They call death "Big Sleep". Her age was said to be 75. She was a little girl at the time of the Indian War, as we elicited by questions. She is well preserved and evidently enjoys good health. She told us that the Indians of her camp were down in the Big Cypress hunting. That only a few remained in this neighborhood. There is certainly not sufficient game in the section we have crossed to support any large number of people. Mr. George Hendry who with his brother Mr. Frank Hendry accompanied us from Myers to this point, estimated the total number of Indians in this section of the state not to exceed 60 or 75 and not over 250 or 300 in the whole state.
The afternoon was spent in arranging for a start into the Everglades on Monday, Sunday being needed to finish our preparations and to get rested up.
We selected the tallest pine tree at this camp and erected thereon attached to a pole fastened to the top of a tree, a flag emblazoned with the emblem of the Plant System, - a maltese cross with the "P" in the center.
Discharged and paid off Mr. Frank Hendry with one horse wagon and Mr. Thomas Haskew with two horse team of Mr. N.L. Langford's they will return to Myers tomorrow.
Mr. Wesley Boyd concluded he had sufficient of the expedition and will return with the teams to Ft. Myers. March 19th. Broke camp at 6:20. Mercury at 38 at 5 A.M. Heavy gale from north-west all night. Began wading 200 feet from camp; water very cold. Country wet, but ground firm and open prairie. Cypress heads and sloughs; open country; grass good, waist high. Went into camp at Ft. Shackleford 11 A.M.
Mr. Geo Hendry says his father, who has resided in this country many years pointed out this pine island as the site of the old Fort: only a few supposed rifle pits now show. Is located in [Handwritten note: 25 m SSW of S.E. corner of Lake Okeechobee approx. where Ind. Reservation is marked on map. Map not included.]
We start survey of line to Miami from here on Monday.
At noon Lucy, an old Indian squaw, and her grand-daughter came into camp to dinner. Lucy is 75 years old, - bright and talkative. Says she was a wife of Osceola, the great chief. The grand-daughter is the daughter of Billy Bowlegs. Two Indian villages or camps are near; one a mile and a half north, the other two miles south-west.
Mr. Hendry says Jack Robeson located Sam Jones Old Town two miles north of Shackleford. [Arrow is drawn pointing to handwritten note above]
Launched our boats at the Indian landing on the edge of Everglades 2 miles and a half east this afternoon.
Weather very cold, - wind N.W. and a half a gale. Next morning, Saturday, I decided to go with Frank Hendry and Moses by a different route from that which the wagons were to take, to try and kill some game. We had not gone far from camp when we heard the baying of our dogs coming rapidly toward us; we were standing ankle deep in water and just in the edge of some young cypress trees no higher than our heads, when I saw a deer on the run in the edge of the swamp about one hundred yards to our right. As I had only a shot gun I did not fire, supposing the distance to be too great for me to kill, but Hendry who had a rifle and was standing about ten yards back of me, shot and missed. Hardly had that deer disappeared before I saw another one heading straight for me at the top of his speed. Now, thought I, is the time for me to make a reputation as a hunter; I'll wait until he comes as close to me as he will, and then I'll drop him in his tracks. Hardly had the thought passed when the deer was upon me,- I took deliberate aim and fired a load of No. 8 bird shot into his flank. I thought that deer was going fast before I fired, but those bird shot seemed to make him fly. The instant after my shot I recollected I had that barrel loaded for snipe, and sent my load of buckshot whistling after, but all to no purpose, and all I could do was to watch that deer make tracks twenty feet apart across that prairie, while Frank Hendry took long range shots with the rifle at him.
Very much crestfallen at our failure, and vowing to do better next time, we took our way towards camp and had hardly gone two miles when the baying of the dogs announced they were again on the trail of some game animal. From the actions of the dogs we surmised it was a wildcat, and peeping about amongst the bushes Frank Hendry soon got a shot. He shot at the cat in a thick swamp and while he was certain he had not missed it, he did not know that his shot had been fatal. A wild cat [wounded] is a very savage and dangerous foe, and as the dogs had gone off on back track we had to venture in without them. We peeped cautiously about us as we advanced, fearing the cat would spring on us from some bush or limb and take us unawares, but just at this time the dogs came back, and dashing in found our game shot dead by a bullet through his fore shoulders. After skinning the cat and taking a small piece of his meat for Moses to taste and see whether or not it was good eating, we pushed rapidly on towards Ft. Shackelford where the rest of our party was camped. On our way we saw plenty of Indian signs, and finally found one of their camps hidden away in a dense little hammock; only a squaw and some picaninnies were at home and they seemed to be very much alarmed at our visit, we did not stay long, but went on about a mile further and found our camp.
"Old Fort Shackelford" had been so often mentioned as a definite place that I expected to find our camp in the midst of some picturesque old ruins, the relics of the last Indian war, or in any event to see the remains of an old stockade, or some evidence of the soldier camps which had been made there. Ft. Shackelford, however, is merely a clump of pine trees on the edge of the prairie bordering the Everglades, where common report says Fort Shackelford was located. Not a vestige or sign of the fort remains, which is not surprising, consisting the whole fortification probably consisted of a small stockade which was perhaps burned by the Indians as soon as the soldiers left it.
To the east of our camp about four miles off lay the unexplored Everglades, but as this was Saturday and we were too tired, we decided not to enter them until Monday morning.
The ox team we had sent before us from Ft. Myers was waiting at Ft. Shackelford when we came up, and that afternoon went down to the waters' edge and unloaded the boats and things loaded on it. To mark our camp, and render it a conspicuous object for some miles around Mr. Newman hoisted to the top of one of the highest pines a large flag made from a piece of canvas, on which he marked in black ink the Plant Investment Company's emblem, a Maltese Cross.
