The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-11-18
NOVEMBER l8, 1859.
Smith and Thompson; or, Virginia
SavaPes. Past and Present

Our readers will readily recall tho touch
ing story of John Smith, a fugitive slave aud
advonturer, who afterwards became ono OF
tho first colonists OF, jamestown, in Virginia.
His small company of mon would soon havo
pershed for want of food IL be had not
stolen tho Indian idol, Okee, made Of skins
stuffed with moss, and compelled tho natives
to redeem it With large purchase of corn.
While exploring the Chickahominy however,
he was seized by tho enemy, having killed
three OF them in the encounter, and
been taken before tho great Powhatan, the
predecessor of Gov. Wise, who seated on q
stump of throne and clothed in raccoon
skins, condemned the poor fellow to death.
But beside the throne of tho chief stood
two of his dusky daughters, who compassion
ated Smith, and one of whom, tho Chiefs
favorite, Pocahontas, resolved to save his
life. When the grim warriors, therefore,
brought in two big stones on which Smith
laid his head, and their war clubs were
raised to drop upon his daylight forever,
she rushed between the executors and
their victim, and, by her passionate cutrcst-
les, induced the savages to suspend their
blows and suffer Smith to depart.
These old red Indians seem TO us to have
had more real humanity in them than many
of the whites who occupy their places. The
story of Thompson, is similar in somo ro-
spects to tho story of Smith.
He had committed an outrage upon the
idol of the Virgnians-named in this caso
Cuifee, not Okce-had been captured, and
would have boon tried and condemned TO
death if the blood dthrsty ferocity of tho
modern Vlrginians, less capable of restraint
than that of the old Virgnians, could havo
awaited the slow decisions of authority. 1t
/ 20 ho
Mr.. Hunter, one of the actors in tho affair,
and q son of the prosecuting Attorney in tho
Harpor's Ferry trials, q crowd of armed mon
rushed into tho room of tho hotel where
Thompson was confued, and would have
put him to an instant and brutal death.
But the daughter of tho landlord a Miss
| Foulke, with a hGroism that surpassGs even
! that OF Pocahontas, threw herself between
tho guns of those maddened and reckless
slavo o.drlvers and their object, whom sho
caught in her arms, aud besought their
morcy. For Gods sake, watt" she said,
land lot the law take it's course" For
moment they desisted from their work Of
revenge; but for q moment only. Neither
the helpless condition Of tho prisoner, nor
that noble, woman!y appeal, could soften tho
hoarts OF these sayages, as tho words of
Pochahontas softoncd those of tho ancient
braves. Thcy dragged Thompson from the
sheltering arms Of his protector, hauled
him like o dog through the streets, amid
tho hooting and howlng of frcnzied crowd,
and when they had got him to the railroad
bridge, already nearly dead with bruises.
they ridded his body with their riflo balls
Governor Wise is reported to have said that
he wept for the cowardico of tho Virginians
at Horpors Ferry and well he may havo
wcpt; for u cowardice SO susceptible Of
panic that it turns mon. not into sayagos,
but wild beasts. 10 indeed to DO deplored.-
! .NtV YORK Post.