 When Cooley arrived at Indian Key , he was informed that Indians had attempted to acquire arms and munition but had been repelled by the garrison in the island 's fort . Meanwhile , more than two hundred people from nearby sought refuge in the fort . Cannons were salvaged from the Gil Blas ; the ship was later burned to deny the Indians a chance to recover anything from it . Difficult sea conditions and fear of imminent attacks terrorized the islanders . Cooley asked for construction of forts at New River and Cape Sable , but news soon came from the Miami River reporting the total destruction of all white property , stalling all new initiatives . 
