Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-02-16
Authentic sIDjun' Hist0ry-POeshOntas
and Captain John Smith.
BY THE FAT CONTRIBUTOR

The celebrated Captain John Smith,
the saving of whose life by Pocahontas
is an historic event of no little interest
esp ecially to Smith at that time
was the earliest settler in Virginia,
Grant being the latest settler they have
had in that state,) and stands at the
head of Smith family in this country.
We are informed that there is a John
Smith living in one of the Western
States, but he couldn't be the same
man that settled Virginia, because he
would have been too young at that
time 1607) to settle anything. He
couldn't have settled for ais board,
even. Captain Smith founded James
town, which was totally unfounded
like many of the anecdotes about him)
up to that period. Besides giving
jamestown a start, he started num-
Der of Indian villages, so that they
never came back again. 1t is said that
he could start village CT that descrip-
ton quicker than any white man living
at that time. He started so many that
the red men hearing of it through the
daily papers, 1.-THE Indians were ageH red
in those days determined to check
his enterprise.
Smith specialized good deal in corn,
purchasing it in the interior and ship
ping it to jamestown, which was the
great grain centre at the time, Chicago
not having yet been discovered. In
one of his trips IN search of corn, he
trespassed upon the dominions of King
Powhattan, a powerful chief, who from
I = &c hoA
long threatened Washington. Smith
being somewhat overloaded with
''corn," fell into an ambuscade, and
was captured by POwhattan's savages
and taken before their chief. After a
brief hearing, in which no witnesses
were examined for the defense, Smith
demanded jury trial, but it was re-
fused, he was condemned to die. He
was asked if he had anything to say
why sentence of death should not be
passed upon him. He said nothing, in
palticular, only his death would seri-
ously interfere with the settlement of
Virginia, and might retard her admis-
sion into the Union. This had no eff
feet whatever, and he was marched to
the place of execution. There was a
boulder on which to place his head,
while a savage, painted in the most
hideous manner, was swinging stuffed
club, and uttering diabolical cries, i'm
patient to mash him.
John gazed upon the preparations
undismayed, for he belonged to one OF
the first families in Virginia, (the Sec
ond families had not arrived from Eng
land yeti, and he didn't scare worth 8
continental. Powhattan, with gem
crosby that one would hardly look fol
in a savage, asked him if there was any
message he would like to send to bis
family, and even offered to take charge
of any little momentoes he desired to
leave for them. He Immediately be.
policy, which would expire about the
same time he did, and ticket in Gift
Enterprise, (only 1000 unsold, both Of
which he desired to have sent to his
betrothed. Powhattan promised tC
send them by next steamer, Captain
Smith then walked firmly to the bloch
without the aid'Of crutches, placed biz
head upon it, and babe the masher tt
mashl At this moment the forest rams
with scream and a beautiful IndiaI
maiden darted into the midst of the
throng.
Raising her parasol to protect the
head of Smith from the impending clut
she exlaimed--
"Hold Red man, stay thy hand
(She couldn't stay it herself, because
she didn't wear any stdys) Stay him
and Virginia remains a h-o-w-l-ine
wilderness. prolonged howls from
the savages.) Spare him, and ratify
the constitutional amendment, anC
Virginia resumes her place in the
! Union"
Some reconstructed secesh savage
shouted "never - and rushed on Smith
with their carving knives, but Powhat
tan lnterfered.
''Spare his life," said she, ''the Grea
Spirit wills it. This put Smith il
great spirits at once. / commute hi
sentence to the obloquy of founding
the first families of Virginia. Smith
git up and git -
And Smith got
He lived TO found the first families O
Virginia, race that is mostly rln on
l-of the State of Virginia. Pocahonta
went across the water as commissions
to the Paris Exposition, and Pow
haitian run an Injun Exhibition 70
years after with great success.