That afternoon we were visited by the old squaw and picaninnies we had seen in their camp that morning; we fed them as well as our larder would permit, and the old woman, (Nancy she said was her name,) grew very talkative for an Indian. She was much amused at the idea of our going to Miami, and when we asked how long it would take us to get there, laughed and said; "Indian, two days; white man, ten, fifteen days." Pointing to the north she advised us to go that way, for north of Okeechobee she said we could take our wagons to Miami. She told us she had been to Miami and that it was a hundred miles from Shackelford, but we knew she was mistaken about the distance, for as the crow flies it was only about one half that distance. This old woman said she had been Jumper's squaw, but that a few days before our arrival Jumper "had got big drunk", and falling out of his canoe had been drowned; also that she lived with Billy Conepache, or "Little Billy", who had married her daughter. That all her men were at Chockiliskee hunting, and her daughters had gone to the nearest trading post, some 25 or 30 miles away. Finally, about dark, finding we had nothing more to give her, she and the two children took their departure.
During the night the temperature continued to fall reaching 40 at 3 A.M. and 38 at sunrise. The wind still heavy from the N.W.
Broke camp at 6:40 A.M. and marched a nearly S.E. course 10 miles, pitching our tents on the site of old Fort Shackleford at 10:20 A.M.
CAMP NO. 5.
From noon yesterday until today the soil was apparently underlaid with the rock mentioned in the record of the 18th. Four of the party left the teams, after starting this morning on a hunting trip, going some two or more miles to the southward and following a course parallel to the line of march, reaching camp about an hour after the wagons. They brought in one snipe and the head and skin of a large wildcat. They found an indian camp about one mile N.W. of present camp occupied by a squaw, whom the Mr. Hendry's called Nancy, and three grandchildren of about 2, 4, _ 6 years, 2 or 3 dogs and a lot of chickens. She graciously received the party and gave them such information as possible to understand, her stock of english being apparently quite limited. The children were noticeable for their dignity and reserve, - much more so than with Anglo-Saxons of the same age. The little girl of 6 was rather light colored and had regular features. She was ornamented with a necklace of various colored beads. The children were fat and healthy.
Game continued very scarce being much more plentiful in the more thickly settled portions of the state.
The Indian squaw, Nancy, with the little girl above-mentioned called upon us in camp before dinner and was furnished with a meal. Several kodak shots were made by Mr. Chase of them. Upon being questioned in regard to the distance to Miami, she replied 100 miles and that an Indian could go from Shackleford to Miami in 4 days and accompanied with a chuckle, that it would take a white man 10 days which indicated amusement at their inferiority as compared with Indians ability in the woods or glades.
Nancy claims to be the widow of Osceola, the great Chief of that name. She is the widow [mother?], also of Billy Jumper, who was drowned in the Miami river some 10 days or 2 weeks since. They call death "Big Sleep". Her age was said to be 75. She was a little girl at the time of the Indian War, as we elicited by questions. She is well preserved and evidently enjoys good health. She told us that the Indians of her camp were down in the Big Cypress hunting. That only a few remained in this neighborhood. There is certainly not sufficient game in the section we have crossed to support any large number of people. Mr. George Hendry who with his brother Mr. Frank Hendry accompanied us from Myers to this point, estimated the total number of Indians in this section of the state not to exceed 60 or 75 and not over 250 or 300 in the whole state.
The afternoon was spent in arranging for a start into the Everglades on Monday, Sunday being needed to finish our preparations and to get rested up.
We selected the tallest pine tree at this camp and erected thereon attached to a pole fastened to the top of a tree, a flag emblazoned with the emblem of the Plant System, - a maltese cross with the "P" in the center.
Discharged and paid off Mr. Frank Hendry with one horse wagon and Mr. Thomas Haskew with two horse team of Mr. N.L. Langford's they will return to Myers tomorrow.
Mr. Wesley Boyd concluded he had sufficient of the expedition and will return with the teams to Ft. Myers. March 19th. Broke camp at 6:20. Mercury at 38 at 5 A.M. Heavy gale from north-west all night. Began wading 200 feet from camp; water very cold. Country wet, but ground firm and open prairie. Cypress heads and sloughs; open country; grass good, waist high. Went into camp at Ft. Shackleford 11 A.M.
Mr. Geo Hendry says his father, who has resided in this country many years pointed out this pine island as the site of the old Fort: only a few supposed rifle pits now show. Is located in [Handwritten note: 25 m SSW of S.E. corner of Lake Okeechobee approx. where Ind. Reservation is marked on map. Map not included.]
We start survey of line to Miami from here on Monday.
At noon Lucy, an old Indian squaw, and her grand-daughter came into camp to dinner. Lucy is 75 years old, - bright and talkative. Says she was a wife of Osceola, the great chief. The grand-daughter is the daughter of Billy Bowlegs. Two Indian villages or camps are near; one a mile and a half north, the other two miles south-west.
Mr. Hendry says Jack Robeson located Sam Jones Old Town two miles north of Shackleford. [Arrow is drawn pointing to handwritten note above]
Launched our boats at the Indian landing on the edge of Everglades 2 miles and a half east this afternoon.
Weather very cold, - wind N.W. and a half a gale. Next morning, Saturday, I decided to go with Frank Hendry and Moses by a different route from that which the wagons were to take, to try and kill some game. We had not gone far from camp when we heard the baying of our dogs coming rapidly toward us; we were standing ankle deep in water and just in the edge of some young cypress trees no higher than our heads, when I saw a deer on the run in the edge of the swamp about one hundred yards to our right. As I had only a shot gun I did not fire, supposing the distance to be too great for me to kill, but Hendry who had a rifle and was standing about ten yards back of me, shot and missed. Hardly had that deer disappeared before I saw another one heading straight for me at the top of his speed. Now, thought I, is the time for me to make a reputation as a hunter; I'll wait until he comes as close to me as he will, and then I'll drop him in his tracks. Hardly had the thought passed when the deer was upon me,- I took deliberate aim and fired a load of No. 8 bird shot into his flank. I thought that deer was going fast before I fired, but those bird shot seemed to make him fly. The instant after my shot I recollected I had that barrel loaded for snipe, and sent my load of buckshot whistling after, but all to no purpose, and all I could do was to watch that deer make tracks twenty feet apart across that prairie, while Frank Hendry took long range shots with the rifle at him.
