Return
to Dr. Bronson’s St. Augustine History Page
Roman Nose Story,
And Sarah Mather out West
School
News Vol 1 No. 1
Carlisle Barracks, June 1880
This
afternoon June 10th Miss Semple went down to Hampton to visit the
Hampton school children. Miss Mather went too and Mrs. Pratt. They will stay
only one day at Hampton.
School
News Vol 1
No 2 Carlisle Barracks, July 1880
About
ten boys are learning how to sing bass. Every evening they went in the Chapel
to sing base. Miss Mather is teaching them how to sing bass.
School
News Vol 1
No. 5 Carlisle Barracks, October 1880
Cpt.
Pratt and Miss Mather went to Dakota Territory to get some more Sioux children.
Vol
1 No. 7 Carlisle Barracks, December, 1880
Experiences
of H. C. Roman Nose.
I
will now endeavor to tell of my experiences and travels from the time I was
taken to Florida up to the present day.
It
is very warm weather at the South, in winter time it is not very cold and they
have no snowing there. I often judge by Florida and St. Augustine, because I
had commenced to find good friends there all the white people in St. Augustine.
When we staid there, some time thy told us they were very sorry and felt our
hearts sadness. But Capt. R. H. Pratt helped us to support our sad hearts and
took us away from all sadness and bad thoughts and sinners. He can show to us
our hearts properly and he s anxious to make Indian men do right and guide them
in the right way and he taught them all about the good ways o the whites. We
promise to listen to Capt. R. H. Pratt to what is said. They stayed in prison
there three years and we had no school, but Capt. Pratt showed us A B C and now
we understand these letters, we did not know how to spell anything. It is not
bad we stayed in prison three years there. But just they have certainly been
much benefited, we stayed together in Fort Marion the white people call Indians
Florida boys. Capt Pratt had two small boats for Indians to go out on the ocean
hunting birds and fishing they caught very large sea fishes. Sometimes we rode
in sail boat beyond St. Augustine about eighteen or twenty miles to camp, hunt
and fish and swim in the ocean, we lived in tents like soldiers, we made bows
and arrows and we were seeking for sea beans near ocean beach and we obtained
lots of them and brought them to Fort Marion and we polished them and after
necessary polishing, we sold them and bows and arrows also, and we drew Indian
pictures for the white people who visited Fort Marion and they bought sea beans
bows and arrows and pictures. Indians sold sea beans each at twenty five cents
and bows and arrows one dollar and a half. Some two dollars and a half and best
bows and arrows for five dollars. I commenced to learn how to row a boat there
and some Florida boys learned very well. All the Florida boys commenced to
learn to say Capt Pratt when we anxious something to buy went in Capt. Pratt’s
office and asked him if we could go down town to St. Augustine and he would say
all right and he wold give them the pass to St. Augustine.
(to
be continued)
Vol
1, No 8 Carlisle Barracks January 1881
Capt
Pratt supported all the Florida boys in St. Augustine and he procured for the
Indians everything. All the Indians were very glad and we like Capt. Pratt very
much because he is a great good man and his heart is weight. They had meeting
in Ft. Marion every Monday evening to pray to God to guide us in the right way.
We had very pleasant time the 4th of July in St. Augustine also in
the middle of the winter we had more jolly times at Christmas day we had
shooting with bows and arrows the best shoot received three dollars and a half
and some of them foot racing and who beat running got three dollar and a half.
Capt. Pratt taught me, and I kept persevering and remember what he taught me in
St. Augustine After three years twenty-two young men desired to be educated at
Normal Institute, at Hampton Virginia and some went to school Syracuse New
York, and some of them in Tarrytown N. Y. then came a Hampton boat to St.
Augustine and all the Florida boys went on steam-boat and went to Hampton
Normal School. Two Kiowa boys and I stayed in St. Augustine. Then after a while
we rode in the cars and we came to a very small town and we took steam-boat to
Jacksonville and stopped there all night. Then in the morning we went on
steam-boat to Savannah and arrived there at about six o’clock a.m. and we
stayed one or three hours, we then took another large steam-boat for New York
and crossed the Atlantic Ocean three nights and three days we traveled on the
ocean. I couldn’t see any land where I looked to the south and east and west. I
thought the steam-boat would drop beneath the waves but it did not drop. I was
scared very much and I was very sea sick on the ocean. I layed down all the
time and I did not eat breakfasts, dinners or suppers. W arrived at New York
City at about six o'clock and we go out and went in carriage and go to Depot
and we stayed there a few minutes. Then we rode in the cars and go up the
Hudson river and reached Tarrytown in the night and we rode in carriage to Dr.
