Dark Prospects

The blacks were not handed over immediately, but that winter they received another blow -- the death of Micanopy. From Florida to the West, the chief had been a great friend to the maroons. While Micanopy lived, Coacoochee and the traditionalists maintained a measure of official power. Shortly after his death, however, Coacoochee lost his bid to become head chief. Instead, the tribe selected Jim Jumper, the leader of the pro-Creek, pro-slavery faction. Jumper was no friend to the Black Seminoles. In fact, he had been working in tandem with Marcellus Duval to obtain titles to them and reduce them to chattel slavery.