Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-02-01
ArurNrrc .INIrN- nIsroRr.
Pseahoutas and Captain JOhu smI'i
BY THE FAT CONTRIBUTOR.

BY THE FAT CONTRIBUTOR.
The celebrated Capt John Smith, the
saving Of whose life by POcahOntas is
historic event Of no little interest-es-
pecially TO Smith at that tme-was the
earliest settler Of Virginia, and stands
al the head Of the Smith family in
This country. We are informed that
there IS a John Smith living in M of the
western states, but he couldn't be the
anne man that settled in Virginia, be-
cause he would have been too young al
that time iI707j to settle anything. He
couldn't have settled for his board, even.
Can't. Smith founded jamestown, which
was totally Unf0unded like many Of the
anecdotes abOat HIM up to that period.
Besides giving jamestown 8 start, he
started q number of Indian villages, so
that they never came back again, 1t is
said that he could start a village of that
description quicker than any white man
living at that time. He started so many
that the red man hearing of it through
the daily papers, lthe Indians were well
read in those days. determined to check
his enterprise.
smith s~peculated a good deal In corn,
purchasing it in the interior and shipping
ii to Jamestown, which was the great
grain center at that time, Chicago not
having vet been discovered. In one of
his trips in search Of corn, he trespassed
upon the dominion Of King Powhatan,
a powerful chief, who, from his en-
trenchments on the James, had long
threatened Washington. Smith being
somewhat overloaded with "cOrn," fell
into an ambuscade, and was captured
lv P~owhatan's savages and taken be-
fore their chief. After q brief hear
ing, in which no witnesses were ex-
amined for the defense, Smith demanded
a Jury trial. but il was refused, he was
condemned to die. He vas asked if he
had anything To say why sentence Of
death should. not be passed upon him.
lie said nothing in particular, only his
death would seriously interfere with the
settlement Of Virginia, and might re-
tard her readmissiOn into the union.
This had no effect whatever, and he was
marched TO the place Of execution.
There was a b0wlder on which to place
his head, while a savage, painted in the
most hideous manner, was swinging a
stuffed club, and uttering diabOlical cries,
impatient to smash him.
John gazed upon the preparations IN
dismayed, for he belonged to one Of the
first families Of Virginia, lthe second
families had not arrived from England
VET, and he didn't scare worth a CONT
mental. PoWhatan, with a generosity
that one would hardly look for in
a savage, asked him il there was
any message he would like TO send
10 his family, and wen offered to take
charge Of any little mementOes he desired
To leave for them. He Immediately be-
thought him Of an " accident insurance"
policy, which would expire about the
same time he did, and a ticket in a gift
enterprise, only 10000 unsold), both Of
which he desired to have sent to his be-
trOthed. POwhatan promised to send
them hy the next steamer Capt. Smith
then walked firmly 10 the block without
the aid Of clutches, placed his head upon
il and babe the masher proceed to mash :
At this moment the forest rang with a
scream and a beautiful Indian maiden
darted into the midst Of the throng.
Raising her psrasol to protect the hesd
Of Smith from the impending club, she
exclaimed
Hold Red man, stay thy hand :
(She couldn't stay it herself, because she
didn't wear any stay.) Stay him and
Virginia remains a Rowling wilder
ness. Prolonged bowls from the saw
ages.) Spare him and r2tify the consti-
tutional amendment, and Virginia re-
sumes her place in the uniOn.n
Some reconstructed secesh savRges
shouted, Never - and rushed on Smith
with their carving knives, but Powhatan
interfered.
"Spare his life said he, the Great
Spirit wills it.. This put Smith in great
spirits at Once.) I commute his SEN
tenoe to the obloquy of founding the first
families Of Virginia. Smith, git up and
And Smith got.
He lived to found the first families Of
Virginia, a -eee that is mostly run out,
Of the state of virginia. POcahOntas
went across the water as a commissioner
30 tbs Paris exposition, and POwhatan
ruE an Injun exhibition for years with
treat success.