Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-05-04
Authentic "Injun History'-Pocahontas
and Captain John Smith.

SdPIdiu 'OAu
The 'fat contributor" of the Cincin-
natl Times gives the following true
version of this historic incident:
The Celebrated Captain John Smith,
the saving of whose life by Pocahontas
is historic event of no little Incident
especially to Smith at that time was
the earliest settler of Virginia, (Grant
being the last settler they have had in
that State }, and stands at the head Of
the Smith family in this country. We
are informed that there is John Smith
living in one of the Western States,
but he could not be the same man who
settled Virginia, because he would have
been too young at that time (l6O7) to
settle anything He could not have
settled for his board even. Captain
Smith founded jamestown, which was
totally unfounded Qike many of the
anecdotes about him) up to that period.
Besides giving jamestown start, he
started a number of Indian villages, so
tat they never came back again. 1t
is said that be could start village of
that description q"icker than any white
man living at that time. He started 80
many that the red men, hearing of it
through the daily papers, (the Indians
were we'll red in those days determin-
ed to check his enterprise.
| Smith speculated good deal in corn,
purchasing it in the interior and ship
ping it to jamestown which was the
great grain centre at that time, Chicago
not having yet been discovered. In
one of his trips in search of corn he
trespassed upon the dominions of King
Powbatan, a powerful chief, who, from
his entrenchments on the James, had
long threatened Washington. Smith,
being overloaded with corn, fell into an
ambuscade and was captured by Pow
hatan's savages and taken before their
chief. After brief hearing, in which
no witnesses were examined for the
defense (Smith demanded jury trial but
was refused), 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
particular, only his death would seri-
oasly interfere with the settlements of
/ Virginia, and might retard her read
mission into the Union. This had no
effect whatever, and he was marched to
the place of execution. There was a
bowlder on which to place his head,
while 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 cf Virginia (the second
families had not arrived from England
YETI, and he didn't think scare worth
a continental. Powhatan, with gen
erosity one would hardly look for in a
savage, asked him if there was any mes
sage he would like to send to his family,
and even offered to take charge of any
little mementoes be desired to leave for
them. He immediately bethought him
self of an "Accidental Insurance"
policy, which would expire about the
same time he did, and a ticket in
Gift Enterprise (only 10000 upsold),
both of which he desired to be sent to
his betrothed. Powhatan promised to
send them by the next steamer. Cap
tain Smith then walked firmly to the
block without the aid of crutches,
placed his head upon it, and hade the
masher begin to smash At this mo-
ment the forest rang with scream, and
a beautiful Indian maiden darted into
the midst of the throng. Raisi G her
parasol to protect the head of Smith
from the impending club, she e1-
claimed:
"Hold. Red man, stay thy hand!
(She couldn't stay it herself, because
she didn't wear any stays.) Slay him
and Virginia remains howl ing will
derness. prolonged howls from the
savages.) Spare him and ratify the
c Institutional Amendment, and Vir-
gDia resumes her place ia the Union"
Some reconstructed secesh savages
shouted "Never !" and rushed ou Smith
with their carving knives, but Powhatsn
interfered
'Spare his life" said he, "the Great
Spirit wills it. (This put Smith in
great spirits at once) | commute his
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 of
Virginia. Pocahontas went across the
water as Commissioner to the Paris Ex-
position, and Powhatan ran an Injuu
Exhibition for years after with great
success.