Very much crestfallen at our failure, and vowing to do better next time, we took our way towards camp and had hardly gone two miles when the baying of the dogs announced they were again on the trail of some game animal. From the actions of the dogs we surmised it was a wildcat, and peeping about amongst the bushes Frank Hendry soon got a shot. He shot at the cat in a thick swamp and while he was certain he had not missed it, he did not know that his shot had been fatal. A wild cat [wounded] is a very savage and dangerous foe, and as the dogs had gone off on back track we had to venture in without them. We peeped cautiously about us as we advanced, fearing the cat would spring on us from some bush or limb and take us unawares, but just at this time the dogs came back, and dashing in found our game shot dead by a bullet through his fore shoulders. After skinning the cat and taking a small piece of his meat for Moses to taste and see whether or not it was good eating, we pushed rapidly on towards Ft. Shackelford where the rest of our party was camped. On our way we saw plenty of Indian signs, and finally found one of their camps hidden away in a dense little hammock; only a squaw and some picaninnies were at home and they seemed to be very much alarmed at our visit, we did not stay long, but went on about a mile further and found our camp.
"Old Fort Shackelford" had been so often mentioned as a definite place that I expected to find our camp in the midst of some picturesque old ruins, the relics of the last Indian war, or in any event to see the remains of an old stockade, or some evidence of the soldier camps which had been made there. Ft. Shackelford, however, is merely a clump of pine trees on the edge of the prairie bordering the Everglades, where common report says Fort Shackelford was located. Not a vestige or sign of the fort remains, which is not surprising, consisting the whole fortification probably consisted of a small stockade which was perhaps burned by the Indians as soon as the soldiers left it.
To the east of our camp about four miles off lay the unexplored Everglades, but as this was Saturday and we were too tired, we decided not to enter them until Monday morning.
The ox team we had sent before us from Ft. Myers was waiting at Ft. Shackelford when we came up, and that afternoon went down to the waters' edge and unloaded the boats and things loaded on it. To mark our camp, and render it a conspicuous object for some miles around Mr. Newman hoisted to the top of one of the highest pines a large flag made from a piece of canvas, on which he marked in black ink the Plant Investment Company's emblem, a Maltese Cross.
That afternoon we were visited by the old squaw and picaninnies we had seen in their camp that morning; we fed them as well as our larder would permit, and the old woman, (Nancy she said was her name,) grew very talkative for an Indian. She was much amused at the idea of our going to Miami, and when we asked how long it would take us to get there, laughed and said; "Indian, two days; white man, ten, fifteen days." Pointing to the north she advised us to go that way, for north of Okeechobee she said we could take our wagons to Miami. She told us she had been to Miami and that it was a hundred miles from Shackelford, but we knew she was mistaken about the distance, for as the crow flies it was only about one half that distance. This old woman said she had been Jumper's squaw, but that a few days before our arrival Jumper "had got big drunk", and falling out of his canoe had been drowned; also that she lived with Billy Conepache, or "Little Billy", who had married her daughter. That all her men were at Chockiliskee hunting, and her daughters had gone to the nearest trading post, some 25 or 30 miles away. Finally, about dark, finding we had nothing more to give her, she and the two children took their departure.
Text:
CAMP NO. 4, Saturday Mar. 19th.
During the night the temperature continued to fall reaching 40 at 3 A.M. and 38 at sunrise. The wind still heavy from the N.W.
Broke camp at 6:40 A.M. and marched a nearly S.E. course 10 miles, pitching our tents on the site of old Fort Shackleford at 10:20 A.M.
CAMP NO. 5.
From noon yesterday until today the soil was apparently underlaid with the rock mentioned in the record of the 18th. Four of the party left the teams, after starting this morning on a hunting trip, going some two or more miles to the southward and following a course parallel to the line of march, reaching camp about an hour after the wagons. They brought in one snipe and the head and skin of a large wildcat. They found an indian camp about one mile N.W. of present camp occupied by a squaw, whom the Mr. Hendry's called Nancy, and three grandchildren of about 2, 4, _ 6 years, 2 or 3 dogs and a lot of chickens. She graciously received the party and gave them such information as possible to understand, her stock of english being apparently quite limited. The children were noticeable for their dignity and reserve, - much more so than with Anglo-Saxons of the same age. The little girl of 6 was rather light colored and had regular features. She was ornamented with a necklace of various colored beads. The children were fat and healthy.
Game continued very scarce being much more plentiful in the more thickly settled portions of the state.
The Indian squaw, Nancy, with the little girl above-mentioned called upon us in camp before dinner and was furnished with a meal. Several kodak shots were made by Mr. Chase of them. Upon being questioned in regard to the distance to Miami, she replied 100 miles and that an Indian could go from Shackleford to Miami in 4 days and accompanied with a chuckle, that it would take a white man 10 days which indicated amusement at their inferiority as compared with Indians ability in the woods or glades.
Nancy claims to be the widow of Osceola, the great Chief of that name. She is the widow [mother?], also of Billy Jumper, who was drowned in the Miami river some 10 days or 2 weeks since. They call death "Big Sleep". Her age was said to be 75. She was a little girl at the time of the Indian War, as we elicited by questions. She is well preserved and evidently enjoys good health. She told us that the Indians of her camp were down in the Big Cypress hunting. That only a few remained in this neighborhood. There is certainly not sufficient game in the section we have crossed to support any large number of people. Mr. George Hendry who with his brother Mr. Frank Hendry accompanied us from Myers to this point, estimated the total number of Indians in this section of the state not to exceed 60 or 75 and not over 250 or 300 in the whole state.
The afternoon was spent in arranging for a start into the Everglades on Monday, Sunday being needed to finish our preparations and to get rested up.
We selected the tallest pine tree at this camp and erected thereon attached to a pole fastened to the top of a tree, a flag emblazoned with the emblem of the Plant System, - a maltese cross with the "P" in the center.
Discharged and paid off Mr. Frank Hendry with one horse wagon and Mr. Thomas Haskew with two horse team of Mr. N.L. Langford's they will return to Myers tomorrow.
Mr. Wesley Boyd concluded he had sufficient of the expedition and will return with the teams to Ft. Myers. March 19th. Broke camp at 6:20. Mercury at 38 at 5 A.M. Heavy gale from north-west all night. Began wading 200 feet from camp; water very cold. Country wet, but ground firm and open prairie. Cypress heads and sloughs; open country; grass good, waist high. Went into camp at Ft. Shackleford 11 A.M.