Caruther’s house and sat down around table we ate supper. That time I was very
lazy because I had been very sea sick and felt very tired. After a few days I
got strong again and well. I thought that perhaps I never was to see Capt.
Pratt again but after a month he arrived at Tarrytown to see those three boys
who was there. I was much pleased to see him once again and he stayed with us
only one day, he said to us he would visit Hampton and see more of the Florida
boys that was in Normal School, before he went away, he wanted me to write to
him and after he went away I wrote him a letter.
(to
be continued)
The
School News
Vol 1 Carlisle Barracks February 1881 Number 9
Experiences
of H. C. Roman Nose
He
didn’t reply to my letter and I did not hear from him but he went out west and
when came back to Washington then he obtained my letter and he replied
immediately and said in his letter, he wanted me and the other boys to go to
Hampton School but I didn’t like to go to Hampton I wanted to stayed at
Tarrytown New York. I started to Hampton and we arrived at New York city a.m.
and saw a great many of the white people in New York, we had a very pleasant
time just the same as the 4th of July 1878, at Dr. Deems house we
had dinner who is my friend, then after dinner I had to shake hands with him
and also his family and I bid them good-bye. Then we went in steamer an stayed
a little while, then the steamer left at half past three o’clock p.m. one night
and one day we went on the ocean we arrived at Norfork near five o’clock p.m.
We
took another steamer and went to Hampton, we arrived at the Fort in the night
we went in carriage to Hampton, about mile and a half from the Fort by
permission we went through the cornfield and Capt. Pratt told us that this
field and the other fields were all worked in by the Florida boys plowing and
hoeing every day. We arrived at General Armstong'’ house and got out of the
carriage and went to where the Florida boys stayed in two houses. I was very
much delighted to see my Florida friends again and we shook hands with them
all. Then we went into the room and stayed all together and they told me all about
what they had been doing at Hampton Institute. We said that is very hard
toiling every day. We had hard work all the summer, learning how to work on the
farm. The Normal School opened at Hampton on the first of October. Then we went
to school every morning and after-noon and learned some thing every day and we
worked very hard two days, in a a week Friday and Saturday. One of the Koiwa
boys learned very fast his names is “Kieshcoly, his English name is Hunting Boy
the rest of the Florida boys didn’t learn very fast. The reason that didn’t
learn more rapidly was because some of them was too old to learn we studied
hard there one year and learned some thing every day in the spring. Capt. Pratt
took several boys and went to Washington and saw President Hays he said he was
very glad to see those boys, we stayed several days at the Smithsonian
Institute and then returned to Hampton Virginia and at the desire of apt. Pratt
and General Armstrong twelve of the Florida boys went to a small town called
Lee in the state of Massachussetts. We
Left
Hampton after dinner and walked to the Fort to where the oat stopped and waited
there about one hour and then took the steam-boat to Norfork, we arrived there
about half past 4 o’clock p. m. (to be continued)
The
School News
Vol 1 Carlisle Barracks March1881 Number 10
Experiences
of H. . Roman Nose.
(concluded)
We
then took another steamer for New York where we arrived safely. Capt Romayn
went with the boys to Norfork and when we got out there he said to the boys,
Capt. Pratt will meet you in New York, after we shook hands and bid him
good-bye, he said, boys I hope all of you will have a good time where you are
journeying. Then he returned to Hampton Normal Institute. In the night at about
one o’clock, we took the steamer for New York and after one day and one night
on the ocean traveling, we reached New York, some of the boys were very
sea-sick and I too. Capt. Pratt met us in steamboat and he said, boys you sleep
in boat until morning and I will come back for you, he came very early next
morning and called the boys to get up and get ready to start to a restaurant to
get some breakfast, then we took a walk to Grand Central Depot and took the
train to Lee, we arrived at Lee at half past two p.m. We got out and went in carriage to different places. We stayed
there all summer and learned mowing with scythe and milking and churning butter
and worked every day for months and in October 1879 we left Le and arrived here
at Carlisle Barracks we saw the Sioux boys and girls had to wear Indian clothes
the Florida boys did not like that kind of clothes it looked like wild Indian
people who had learned nothing but just play every day and night and punishing
each other and fighting with sticks and hurting their bodies, but Capt. Pratt threw
away old Indian clothes and he gave them new white man’s clothes and assisted
them very patiently to make the boys and girls of different tribes go one way
that is the right way the white man’s way. Now we are following the white man’s
way and endeavoring to get education and do something useful and teach the red
men avoid temptation. First I did not know anything about the white man’s ways.
