JOSE MARIO HERNANDEZ
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The attaokers so n found themselves in tha presence of royalty for
there stood ZING PHILIP the prinoipal chief of tha St. Johns River Indi¬
ans. naked as ha was born exoapt the breeoh-cloth and oovered with tha most
un-kingly dirt; for Lieutenant May striking on his spurs dashed up to tha
savage who was compelled to out divers involuntary somersaults on tha
ground under the impetus communicated by May's oharger. Though soon a cap¬
tive, there was a sterness in the chief's dark eyes that told his spirit was
unquelled. The entire Indian party was oaptured exoapt Philip's youngest
son, a lad of 18 years, who escaped into the adjoining hammock where any
attempt to find him would have been impossible.
among the prisoners taken was an Indian called Tomoka John who subse¬
quently beoarae very useful. There also were a number of women and children
taken, the former miserable, blackened, hag.arded, shrivelled, smoke dried,
and half-clad devils— the later ugly little nudities. Although a few guns
were fired the oapture was affected without blood-shed on either side, A
large quantity of ooontle, both red and white, was found in the oamp, Tha
soldiers took off all they oould oarry and destroyed the rest. Several
ponies were also found.
Upon questioning the Indians it was learned that there was a oamp of
Uohee Indians about ten miles from where the Zing Philip oapture was made.
Among this group was UCHEE BILLY, one of the roost oelabrated and formidable
chiefs in Florida and who was onoe reported killed by the South Carolina
Volunteers. Tomoka John offered to guide to their plaoa of concealment if
he was unbound, so the soldiers took him at his word.
Ha lad the way In alienee for several miles; than gave tha troop to
understand that tha rest of the journey must be negotiated on foot as tha