Mr. Geo Hendry says his father, who has resided in this country many years pointed out this pine island as the site of the old Fort: only a few supposed rifle pits now show. Is located in [Handwritten note: 25 m SSW of S.E. corner of Lake Okeechobee approx. where Ind. Reservation is marked on map. Map not included.]
We start survey of line to Miami from here on Monday.
At noon Lucy, an old Indian squaw, and her grand-daughter came into camp to dinner. Lucy is 75 years old, - bright and talkative. Says she was a wife of Osceola, the great chief. The grand-daughter is the daughter of Billy Bowlegs. Two Indian villages or camps are near; one a mile and a half north, the other two miles south-west.
Mr. Hendry says Jack Robeson located Sam Jones Old Town two miles north of Shackleford. [Arrow is drawn pointing to handwritten note above]
Launched our boats at the Indian landing on the edge of Everglades 2 miles and a half east this afternoon.
Weather very cold, - wind N.W. and a half a gale. Next morning, Saturday, I decided to go with Frank Hendry and Moses by a different route from that which the wagons were to take, to try and kill some game. We had not gone far from camp when we heard the baying of our dogs coming rapidly toward us; we were standing ankle deep in water and just in the edge of some young cypress trees no higher than our heads, when I saw a deer on the run in the edge of the swamp about one hundred yards to our right. As I had only a shot gun I did not fire, supposing the distance to be too great for me to kill, but Hendry who had a rifle and was standing about ten yards back of me, shot and missed. Hardly had that deer disappeared before I saw another one heading straight for me at the top of his speed. Now, thought I, is the time for me to make a reputation as a hunter; I'll wait until he comes as close to me as he will, and then I'll drop him in his tracks. Hardly had the thought passed when the deer was upon me,- I took deliberate aim and fired a load of No. 8 bird shot into his flank. I thought that deer was going fast before I fired, but those bird shot seemed to make him fly. The instant after my shot I recollected I had that barrel loaded for snipe, and sent my load of buckshot whistling after, but all to no purpose, and all I could do was to watch that deer make tracks twenty feet apart across that prairie, while Frank Hendry took long range shots with the rifle at him.
Very much crestfallen at our failure, and vowing to do better next time, we took our way towards camp and had hardly gone two miles when the baying of the dogs announced they were again on the trail of some game animal. From the actions of the dogs we surmised it was a wildcat, and peeping about amongst the bushes Frank Hendry soon got a shot. He shot at the cat in a thick swamp and while he was certain he had not missed it, he did not know that his shot had been fatal. A wild cat [wounded] is a very savage and dangerous foe, and as the dogs had gone off on back track we had to venture in without them. We peeped cautiously about us as we advanced, fearing the cat would spring on us from some bush or limb and take us unawares, but just at this time the dogs came back, and dashing in found our game shot dead by a bullet through his fore shoulders. After skinning the cat and taking a small piece of his meat for Moses to taste and see whether or not it was good eating, we pushed rapidly on towards Ft. Shackelford where the rest of our party was camped. On our way we saw plenty of Indian signs, and finally found one of their camps hidden away in a dense little hammock; only a squaw and some picaninnies were at home and they seemed to be very much alarmed at our visit, we did not stay long, but went on about a mile further and found our camp.
"Old Fort Shackelford" had been so often mentioned as a definite place that I expected to find our camp in the midst of some picturesque old ruins, the relics of the last Indian war, or in any event to see the remains of an old stockade, or some evidence of the soldier camps which had been made there. Ft. Shackelford, however, is merely a clump of pine trees on the edge of the prairie bordering the Everglades, where common report says Fort Shackelford was located. Not a vestige or sign of the fort remains, which is not surprising, consisting the whole fortification probably consisted of a small stockade which was perhaps burned by the Indians as soon as the soldiers left it.
To the east of our camp about four miles off lay the unexplored Everglades, but as this was Saturday and we were too tired, we decided not to enter them until Monday morning.
The ox team we had sent before us from Ft. Myers was waiting at Ft. Shackelford when we came up, and that afternoon went down to the waters' edge and unloaded the boats and things loaded on it. To mark our camp, and render it a conspicuous object for some miles around Mr. Newman hoisted to the top of one of the highest pines a large flag made from a piece of canvas, on which he marked in black ink the Plant Investment Company's emblem, a Maltese Cross.
That afternoon we were visited by the old squaw and picaninnies we had seen in their camp that morning; we fed them as well as our larder would permit, and the old woman, (Nancy she said was her name,) grew very talkative for an Indian. She was much amused at the idea of our going to Miami, and when we asked how long it would take us to get there, laughed and said; "Indian, two days; white man, ten, fifteen days." Pointing to the north she advised us to go that way, for north of Okeechobee she said we could take our wagons to Miami. She told us she had been to Miami and that it was a hundred miles from Shackelford, but we knew she was mistaken about the distance, for as the crow flies it was only about one half that distance. This old woman said she had been Jumper's squaw, but that a few days before our arrival Jumper "had got big drunk", and falling out of his canoe had been drowned; also that she lived with Billy Conepache, or "Little Billy", who had married her daughter. That all her men were at Chockiliskee hunting, and her daughters had gone to the nearest trading post, some 25 or 30 miles away. Finally, about dark, finding we had nothing more to give her, she and the two children took their departure.
During the night the temperature continued to fall reaching 40 at 3 A.M. and 38 at sunrise. The wind still heavy from the N.W.
Broke camp at 6:40 A.M. and marched a nearly S.E. course 10 miles, pitching our tents on the site of old Fort Shackleford at 10:20 A.M.
CAMP NO. 5.
From noon yesterday until today the soil was apparently underlaid with the rock mentioned in the record of the 18th. Four of the party left the teams, after starting this morning on a hunting trip, going some two or more miles to the southward and following a course parallel to the line of march, reaching camp about an hour after the wagons. They brought in one snipe and the head and skin of a large wildcat. They found an indian camp about one mile N.W. of present camp occupied by a squaw, whom the Mr. Hendry's called Nancy, and three grandchildren of about 2, 4, _ 6 years, 2 or 3 dogs and a lot of chickens. She graciously received the party and gave them such information as possible to understand, her stock of english being apparently quite limited. The children were noticeable for their dignity and reserve, - much more so than with Anglo-Saxons of the same age. The little girl of 6 was rather light colored and had regular features. She was ornamented with a necklace of various colored beads. The children were fat and healthy.
