December, 1840. "Notice to Travelers St. Augustine and Picolata Stage:
The subscriber has commenced running a comfortable carriage between St. Augustine and Picolata twice a week.
A military escort will accompany the stage going and returning. Fare each way, five dollars. The subscriber assures
those who may patronize this undertaking that his horses are strong and sound; his carriage commodious and
comfortable; that none but careful and sober drivers will be employed; also every attention will be paid to their
comfort and convenience. Passengers will be called for when the escort is about leaving the city."
We have selected from the many one of the atrocious acts of violence committed by the savages previous to this
arrangement upon a worthy and respected citizen, Dr. Philip Weedman, whose three most estimable daughters are
still living in St. Augustine.
"November 25, 1839.—Shortly after the mail wagon left the city Dr. Philip Weedman, Sr., accompanied by his little
son, a lad about twelve years of age, both in an open wagon, with Mr. Graves, on horseback, left for the purpose
of visiting his former residence, now occupied as a garrison by a part of Captain Mickler's company. On arriving at
the commencement of Long Swamp, without any previous warning, he was fired upon and killed, having received
two balls in his breast; his little son was wounded in the head, baring his brain; also cut with a knife. The mutilated
youth, with the remains of his dead father, were brought in town today. The express returned for medical aid,
causing the Indians to run, as the wagon containing the mail was fired into, wounding Captain Searle and killing a
Polander who was riding horseback."
"Tuesday, November 26, 1839.—The funeral of Dr. Philip Weedman took place today, attended by all of our
citizens, who sympathize deeply with his numerous family."
The Polander, Mr. Possenantzky, was buried the same day according to the Hebrew form. The Indians continued
firing on the covered wagon train, calling them "cloth houses;" their object being to obtain supplies. When a
proposition was made to have fortified wagons hostile Indians were something which could not be worked by any
rule. They were the exception.
On Saturday, February 15, 1840, we find a record of two mail carriers having been murdered, one seven and the
other nine miles distant—G. W. Walton, from South Carolina, while on his way to Jacksonville, and Mr. J. Garcias,
near Live Oak Camp. The letters were undisturbed, although carried some distance. Both of the murdered men
were buried in St. Augustine. Afterward the mail was accompanied by an escort of five men.
"We have tried to hold up some cause, with the, semblance of a shade, to delude us into the belief that the Indians
have less activity and enterprise than the white men, but facts stand forward in bold relief denying us even the
poor consolation which such delusions might afford us. The lifeless bodies of our brethren speak trumpet-tongued
in favor of their removal, and the wail of hearts blighted by their successes is stronger and more piercing than the
fictitious surroundings of excited fancies."
Here is another thrust at the bloodhounds: "These distinguished auxiliaries have received more attention than their
service deserves, while great apprehension fills the minds of many for fear they should perchance bite a Seminole.
We would state as a quietus that a competent tooth-drawer will accompany them, entering upon his dental duties
very soon."
Another shocking murder occurred between Picolata and St. Augustine before the St. John's Railroad was
surveyed between Tocoi and St. Augustine.
"May 29th, 1840.—On Friday last a carriage and wagon had been obtained to proceed to Picolata for the purpose
of bringing some baggage and gentlemen connected with the theatrical company of W. C. Forbes, from Savannah.
Leaving Picolata on Saturday morning, May 23d, in addition to their own party they were joined by Mr. D. 6. Vose
of New York and Mr. Miller of Brunswick, who all reached the eleven-mile military post in safety. When within seven
miles of St. Augustine they were fired upon by Indians, severely wounding Vose, Miller and Wigger, a young
German musician. While this work of death was going on a wagon which had left the barracks that morning was
seen approaching; it contained three persons besides the driver—Mr. Francis Medicis of St. Augustine, Mr. A. Ball
and Mr. Beaufort. The Indians fired upon them near the six-mile post, when Mr. Beaufort and the driver escaped.
The mules ran away with the wagon. The firing being heard at the little garrison of seven men, they turned out,
when they saw distinctly twenty Indians. News having been received in town by a lad coming in on one of the
horses, a party of gentlemen repaired thither; on reaching the ground there lay Mr. Ball dead, while further on was
the body of Mr. Medicis, lying on his side, his hands clenched as if in the attitude of supplication, his right shirt
sleeve burned with powder and covered with blood. Mr. Francis Medicis was murdered the 23d of May, 1840,
between the hours of eleven and twelve o'clock. The bodies of Messrs. Miller, Ball and Vose were brought in at
dusk; that of Mr. Miller about nine o'clock. The bodies of the strangers were placed in the council chamber. Mr.
Forbes and his company passed over the Picolata road on the 22d of May, except Messrs. Wigger, German and
Thomas A. Line. Mr. Wigger was murdered, Thomas A. Line hid himself in a swamp, sinking up to his neck and
covering his face with a bonnet leaf, which he raised, to the great surprise of his companions when they were
searching for the survivors and gathering up the wounded."
The oldest citizens in St. Augustine now say that when Mr. German, vocalist, one of the theatricals, arrived in the
city, after his escape, his hair was standing perfectly erect on his head, and in twenty-four hours turned entirely
white. As the Indians rifled the baggage wagon, they carried off a considerable portion of the stage dresses and
other paraphernalia.
Now, we can peruse these tragic events as the visions of some wild romancer, or relate them to children as nursery
tales, partaking enough of the terrible to excite a desire for the wonderful. Wearied with waiting, and heartsick of
bloody murders, we find the following piece of composition written on this solemn occasion:
"How long shall the earth drink the blood of our women and children, and the soil be dyed with the ebbing tide of
manhood? Could they have looked with us upon the mangled corpses of Indian wrath ap they were laid upon the
public highway, or gone to the council room and surveyed on its table, where side by side the marble forms of four
men lay, who a few hours before were looking to the future as filled with bright enjoyment, they would then have
whistled their philanthropy to the winds and cried aloud for vengeance. That was a sight never to be forgotten. We
have seen men killed in battle and perish by disease on the ocean, but amid the many affecting and unpleasant
incidents that have met our gaze we have never seen a spectacle like that. Here, in the rigidity of death lay the
youthful German, on whom manhood had just dawned, also the compact forms of muscular health, with the less
vigorous frames of more advanced years. A casual glance might mistake it for a mimic scene, where art had
exhausted her power in its production. But there was the pallid hue of faces; there was the gash the knife had
made in its course to the heart; the cleft forehead parted by the tomahawk in its descent to the brain, and there the
silent drop, dropping of crimson fluid to the floor, while our secretary, with his usual imbecility, issues orders to
muzzle the bloodhounds. The funerals of these unfortunate victims took place on Sunday, attended by a large
concourse of people, who expressed the keenest indignation at the repetition of such a scene so near our city.
Wild Cat was the leader of this band, as he stopped afterward at the plantation of E. S. Jencks, Esq., and told the
servants he had committed the murder."
The troupe filled their engagement at St. Augustine, as only a musician had been killed from their number. History
says: "The sterling comedy of 'The Honeymoon' was performed to a crowded house." Afterward the following notice
appeared: "During the winter months we have no doubt that a troupe embodying the same amount of talent which
the present company possesses would find it profitable to spend a month with us each season."
Picolata Stage
from Ponce de Leon and Florida war record
by George M. Brown
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