I am very happy now that I can be useful polite and love God, I do not say I am
always polite and good because I don’t know sometimes when bad thoughts comes
or sin. God will keep us from sin and he will aid us in the right way and I
pray that he will Bless all our Race
and show them their error and at last lead us with the white man’s good way is
the prayer of Henry C. Roman Nose.
The
School News
Vol II Carlisle Barracks August 1881 Number 3
Miss
Semple came back on 13th. All teachers and children glad to see her.
The
School News
Vol II Carlisle Barracks November 1881 Number 6
Rosa
Ross and Joshua are learning to be teachers and Miss Semple is showing them. We
hope both of them will be good teachers. Joshua’s tribe wants a teacher very
much, so we are all glad that he is learning to be a teacher so he can do some
good to his people.
EADLE
KEATAH TOH. Vol II Indian Training
School, Carlisle, PA Sept 1881 No. 2
About
Three of the “Florida Boys.”
Oaker-hate,
or Making Medicine, a Cheyenne, Zotom, a Kiowa, and Ta-a-way-ite, a Comanche,
were among the prisoners confined for three years in the old Fort of San Marco,
in Florida. In the Spring of 1878 a lady from Syracuse saw the Indians at St.
Augustine, and offered to take four of them to the North for further education,
in the hope tat they could be fitted for future missionary work among their
people. These three men—representing three tribes—with one other who died a
year ago, were placed in her charge, taken to Syracuse, and soon after
established in the family of a clergyman of the Episcopal Church at Paris Hill,
New York, for education and training in agriculture work.
…..When
thoroughly prepared for it, they were for it, they were baptize by Bishop
Huntington, and admitted soon after to the Lord’s Table; and after careful and
satisfactory examination by two clergymen on the principles of the Christian
religion, and in their knowledge of the Bible and Prayer Book, on the 7th
day of last June, two of them David Pendleton Oake-hater, and Paul Carl Zotom,
were admitted by Bishop Huntington to the Diaconate, or the lowest order of the
ministry in the Church.
……………
At
another time we may be able to narrate something special of the work of Paul
and Henry. We are sure that all at Carlisle will wish these Florida prisoners
God speed in their good work, and we hope that the Cheyennes, Kiowas and
Comaches in the school will be stimulated by these facts we have told to harder
and more faithful work that they may be prepared the sooner to go home and help
forward the work of civilizing and christianizing their people.
EADLE
KATAH TOH Vol II No 3
School
Room work.
The
text books used are Picture Teaching, Webb’s Model Readers, Franklin’s
Arithmetic, Swinton’s Geography, Hooker’s Child’s Book of Nature, and Knox and
Whitney’s Elementary Language Lessons.
No
books are used with beginners. The materials employed are objects, pictures,
the blackboard slate and pencil.
Tone-ke-uh
is a perfect failure. I have tried him at everything, but he breaks down and
goes off of his own accord, unable to forego the cherished allurements of
indolent camp life. I rarely ever see him now wearing coat or pants, but
usually wrapped up in a sheet, much soiled, and seems to have no ambition
beyond it.
O-het-toint
has done better than any of the four, though at times he is ready to take a
step backwards, and needs a paternal, watchful and sustaining hand to urge him
forward and up to his best capabilities.
Last year I gave him a room in the school as teacher, and he did well.
Zo-tom,
….. ghost dance
Ta-a-way-ite,
Comanche, who returned here with Zo-tom, showed much courage and strength at first,
and strong hopes were felt that he would continue as a good example, and become
a leading man whom his people would respect and follow, but there seems to be a
falling off from the standard and lately even the kind words and warm personal
efforts of Mr. Wicks almost fail to make an impression.
Cheyenne
and Araphoe Agency Ind Terr, Sept 28, 1881
Roman
Nose is just the same. No signs of a relapse.
Eadle
Keatah Toh – Big Morning Star Vol II No 4
All
of the 2 Florida prisoner who remained North after their release from Saint
Augustine have now returned to their homes. Three, educated by Mr. Wicks, of
Syracuse, N. Y., in his own family, are devoting themselves to earnest
missionary work among their people. The stand taken by most of the others who
spent two or three years at Carlisle and Hampton, is eminently satisfactory.