Game continued very scarce being much more plentiful in the more thickly settled portions of the state.
The Indian squaw, Nancy, with the little girl above-mentioned called upon us in camp before dinner and was furnished with a meal. Several kodak shots were made by Mr. Chase of them. Upon being questioned in regard to the distance to Miami, she replied 100 miles and that an Indian could go from Shackleford to Miami in 4 days and accompanied with a chuckle, that it would take a white man 10 days which indicated amusement at their inferiority as compared with Indians ability in the woods or glades.
Nancy claims to be the widow of Osceola, the great Chief of that name. She is the widow [mother?], also of Billy Jumper, who was drowned in the Miami river some 10 days or 2 weeks since. They call death "Big Sleep". Her age was said to be 75. She was a little girl at the time of the Indian War, as we elicited by questions. She is well preserved and evidently enjoys good health. She told us that the Indians of her camp were down in the Big Cypress hunting. That only a few remained in this neighborhood. There is certainly not sufficient game in the section we have crossed to support any large number of people. Mr. George Hendry who with his brother Mr. Frank Hendry accompanied us from Myers to this point, estimated the total number of Indians in this section of the state not to exceed 60 or 75 and not over 250 or 300 in the whole state.
The afternoon was spent in arranging for a start into the Everglades on Monday, Sunday being needed to finish our preparations and to get rested up.
We selected the tallest pine tree at this camp and erected thereon attached to a pole fastened to the top of a tree, a flag emblazoned with the emblem of the Plant System, - a maltese cross with the "P" in the center.
Discharged and paid off Mr. Frank Hendry with one horse wagon and Mr. Thomas Haskew with two horse team of Mr. N.L. Langford's they will return to Myers tomorrow.
Mr. Wesley Boyd concluded he had sufficient of the expedition and will return with the teams to Ft. Myers. March 19th. Broke camp at 6:20. Mercury at 38 at 5 A.M. Heavy gale from north-west all night. Began wading 200 feet from camp; water very cold. Country wet, but ground firm and open prairie. Cypress heads and sloughs; open country; grass good, waist high. Went into camp at Ft. Shackleford 11 A.M.
Mr. Geo Hendry says his father, who has resided in this country many years pointed out this pine island as the site of the old Fort: only a few supposed rifle pits now show. Is located in [Handwritten note: 25 m SSW of S.E. corner of Lake Okeechobee approx. where Ind. Reservation is marked on map. Map not included.]
We start survey of line to Miami from here on Monday.
At noon Lucy, an old Indian squaw, and her grand-daughter came into camp to dinner. Lucy is 75 years old, - bright and talkative. Says she was a wife of Osceola, the great chief. The grand-daughter is the daughter of Billy Bowlegs. Two Indian villages or camps are near; one a mile and a half north, the other two miles south-west.
Mr. Hendry says Jack Robeson located Sam Jones Old Town two miles north of Shackleford. [Arrow is drawn pointing to handwritten note above]
Launched our boats at the Indian landing on the edge of Everglades 2 miles and a half east this afternoon.
Weather very cold, - wind N.W. and a half a gale. Next morning, Saturday, I decided to go with Frank Hendry and Moses by a different route from that which the wagons were to take, to try and kill some game. We had not gone far from camp when we heard the baying of our dogs coming rapidly toward us; we were standing ankle deep in water and just in the edge of some young cypress trees no higher than our heads, when I saw a deer on the run in the edge of the swamp about one hundred yards to our right. As I had only a shot gun I did not fire, supposing the distance to be too great for me to kill, but Hendry who had a rifle and was standing about ten yards back of me, shot and missed. Hardly had that deer disappeared before I saw another one heading straight for me at the top of his speed. Now, thought I, is the time for me to make a reputation as a hunter; I'll wait until he comes as close to me as he will, and then I'll drop him in his tracks. Hardly had the thought passed when the deer was upon me,- I took deliberate aim and fired a load of No. 8 bird shot into his flank. I thought that deer was going fast before I fired, but those bird shot seemed to make him fly. The instant after my shot I recollected I had that barrel loaded for snipe, and sent my load of buckshot whistling after, but all to no purpose, and all I could do was to watch that deer make tracks twenty feet apart across that prairie, while Frank Hendry took long range shots with the rifle at him.
Very much crestfallen at our failure, and vowing to do better next time, we took our way towards camp and had hardly gone two miles when the baying of the dogs announced they were again on the trail of some game animal. From the actions of the dogs we surmised it was a wildcat, and peeping about amongst the bushes Frank Hendry soon got a shot. He shot at the cat in a thick swamp and while he was certain he had not missed it, he did not know that his shot had been fatal. A wild cat [wounded] is a very savage and dangerous foe, and as the dogs had gone off on back track we had to venture in without them. We peeped cautiously about us as we advanced, fearing the cat would spring on us from some bush or limb and take us unawares, but just at this time the dogs came back, and dashing in found our game shot dead by a bullet through his fore shoulders. After skinning the cat and taking a small piece of his meat for Moses to taste and see whether or not it was good eating, we pushed rapidly on towards Ft. Shackelford where the rest of our party was camped. On our way we saw plenty of Indian signs, and finally found one of their camps hidden away in a dense little hammock; only a squaw and some picaninnies were at home and they seemed to be very much alarmed at our visit, we did not stay long, but went on about a mile further and found our camp.
"Old Fort Shackelford" had been so often mentioned as a definite place that I expected to find our camp in the midst of some picturesque old ruins, the relics of the last Indian war, or in any event to see the remains of an old stockade, or some evidence of the soldier camps which had been made there. Ft. Shackelford, however, is merely a clump of pine trees on the edge of the prairie bordering the Everglades, where common report says Fort Shackelford was located. Not a vestige or sign of the fort remains, which is not surprising, consisting the whole fortification probably consisted of a small stockade which was perhaps burned by the Indians as soon as the soldiers left it.
To the east of our camp about four miles off lay the unexplored Everglades, but as this was Saturday and we were too tired, we decided not to enter them until Monday morning.
