Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-07-18
1ntercstina 5torp.
A Second Focahontas.

There is probably no single incident in
the whole negro range of American history
which has been SO often repeated, or which
is so familiar to every one one, as the story
of Captain Smith and Pocahontas. Tho
roughly imbued with the romance with
which the Elizabethan period was so re-
plete, it has furnished a subject for the
easel of the artist, the pen of the poet, and
the page of history, until it has become
almost common place. The life of Smith
from its opening to its close, was con-
tinuous romance, and it is probable that
had Pocahontas' magnanimity been exhi-
bited in behalf of one of Smiths men in
place Of himself, her name would never
have filed the niche it nov occupies. This
deduction is drawn from the fact that
similar incident of more recent date, in
which, however, the hero was but n private
soldier, bad only local reputation, and
will probably be new to most Of our re d
ers. 1t furnishes the material for lengthy
romance, equal in point of interest to any
of Cooper's or 1rving's, and it is somewhat
surprising that it has not been used. But
the story.
1t seems that at the famous defeat and
rout Of St. Clnir's army, there were two
young men belonging to the militia regi-
ment which sustained the first shock Of
battle, named Howard and Fitz Gibbon.
They were both wounded on the retreat of
the regiment to the main body. Howard
had received bail in the instep, which
had disabled him from running, and Fitz
Gibbon had been struck by tomahawk,
which, although it did not seriously injure
him, yet had the effect to stun him; and
when he recovered his senses, he found
himself bound and a prisoner with many
others, among whom was Howard. Ii
this situation they were compelled to be
eye witnesses of the orgies Of the savages
on their return from the pursuit of the re-
treating army, and they could readily i'm
agine the horrid fate to which they hac
been reserved They had been captured
by the warriors of the Missauga tribe, anc
when the battle was over and the lLdian
i returned to their horses, they were take
q TO their village, where they were obliged t
pass the ordeal of running the gauntlet
a and to receive the brutal treatment usua
!. upon such occasions. They were then con
e Quoted to cabin adjoining the counc
house, where they were left to darknes
$ and their own sad forebodings.
e The council met on the eve of their r,
g turn to deliberate upon the fate of the
q captives, and the decision YVES unanimou
n that they must die at the stake. The trih
had lost many braves, whose spirits coul
not enter the happy hunting grounds ur
Al less accompanied by the ghosts of whit
O. men slain to avenge them and when Sisl
a. te.yong-tah their chief asked" What sa
10 the Missauga braves! shall the white me
die?" there was en- universal "Ughw al
ne their fate was sealed.
&c; On the following morn ing preparation
=, were made to carry out the decision of tt
er council, and, at an early hour, the entil
population of the town might be seen col
,e ing from all directions, and centering abo
. the foot of gigantic pine oak, which hi
= been cleared of its lower branches, al
"' otherwise prepared for the part it was
= perform in the coming ceremony, The
were old men and maidens, young N
ave and matronly squaws, incipient warriors
their gaudy paint, and old men with "