Minimic’s
Prayer
Among
the Indian prisoners confined in the old fort at St. Augustine, Florida, was
one whose manner won the admiration, if
not the affection of the frequent visitors. Many times I have heard the remark
“Minimic is a native-born gentleman.” Yet he was an Indian, had fought against
the whites, and was a believer in the incantations of the Medicine Men. But a
new light was sent into the darkened minds of the Indian prisoners. Minimic
saw, believed, and followed this light, even after he returned to his old home
in the Indian Territory
Last
spring he was very sick, and when able to be about again, one Sunday attended a
Christian service, and was asked by the missionary who conducted the meeting if
he would not say a few words or pray.
Minimic
arose from his seat and speaking in his own language, his expressive face and
eloquent gestures made his words very effective. This was what he said: “I have
been very sick; I thought I was going to die I said to my wife, bring me the
good book which was given to me in Florida; put it under my head, now I feel
better. Soon I felt that was not enough, so I said to my wife, make the fire
brighter, help me up, now hold the book open before me that I may look at the
words in it. The light from the fire shone on the words in that book ---Jesus’
book, I call it--- and the good words that I had been told were in this Jesus’
came into my mind, and I prayed to understand them. Then I layed down again on
my bed and put the book open on my forehead and I felt that I did understand
what Jesus wanted.”
Then
bowing head, he reverently said “Let us pray.” One petition of his prayer was
that “God would make his heart larger, yes very large,” and in his earnestness
he extended his arms in a circle before him, then paused, and there was perfect
silence for a minute, then arose this rich pleas, “and fill it full of love for
Jesus. Amen.”
Our
genial old friend has since died, and up there, in that throng, among prophets
and kings, he enjoys the promise of God.
EADLE
KEATAH TOH
Vol
II No 5 Dec 1881
One
of our boys who has learned his trade and returned to his home in the
Territory, Henry C Roman Nose writes, “I am going to tell you what I was doing
last Saturday. I got marry a very sure nice girl. She is very gentle and polite
and kindly, but I am very sorry she do not talk English, and do not understand
anything about the white man’s ways. But I am trying to teach her about the
white road.”
EADLE
KEATAH TOH Big Morning Star Vol II No 6 Jan 1882
(The
letter, extracts from which are given below, is from one of the Florida boys,
who has been with friends in the North since his release from prison, but is
spending the winter in Florida for his health :”
St.
Augustine January 17th 1882.
My
Dear Capt. Pratt: --- I received your
letter, and am glad to have it, and to hear about Etahdleuh that his throat
trouble is so much better. I was anxious, for I was afraid that his palate was
affected and he might get worse. But, oh, how blessed a thing to hear he can be
cured and will be well again.
It
is too bad that I am so unfaithful about many things. I wanted to answer your
letter very soon, but my own pleasures too strong for me, and cannot do for
them first others easily which most important to men. I would like to take
trouble to perform your wishes, and I hope you will always excuse me if I
cannot do them as soon as I want to; because you know my hindrances, and the
burden of sickness which does not easily allow me to do many things I ought to
do. I like a clock that does not keep good time, but loses it and runs not
regularly.
I
am acquainted a little with one or tow of the officers and the surgeon, Dr _
Lieutenant ___________ , this last one, I admire and esteem on account of his
rank as an officer; but most of all I respect him because he seems to care
about God’s words and to attend where he will hear them; for every time I go to
church or meeting, he will surely be there among God’s people, and I think from
this he certainly must be respectable and worthy, and just the same exactly as
another officer who speaks friendly to me, but his name I do not know. Lieut.
________ has invited me to visit him, and Dr. ______________ also
A
week ago we took a pleasant sail to Moultrie.
Six
dos came down to the landing to meet us, and a colored woman who had a baby in
her arms named Abraham Lincoln.
Rev.
Dr. Root came to see me just before Christmas. He wanted me to come to the
church and speak when they had the tree, but the weather was rainy and I
coughing, and my two judges decided for me not to go., Afterwards Mr. Munson
brought me a nice stylographic pen that was on the tree for me. It was an
anonymous present. I am sorry I did could not go to speak when Mrs. Root wanted
me; but I did not feel able to do so and speak loud enough.
I
went to Dr. Anderson’s grove and saw more oranges than I ever saw before ---
some of them monstrous. I was curious to know how big and I measured one and it
was thirteen and a-half inches round!