The ox team we had sent before us from Ft. Myers was waiting at Ft. Shackelford when we came up, and that afternoon went down to the waters' edge and unloaded the boats and things loaded on it. To mark our camp, and render it a conspicuous object for some miles around Mr. Newman hoisted to the top of one of the highest pines a large flag made from a piece of canvas, on which he marked in black ink the Plant Investment Company's emblem, a Maltese Cross.
That afternoon we were visited by the old squaw and picaninnies we had seen in their camp that morning; we fed them as well as our larder would permit, and the old woman, (Nancy she said was her name,) grew very talkative for an Indian. She was much amused at the idea of our going to Miami, and when we asked how long it would take us to get there, laughed and said; "Indian, two days; white man, ten, fifteen days." Pointing to the north she advised us to go that way, for north of Okeechobee she said we could take our wagons to Miami. She told us she had been to Miami and that it was a hundred miles from Shackelford, but we knew she was mistaken about the distance, for as the crow flies it was only about one half that distance. This old woman said she had been Jumper's squaw, but that a few days before our arrival Jumper "had got big drunk", and falling out of his canoe had been drowned; also that she lived with Billy Conepache, or "Little Billy", who had married her daughter. That all her men were at Chockiliskee hunting, and her daughters had gone to the nearest trading post, some 25 or 30 miles away. Finally, about dark, finding we had nothing more to give her, she and the two children took their departure.
Text:
CAMP NO. 4, Saturday Mar. 19th.
During the night the temperature continued to fall reaching 40 at 3 A.M. and 38 at sunrise. The wind still heavy from the N.W.
Broke camp at 6:40 A.M. and marched a nearly S.E. course 10 miles, pitching our tents on the site of old Fort Shackleford at 10:20 A.M.
CAMP NO. 5.
From noon yesterday until today the soil was apparently underlaid with the rock mentioned in the record of the 18th. Four of the party left the teams, after starting this morning on a hunting trip, going some two or more miles to the southward and following a course parallel to the line of march, reaching camp about an hour after the wagons. They brought in one snipe and the head and skin of a large wildcat. They found an indian camp about one mile N.W. of present camp occupied by a squaw, whom the Mr. Hendry's called Nancy, and three grandchildren of about 2, 4, _ 6 years, 2 or 3 dogs and a lot of chickens. She graciously received the party and gave them such information as possible to understand, her stock of english being apparently quite limited. The children were noticeable for their dignity and reserve, - much more so than with Anglo-Saxons of the same age. The little girl of 6 was rather light colored and had regular features. She was ornamented with a necklace of various colored beads. The children were fat and healthy.
Game continued very scarce being much more plentiful in the more thickly settled portions of the state.
The Indian squaw, Nancy, with the little girl above-mentioned called upon us in camp before dinner and was furnished with a meal. Several kodak shots were made by Mr. Chase of them. Upon being questioned in regard to the distance to Miami, she replied 100 miles and that an Indian could go from Shackleford to Miami in 4 days and accompanied with a chuckle, that it would take a white man 10 days which indicated amusement at their inferiority as compared with Indians ability in the woods or glades.
Nancy claims to be the widow of Osceola, the great Chief of that name. She is the widow [mother?], also of Billy Jumper, who was drowned in the Miami river some 10 days or 2 weeks since. They call death "Big Sleep". Her age was said to be 75. She was a little girl at the time of the Indian War, as we elicited by questions. She is well preserved and evidently enjoys good health. She told us that the Indians of her camp were down in the Big Cypress hunting. That only a few remained in this neighborhood. There is certainly not sufficient game in the section we have crossed to support any large number of people. Mr. George Hendry who with his brother Mr. Frank Hendry accompanied us from Myers to this point, estimated the total number of Indians in this section of the state not to exceed 60 or 75 and not over 250 or 300 in the whole state.
The afternoon was spent in arranging for a start into the Everglades on Monday, Sunday being needed to finish our preparations and to get rested up.
We selected the tallest pine tree at this camp and erected thereon attached to a pole fastened to the top of a tree, a flag emblazoned with the emblem of the Plant System, - a maltese cross with the "P" in the center.
Discharged and paid off Mr. Frank Hendry with one horse wagon and Mr. Thomas Haskew with two horse team of Mr. N.L. Langford's they will return to Myers tomorrow.
Mr. Wesley Boyd concluded he had sufficient of the expedition and will return with the teams to Ft. Myers. March 19th. Broke camp at 6:20. Mercury at 38 at 5 A.M. Heavy gale from north-west all night. Began wading 200 feet from camp; water very cold. Country wet, but ground firm and open prairie. Cypress heads and sloughs; open country; grass good, waist high. Went into camp at Ft. Shackleford 11 A.M.
Mr. Geo Hendry says his father, who has resided in this country many years pointed out this pine island as the site of the old Fort: only a few supposed rifle pits now show. Is located in [Handwritten note: 25 m SSW of S.E. corner of Lake Okeechobee approx. where Ind. Reservation is marked on map. Map not included.]
We start survey of line to Miami from here on Monday.
At noon Lucy, an old Indian squaw, and her grand-daughter came into camp to dinner. Lucy is 75 years old, - bright and talkative. Says she was a wife of Osceola, the great chief. The grand-daughter is the daughter of Billy Bowlegs. Two Indian villages or camps are near; one a mile and a half north, the other two miles south-west.
Mr. Hendry says Jack Robeson located Sam Jones Old Town two miles north of Shackleford. [Arrow is drawn pointing to handwritten note above]
Launched our boats at the Indian landing on the edge of Everglades 2 miles and a half east this afternoon.
