CHIEF OSCEOLA

With the capture of Osceola in 1837--he is then placed in Fort Castillo de San Marcos here in St. Augustine, Fl. While in his jail cell he refused to eat or drink and was becoming very thin. Osceola was a man well over six foot two inches and a striking figure. Osceola made several attempts to escape from the Fort by squeezing through the metal cell bars. Once freed he would scale down the coquina block surface of the Fort and be recaptured attempting to cross the watery Moat.

In December of 1837, Captain Pitcairn Morrison made arrangements and transferred Osceola and 202 other prisoners to Fort Moultrie in South Carolina. Osceola and the other Seminole Indians traveled by steamship "Poinsett" and landed on Sullivan's Island on New Year's Day 1838. Osceola was permitted many liberties while housed in Fort Moultrie. He was visited by the elite of Charleston society and the War Department commissioned George Catlin to paint a portrait of the Seminole leader(s).

In January of 1838--Osceola's health started to worsen. He was diagnosed by Dr. Frederick Weedon as having a throat infection caused by the previous contraction of malaria. He refused help from the white doctors with his conditioned and weakening body and sought healing from only his Seminole Healers.

Unable to speak any longer and deathly weak, Osceola used hand gestures to summon his two wives and children and to bring in all his chiefs and the military officers. With all having being summoned he lay upon the floor in full war attire and began to apply his red war paint to his face, neck, wrists and the back of his hands. He then shook hands with Dr. Weedon and the officers and clutched the hands of his wives and children. They placed him upon his bed and Osceola laid his knife across his chest as a true great warrior. Osceola died at 6:20 P.M. on January 30th. 1838 at about the age of thirty four.

There still remains a mystery as to why this next part occurred. I will state the different views but will emphasis what is documented. Following Osceola's death--Dr. Weedon cut off the head of Osceola prior to the burial. Some say that it was because his body was to long for the casket but the documented reason was for scientific research or revenge. Quote:"Dr. Weedon removed Osceola's head prior to the burial. Scientific research appeared to be his motive but it is interesting to note that the doctor's brother-in-law, General 

Wiley Thompson, was killed by Osceola. The physician gave the head to his son-in-law who in turn presented it to Dr. Valentine Mott, founder of the New York University Medical School. The head was displayed in the school's medical museum until 1866 when it was allegedly lost in a fire." In 1966 there was evidence that someone had been tampering with the grave site. A National Park Service archeological dig was commissioned and they found that the grave had not been disturbed but the story of Osceola's missing head was confirmed. A second coffin was found at the site believed to be the remains of a newborn child of Osceola's.

Is Osceola's life story more legendary than real??--Much of his life remains a mystery but it is well documented that he was a defender of his people and their rights.

THE YOUNG LAD BILLY POWELL WILL BE REMEMBERED AS OSCEOLA,--

THE GREAT SEMINOLE INDIAN.

Jerry Delany