Desoto Tiger facts for kids
Desoto Tiger was a Seminole man from a Creek-speaking community near Indiantown, Florida. He was the son of Tommy Tiger, a leader of the Cow Creek Seminole people.
In December 1911, Desoto Tiger was taking a large bundle of ninety otter hides to sell at a trading post. These furs had been collected by him and others in his community. During his journey, he gave a ride in his canoe to a man named John Ashley. On December 29, 1911, Desoto Tiger's body was found by a dredging crew working near Lake Okeechobee.
The Search for Answers
Desoto Tiger's uncle, Jimmy Gopher, had seen John Ashley traveling with Desoto Tiger. Because of this, a group of Seminole people went to Miami to look for Ashley. They did not find Ashley, but they did find the furs. The furs had special Seminole markings, and they were at a fur trading business called Girtman Brothers in Miami. The traders said they had bought the furs from John Ashley for $1200.
The leaders of Palm Beach County wanted to find out what happened to Desoto Tiger. They offered a reward for information. They asked the governor at the time, Albert W. Gilchrist, to help fund the reward. On January 15, 1912, a reward of $150 was offered.
Later Events
John Ashley was later brought to court. Even with a lot of information, the first court case did not lead to a final decision. A second court case was planned. Ashley got away and was free for some time. The US Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Cato Sells, sent federal agents to help find him.
Federal Special Officer Thomas E. Brents caught Ashley on April 27, 1914. Ashley faced court again, but he got away once more. Brents caught him again on February 24, 1915. In his second court case in 1915, John Ashley was given a serious sentence. However, this decision was later changed by the Florida Supreme Court. Ashley often got away from local jails and avoided law enforcement. He was eventually stopped at the Sebastian river bridge near Roseland. Even though he was held for other reasons many times, Ashley never spent time in jail for what happened to Desoto Tiger.
The story of Desoto Tiger and John Ashley was told in a 1973 movie called Little Laura and Big John. In the movie, Desoto Tiger was played by Ross Kananga.
Desoto Tiger's Family Legacy
Desoto Tiger is the grandfather of Louise Gopher. Louise Gopher made history as the first Seminole woman to earn a bachelor's degree. She received her degree from Florida Atlantic University in 1970. The Palm Beach Post newspaper named her one of the 100 most important people in Florida.