But
I ought to stop now, my dear friend Captain, or you will think my letter four
miles instead of four pages long. All of us send our love. I got pretty tried
in writing all day long, and I got plenty more to say, but too little room. You
know Indians never have room enough. My pen and ink are tired and worn out, and
I am tired, and I guess you are most tired of all, so I am only say I am our
faithful friend,
Paul
C. Tsait Kopeta
*
**
School
was founded September 1879
Pratt
was the Superintendent from September 1879 till July 1904
The
Indian Industrial School Carlisle Pennsylvania
Its
Origin, Purposes, Progress and the Difficulties Surmounted by
Brig.
Gen R. H. Pratt
Written
for, Printed and Circulated by the Hamilton Library Association Carlisle, PA.
In
the sprint of 1869 General Grant pronounced his first inaugural and in it gave
his conception of the nation’s duty to the Indians in the following words:
“The
proper treatment of the original occupants of this land—the Indians—is one deserving
of the most careful study. I will favor any course towards them which tends to
their civilization and ultimate citizenship.”
The
officer at once adopted this as his platform and never in his long career of
dealing with the Indians did he waver from it. …… and to hold many of them as
prisoners of war in irons, and to deport a company of seventy-four of their
leaders so shackled thousands of miles from their homes and families and keep
them in confinement for three years.
…Though
prisoners of war under his care at old Fort Marion, Saint Augustine, Florida,
in the year 1875-8, there was school for all of them, there was daily training
in industries to earn money and to make them thrifty. There was constant
opportunity and encouragement for them to meet multitudes of our own people
under kindliest auspices. He organized the younger men into a company, gave
them guns, sent the soldier guard away and for two years and nine months they
guarded themselves and the fort without committing a single breach against the
discipline established. The three years
of imprisonment resulted in English speaking, in the adoption of civilized
dress and habits and in a hungering on
their part for a career in the larger life of the nation.
…Such
was the effect upon them of these influences that when heir three years of
imprisonment ended, twenty-two of the younger men of their own free will asked
to remain east three years longer, provided they could have larger school and
training opportunities.
….until
finally Hampton Institute, Virginia, a normal training school for colored
youth, opened its portals for seventeen, and the other five were provided for
near Utica and in Tarrytown in New York state.
…At
the suggestion of the officer the number at Hampton was increased by fifty
youth of both sexes who were brought by him and his wife from their homes along
the Missouri river,
….
One of the teachers of a class of
Indian prisoners in Florida was a Miss Mather, who before the war had carried
on a young ladies’ school in the old town of Saint Augustine. She wrote that if
an opportunity offered she wold like to see the Indians in their western homes.
When the order was received in Washington on the 6th of September,
the officer telegraphed her in Florida that he would leave on the 10th
of September for Dakota to bring in children and asked her to go along to look
after the girls. She arrived in due time, and they proceeded to Dakota with
instructions to get thirty-six from
Rosebud agency, which was then dominated by Chief Spotted Tail, and thirty-six
from Pine Ridge agency, whose principal chief was Red Cloud.
…On
arrival at Rosebud the officer fund that the agent had already received the
order from the Indian office, and at a council had submitted it to the Indians,
and they had resolved not to send children….
The
chiefs and principal Indians, about forty, were summoned to the agency, and the
officer, with the interpreter and Miss Mather, went with them into the council
house. He explained the plans and purposes of the proposed school and urged the
Indians to withdraw their opposition and send their children.
…..
The
interpreter, Miss Mather and I walked over and sat on the agent’s porch for
more than an hour before the council broke up. When the Indians came outside
they stood for quite a while in front of the council house talking and looking
our way; finally, Spotted Tail, Two Strike, White Thunder and Milk, the
principal chiefs whom I had spoken to personally, came over and sat down
without any demonstration. They kept talking to each other in an undertone, and
looked me over critically. After a few moments Spotted Tail got up, came and
shook hands with me, then with Miss Mather and the interpreter, and said:
It
is all right…..
Before
starting for Dakota I had sent tow of the Florida party, a Kiowa named
Etadleuh,, and a Cheyenne named Okahaton, to their respective agencies to
makeup parties of students for Carlisle. In a week things were in such running
order that I could leave the care of the pupils in the hands of Mrs. Pratt and
several helpers I had employed, among them the principal teacher, Miss Semple,
the girls’ matron, Miss Hyde, and the principal of the Sewing Department Mrs.
Worthington… and I went west to Wichita in southern Kansas with Miss Mather,
where I had instructed the young men to bring their parties of students.
The
second party reached Carlisle in time to open school on the 1st of
November, 1879.