There were a group of Seminoles living around Fort Drum. They first became friendly with the Parkers’ and Holmes’ families in For Drum, and transferred that friendship to Peter Raulerson and his family.

There was one occasion when Peter Raulerson’s close friendship with the Seminoles in present day Okeechobee County was severely tested. Chief "Tom Tiger, the medicine man, was greatly admired by his own people and the white people, as well. A bolt of lightning killed the tall, handsome Seminole while he was excavating an dugout canoe. The canoe was cut in half, the body was wrapped in canvas, and with his possessions, was sealed into the makeshift coffin. For many years, the improvised coffin and its occupant rested silently in the forks of a tree with only the birds and animals to keep watch.

His granddaughter, Marie Clements Box, tells the tale as she recalls hearing it as a child. "At one time, my grandfather knew where this Indian chief had been buried. There was a man from up north (named Flournoy) who claimed to be an anthropologist. He roomed and boarded at the Raulerson home. He wanted somebody to tell him where there was an Indian mound of this Indian chief. (Barley Barber, a local hunter, signed on as guide.) My grandfather knew where the mound was, but told him (Flournoy), "You had better not bother it." "But there was another man living her (Barber) who told this anthropologist he would go with him and show him where it was. And, so he did. He (Flournoy) began picking up the bones of the dead chieftain. He was warned by my grandfather not to do that, but he did anyway."

Flournoy said he was going to take the bones to the Smithsonian Institute, packed them in a wooden box and took a train north from Fort Pierce. "When the Indians heard about it, there was almost a war