Weather very cold, - wind N.W. and a half a gale. Next morning, Saturday, I decided to go with Frank Hendry and Moses by a different route from that which the wagons were to take, to try and kill some game. We had not gone far from camp when we heard the baying of our dogs coming rapidly toward us; we were standing ankle deep in water and just in the edge of some young cypress trees no higher than our heads, when I saw a deer on the run in the edge of the swamp about one hundred yards to our right. As I had only a shot gun I did not fire, supposing the distance to be too great for me to kill, but Hendry who had a rifle and was standing about ten yards back of me, shot and missed. Hardly had that deer disappeared before I saw another one heading straight for me at the top of his speed. Now, thought I, is the time for me to make a reputation as a hunter; I'll wait until he comes as close to me as he will, and then I'll drop him in his tracks. Hardly had the thought passed when the deer was upon me,- I took deliberate aim and fired a load of No. 8 bird shot into his flank. I thought that deer was going fast before I fired, but those bird shot seemed to make him fly. The instant after my shot I recollected I had that barrel loaded for snipe, and sent my load of buckshot whistling after, but all to no purpose, and all I could do was to watch that deer make tracks twenty feet apart across that prairie, while Frank Hendry took long range shots with the rifle at him.
Very much crestfallen at our failure, and vowing to do better next time, we took our way towards camp and had hardly gone two miles when the baying of the dogs announced they were again on the trail of some game animal. From the actions of the dogs we surmised it was a wildcat, and peeping about amongst the bushes Frank Hendry soon got a shot. He shot at the cat in a thick swamp and while he was certain he had not missed it, he did not know that his shot had been fatal. A wild cat [wounded] is a very savage and dangerous foe, and as the dogs had gone off on back track we had to venture in without them. We peeped cautiously about us as we advanced, fearing the cat would spring on us from some bush or limb and take us unawares, but just at this time the dogs came back, and dashing in found our game shot dead by a bullet through his fore shoulders. After skinning the cat and taking a small piece of his meat for Moses to taste and see whether or not it was good eating, we pushed rapidly on towards Ft. Shackelford where the rest of our party was camped. On our way we saw plenty of Indian signs, and finally found one of their camps hidden away in a dense little hammock; only a squaw and some picaninnies were at home and they seemed to be very much alarmed at our visit, we did not stay long, but went on about a mile further and found our camp.
"Old Fort Shackelford" had been so often mentioned as a definite place that I expected to find our camp in the midst of some picturesque old ruins, the relics of the last Indian war, or in any event to see the remains of an old stockade, or some evidence of the soldier camps which had been made there. Ft. Shackelford, however, is merely a clump of pine trees on the edge of the prairie bordering the Everglades, where common report says Fort Shackelford was located. Not a vestige or sign of the fort remains, which is not surprising, consisting the whole fortification probably consisted of a small stockade which was perhaps burned by the Indians as soon as the soldiers left it.
To the east of our camp about four miles off lay the unexplored Everglades, but as this was Saturday and we were too tired, we decided not to enter them until Monday morning.
The ox team we had sent before us from Ft. Myers was waiting at Ft. Shackelford when we came up, and that afternoon went down to the waters' edge and unloaded the boats and things loaded on it. To mark our camp, and render it a conspicuous object for some miles around Mr. Newman hoisted to the top of one of the highest pines a large flag made from a piece of canvas, on which he marked in black ink the Plant Investment Company's emblem, a Maltese Cross.
That afternoon we were visited by the old squaw and picaninnies we had seen in their camp that morning; we fed them as well as our larder would permit, and the old woman, (Nancy she said was her name,) grew very talkative for an Indian. She was much amused at the idea of our going to Miami, and when we asked how long it would take us to get there, laughed and said; "Indian, two days; white man, ten, fifteen days." Pointing to the north she advised us to go that way, for north of Okeechobee she said we could take our wagons to Miami. She told us she had been to Miami and that it was a hundred miles from Shackelford, but we knew she was mistaken about the distance, for as the crow flies it was only about one half that distance. This old woman said she had been Jumper's squaw, but that a few days before our arrival Jumper "had got big drunk", and falling out of his canoe had been drowned; also that she lived with Billy Conepache, or "Little Billy", who had married her daughter. That all her men were at Chockiliskee hunting, and her daughters had gone to the nearest trading post, some 25 or 30 miles away. Finally, about dark, finding we had nothing more to give her, she and the two children took their departure.
During the night the temperature continued to fall reaching 40 at 3 A.M. and 38 at sunrise. The wind still heavy from the N.W.
Broke camp at 6:40 A.M. and marched a nearly S.E. course 10 miles, pitching our tents on the site of old Fort Shackleford at 10:20 A.M.
CAMP NO. 5.
From noon yesterday until today the soil was apparently underlaid with the rock mentioned in the record of the 18th. Four of the party left the teams, after starting this morning on a hunting trip, going some two or more miles to the southward and following a course parallel to the line of march, reaching camp about an hour after the wagons. They brought in one snipe and the head and skin of a large wildcat. They found an indian camp about one mile N.W. of present camp occupied by a squaw, whom the Mr. Hendry's called Nancy, and three grandchildren of about 2, 4, _ 6 years, 2 or 3 dogs and a lot of chickens. She graciously received the party and gave them such information as possible to understand, her stock of english being apparently quite limited. The children were noticeable for their dignity and reserve, - much more so than with Anglo-Saxons of the same age. The little girl of 6 was rather light colored and had regular features. She was ornamented with a necklace of various colored beads. The children were fat and healthy.
Game continued very scarce being much more plentiful in the more thickly settled portions of the state.
The Indian squaw, Nancy, with the little girl above-mentioned called upon us in camp before dinner and was furnished with a meal. Several kodak shots were made by Mr. Chase of them. Upon being questioned in regard to the distance to Miami, she replied 100 miles and that an Indian could go from Shackleford to Miami in 4 days and accompanied with a chuckle, that it would take a white man 10 days which indicated amusement at their inferiority as compared with Indians ability in the woods or glades.
Nancy claims to be the widow of Osceola, the great Chief of that name. She is the widow [mother?], also of Billy Jumper, who was drowned in the Miami river some 10 days or 2 weeks since. They call death "Big Sleep". Her age was said to be 75. She was a little girl at the time of the Indian War, as we elicited by questions. She is well preserved and evidently enjoys good health. She told us that the Indians of her camp were down in the Big Cypress hunting. That only a few remained in this neighborhood. There is certainly not sufficient game in the section we have crossed to support any large number of people. Mr. George Hendry who with his brother Mr. Frank Hendry accompanied us from Myers to this point, estimated the total number of Indians in this section of the state not to exceed 60 or 75 and not over 250 or 300 in the whole state.
