3
prison. This is what I have heard. I have heard it was at
Moultrie, North Carolina [Fort Moultrie, South Carolina] that he
spent the last day of his life. This is what I have heard.
C: Were both Osceola and Coacoochee sent to Fort Moultrie, in North
Carolina [South Carolina], and both imprisoned there?
O: No, they were imprisoned at St. Augustine.
C: When did the reservation begin here? (Brighton Reservation.)
0: 1936. Long time before that time it was understood that this
would be a place set aside for the Seminoles. They were some-
what neglected until 1936. Within the year 1936 special pro-
grams came about. They started in Brighton.
C: In this area, could you tell me some of the Seminole wars that
took place? Do you know any stories that you have heard?
O: I am not too sure of what happened here. I remember hearing
that the battles took place in the southeast area of Okeechobee.
The Indians would be in hiding, but the white men would seek
them out and take them as prisoners. This is where they fought
at. In those areas, the death toll for the whites was high.
But what happen after that, or where the people went, I have
not heard. After these needless wars, we are the remnants of
those who resisted.
There was an old man who died by the name of Billy Bowlegs
[Billy Bowlegs III] who told me many stories about historical
events. I heard him tell about the Battle of Okeechobee.
C: It was probably Billy Bowlegs's grandfather's property I have heard
about. He had a garden with pumpkins, potatoes, and other vege-
tables, and white surveyors came and ruined his garden. Have
you heard this story?
O: No, I have not. But I do know the intruders ruined a lot of
things--killed the children, stole horses from them (the
Seminoles.)
C: Yesterday I was speaking with a woman who said many Indians
were imprisoned in St. Augustine. Stories were told that
at one time the Indians found some of the people starving,
and found children who were merely skin and bones. Have you
heard anything of this sort?
O: I don't know anything about that. What have you heard?
(End of that ocnversation. Mr. Osceola was somewhat reluctant
to talk about such historical events. Although he did in-
dicate that one day he would be willing to tell what little he
has heard.)