Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-02-07
Belmont Chronicle
ST. CLAIRsvILLE, O.:
Thursday, Feb 4, 1862.
AutbentIc Injunv MfstOry--
P0cahontas and Captain John
Smith.
iBY rHR FAT CONTRIBUTOR.

Srmlth.
BY rHR FAT CONTRIBUTOR.
The celebrated Capt. John Smith, the
ssvirg Of whose life BY Pocahontas isa his
toric event Of no little interest-especially
to Smith at that tims-wes tho earliest set
tier in Virginia, (Grant being the latest
stands at the head Of the Smith family in
this country We are informed that there
/. John Smith living in one Of tho Wes-
tern States, but he couldn't be the same
man that settled Virginia, because he would
have been too young at that time (l607) to
settle anything. He couldn't have settled
for his board, even. Capt. smith founded
jamestown, which was totally un founded
like many OF the anecdotes about him) up
TO that period. Besides giving jamestown
. start, he started number Of Indian vii
lnges. so that they never came back again.
1t 10 said that he could start village of
that description quicker than any white
man living at that time. He started so
many that the red men hearing of it
through the daily papers, (the Indians
were ioell red in those days) determined to
check his enterprise.
Smith speculated good deal in corn,
purchasing II 10 the interior and shipping it
to jamestown, which was the great grain
center at that time, Chicago not having yet
been discovered. In one Of his trips in
search of corn, he trespassed upon the do
minions Of King Powhstan, Q powerful chief,
who, from his entrenchments on the James,
had long threatened Washington. Smith
being somewhat over loaded with "corn !"
fellinto an ambuscade, and was captured
by Powhatan's savages and taken before
10. rk,.f h..a L.. -, ~ al
no witnesses were examined for the defense,
(Smitn demanded jury trial, but it was
refused, he was condemned to die. He
was asked IL he had anything to say why
the sentence of death should not be passed
upon him.. He said nothing, 10 particular,
only his death would seriously interfere
with the settlement of Virginia, and might
rstard her readmission into the Union. =
This had no effect whatever, and he was
marched 70 the place Of execution. There
was ssbeulder on which TO place his head,
while savage, painted in the most hideous
manner, was swinging stuffed club, and
uttering diabolicsl cries, impatient to mash
him.
john gazed upon the preparations undis-
mayed, for no belonged to one Of the first
families of Virginia, 1.-THE second families
had not arrived from England YETI and he
didn't scare worth continental. Powhatan,
with generosity that one would hardly
look for in o savage, asked him if there was
any message he would like to send to his
family, and even offered to take charge of
any little me mentoes he desired to leave for
them. He imm ,diately bethought him Of
an Accident Insurance policy, which
would expire about tho same time be did,
and ticket in Gift Enterprise, (only 3d.
QUO unsold, both Of which he desired to
have sent to his betrothed. Powhatan
promised to send them by the next steamer.
Captain Smith then walked firmly TO the
his head upon it, and bade the masher to
mash At this moment the forest rams
with Q scream and beautiful Indian mai
den darted into the midst of the throng.
Raising her psrasol to protect the hend oil
Smith from the impending club, she ex-
claimed
Hold Red man, stay thy hand (She
couldn't stay II herself, because she didn't
wear any stdys.) Slay him and Virginia
remains ing wilderness. PRO
longed howls from the savages.) Spare
him and ratify the Constitutional amend.
ment. and Virginia resumes her place in the
Union It."
Some reconstructed Secesh savages shout.
ed" Never and rushed on Smith with
their carving knives, but Powhatan inter
fered.
"Spare his life +" said he, "the Great
Spirit wills it. (This put Smith in grea
spirits at once. l commute his sentence to
she obloquy Of founding the frst families O.
Virginia. Smith, gi, up and git "
And Smith got.
he lived to found the first families o
Virginia, race that is mostly run out-o
the State Of Virginia. Pocahontas wen
across the water as q commissioner to tn,
Paris Exposition, and Powhatan run aI
Injun Exhibition for years after with grea
success.