The afternoon was spent in arranging for a start into the Everglades on Monday, Sunday being needed to finish our preparations and to get rested up.
We selected the tallest pine tree at this camp and erected thereon attached to a pole fastened to the top of a tree, a flag emblazoned with the emblem of the Plant System, - a maltese cross with the "P" in the center.
Discharged and paid off Mr. Frank Hendry with one horse wagon and Mr. Thomas Haskew with two horse team of Mr. N.L. Langford's they will return to Myers tomorrow.
Mr. Wesley Boyd concluded he had sufficient of the expedition and will return with the teams to Ft. Myers. March 19th. Broke camp at 6:20. Mercury at 38 at 5 A.M. Heavy gale from north-west all night. Began wading 200 feet from camp; water very cold. Country wet, but ground firm and open prairie. Cypress heads and sloughs; open country; grass good, waist high. Went into camp at Ft. Shackleford 11 A.M.
Mr. Geo Hendry says his father, who has resided in this country many years pointed out this pine island as the site of the old Fort: only a few supposed rifle pits now show. Is located in [Handwritten note: 25 m SSW of S.E. corner of Lake Okeechobee approx. where Ind. Reservation is marked on map. Map not included.]
We start survey of line to Miami from here on Monday.
At noon Lucy, an old Indian squaw, and her grand-daughter came into camp to dinner. Lucy is 75 years old, - bright and talkative. Says she was a wife of Osceola, the great chief. The grand-daughter is the daughter of Billy Bowlegs. Two Indian villages or camps are near; one a mile and a half north, the other two miles south-west.
Mr. Hendry says Jack Robeson located Sam Jones Old Town two miles north of Shackleford. [Arrow is drawn pointing to handwritten note above]
Launched our boats at the Indian landing on the edge of Everglades 2 miles and a half east this afternoon.
Weather very cold, - wind N.W. and a half a gale. Next morning, Saturday, I decided to go with Frank Hendry and Moses by a different route from that which the wagons were to take, to try and kill some game. We had not gone far from camp when we heard the baying of our dogs coming rapidly toward us; we were standing ankle deep in water and just in the edge of some young cypress trees no higher than our heads, when I saw a deer on the run in the edge of the swamp about one hundred yards to our right. As I had only a shot gun I did not fire, supposing the distance to be too great for me to kill, but Hendry who had a rifle and was standing about ten yards back of me, shot and missed. Hardly had that deer disappeared before I saw another one heading straight for me at the top of his speed. Now, thought I, is the time for me to make a reputation as a hunter; I'll wait until he comes as close to me as he will, and then I'll drop him in his tracks. Hardly had the thought passed when the deer was upon me,- I took deliberate aim and fired a load of No. 8 bird shot into his flank. I thought that deer was going fast before I fired, but those bird shot seemed to make him fly. The instant after my shot I recollected I had that barrel loaded for snipe, and sent my load of buckshot whistling after, but all to no purpose, and all I could do was to watch that deer make tracks twenty feet apart across that prairie, while Frank Hendry took long range shots with the rifle at him.
Very much crestfallen at our failure, and vowing to do better next time, we took our way towards camp and had hardly gone two miles when the baying of the dogs announced they were again on the trail of some game animal. From the actions of the dogs we surmised it was a wildcat, and peeping about amongst the bushes Frank Hendry soon got a shot. He shot at the cat in a thick swamp and while he was certain he had not missed it, he did not know that his shot had been fatal. A wild cat [wounded] is a very savage and dangerous foe, and as the dogs had gone off on back track we had to venture in without them. We peeped cautiously about us as we advanced, fearing the cat would spring on us from some bush or limb and take us unawares, but just at this time the dogs came back, and dashing in found our game shot dead by a bullet through his fore shoulders. After skinning the cat and taking a small piece of his meat for Moses to taste and see whether or not it was good eating, we pushed rapidly on towards Ft. Shackelford where the rest of our party was camped. On our way we saw plenty of Indian signs, and finally found one of their camps hidden away in a dense little hammock; only a squaw and some picaninnies were at home and they seemed to be very much alarmed at our visit, we did not stay long, but went on about a mile further and found our camp.
"Old Fort Shackelford" had been so often mentioned as a definite place that I expected to find our camp in the midst of some picturesque old ruins, the relics of the last Indian war, or in any event to see the remains of an old stockade, or some evidence of the soldier camps which had been made there. Ft. Shackelford, however, is merely a clump of pine trees on the edge of the prairie bordering the Everglades, where common report says Fort Shackelford was located. Not a vestige or sign of the fort remains, which is not surprising, consisting the whole fortification probably consisted of a small stockade which was perhaps burned by the Indians as soon as the soldiers left it.
To the east of our camp about four miles off lay the unexplored Everglades, but as this was Saturday and we were too tired, we decided not to enter them until Monday morning.
The ox team we had sent before us from Ft. Myers was waiting at Ft. Shackelford when we came up, and that afternoon went down to the waters' edge and unloaded the boats and things loaded on it. To mark our camp, and render it a conspicuous object for some miles around Mr. Newman hoisted to the top of one of the highest pines a large flag made from a piece of canvas, on which he marked in black ink the Plant Investment Company's emblem, a Maltese Cross.
That afternoon we were visited by the old squaw and picaninnies we had seen in their camp that morning; we fed them as well as our larder would permit, and the old woman, (Nancy she said was her name,) grew very talkative for an Indian. She was much amused at the idea of our going to Miami, and when we asked how long it would take us to get there, laughed and said; "Indian, two days; white man, ten, fifteen days." Pointing to the north she advised us to go that way, for north of Okeechobee she said we could take our wagons to Miami. She told us she had been to Miami and that it was a hundred miles from Shackelford, but we knew she was mistaken about the distance, for as the crow flies it was only about one half that distance. This old woman said she had been Jumper's squaw, but that a few days before our arrival Jumper "had got big drunk", and falling out of his canoe had been drowned; also that she lived with Billy Conepache, or "Little Billy", who had married her daughter. That all her men were at Chockiliskee hunting, and her daughters had gone to the nearest trading post, some 25 or 30 miles away. Finally, about dark, finding we had nothing more to give her, she and the two children took their departure.
Textual Notes