Pelican Sea: A Legend of Florida

By Daniel Hance Page

PELICAN SEA, A LEGEND OF FLORIDA is the story of people who, although separated by time, were drawn to the sea. It took them to itself and revealed life beyond their wildest dreams and, for each person, a special place to call home.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Feb 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781684718207

Daniel Hance Page

Daniel Hance Page is a freelance writer with twenty-seven books published and others being written. His books are authentic stories filled with action, adventure, history and travel, including Native American traditions and spiritual insights to protect our environment in the smallest park or widest wilderness

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Copyright © 2020 DANIEL HANCE PAGE.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of the author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

ISBN: 978-1-6847-1821-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6847-1820-7 (e)

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Interior Image Credit: DANIEL HANCE PAGE

Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 01/31/2020

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For…

Marg, Hank,Jim, Ivaldelle, Sheldon, Colleen, Shane and Shannon Page, John, Dan and Robinson family, Lester and Rose Anderson, Doug, Don, Bob Sephton and families, Garry and Pratt family, The Massey family, Murray, Sue and the Shearer family, Joe and Linda Hill, Macari Bishara, Joan LeBoeuf, Kevin, Alison and Michaela Griffin, Jerry and Gaye McFarland, Dr. David and June Chambers, Mac McCormick, Grant Saunders, Frank Lewis and other friends with whom we have enjoyed the wilderness.

In God’s wildness lies the hope of the world—the great, fresh, unblighted, unredeemed wilderness. The galling harness of civilization drops off and wounds ere we are aware.

-John Muir

Chapter One

THE SEMINOLES

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G ray Fox, usually known as Fox, and his wife, Singer, were the last of the Seminoles to leave the Gulf Coast of Florida. When he awoke each morning, with the first light of dawn, his thoughts could travel best through the days of his life. He recalled legends told beside fires at night where flames moved and shadows danced.

To avoid incursions from English settlers along the Atlantic Coast, Creeks from the Alabama and Georgia area started moving into Florida in the early 1700s. These travelers joined with other nations such as the Timucua who had previously lived in Florida. The Creeks back home called those who left Wanderers, or Siminoli. They became known as Seminoles.

The Seminoles prospered in Florida until General Jackson invaded in 1818 then Florida was purchased from Spain in 1821. As president, Jackson brought in the tragic Removal Act, in 1830, requiring all the Indian nations in the southeast, east of the Mississippi River, to be removed west to territory to become known as Oklahoma. As a result there was a war with the Seminoles and over three thousand of these people were removed. Yet many remained. Most of those who stayed moved into the interior of Florida including the Everglades. A small group lived in the coastal area near Tampa Bay. Gradually the coastal people also moved inland except for one family made up of Fox and his wife, Singer. They had their chickee, along with a few other abandoned dwellings, beside a fresh water stream flowing into the Gulf. The one family remained in camp because Fox was stubborn. He was the last holdout who would not leave the coast. His wife, Singer, stayed with him because she did not want to think of life without him. Not all those who attacked the Seminoles were soldiers. Some were land grabbers and other thieves who waited now to ambush the people in the chickees beside the river.

Being always the first to awaken, this morning he had opened his eyes with the first noticeable light of dawn. He could imagine as much as see the poles and thatched roof above him. His sleeping platform was up above the ground and his wife continued to sleep beside him. He had always determined his own course. His journey had left him and his wife alone as the others in this small group had left to seek greater safety found inland.

Although Fox could find home anywhere, he preferred to live in a place, such as beside this fresh water river, where he could easily walk to the sea. As others had already done, he did not want to give up the companionship of the sea. It was as wild as any place on land yet, some days, the vast stretch of water could be more peaceful and more soothing than anything else Fox could find in his wondrous memories of beautiful places. By the sea his spirit could soar like any of the birds drifting across the sky in the highest and most vast places. Along the shore he could walk with his dreams.

Lying awake in the chickee, he liked to let his thoughts travel before he got up and started preparing the camp to greet the new day. The invaders keep attacking us, he recalled while watching a lizard walk along a pole overhead. They want to remove us from this land. This is our home. We are what this place is. Those who attack us come from across the sea. We come from here. At least we have been here so long we have no memory of any other place across the sea. The invaders bring their customs from other lands then try to remove us because we are in the way. We know this land. The newcomers are the strangers. They treat this land as harshly as they treat its people. Eventually they will see the error of their ways and walk a better path.

There are increasing numbers of invaders seemingly everywhere, Fox reminded himself while he noted light was brightening because he could see the lizard more clearly. We have always tried to talk with these strangers and Singer and I both speak English. I have never altered course because of fear for myself. The only reason for doubts now is out of consideration for Singer’s wishes and concern for her safety. While I’m alive she is safe. The battles in my life have proven my presence can guarantee her safety and that of others. I have saved many during battles. Now my battle is with myself. I must decide whether to stay where I enjoy life the most or go inland where, in the mystery of distance along with unchanging naturalness of wildness, there is increased safety. People say I worry or think too much although for this reason I’m an helpful councilor. Singer says I worry more because I see more. I can see the possibilities and the changing patterns of events that would or might follow from any course of action. Seeing more does not just include plans but involves all things and every aspect of our environment. A tree, especially my favorite, the longleaf pine, is an awesome part of creation with its own spirit and it is part, like a person’s spirit, of the same life of the Creator. The destruction of our environment is a crime increased