The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-17
THE LEGEND OF POCANONTAS.

4 Did Captain John Smith Invent It!-HIs
Veracity ImpeRched.
An article on Captain John.Smith" in the
n new number of the North american ReUie1v
is the first popular presentation of theory
4 which has been held for a few years past by
class OF our historical students 1t not only
impeaches the veracity of the founder of Vir-
4 ginia, but it almost demonstrates that the
celebrated story which tells how heroic
+ Pocahontas saved his life is but a plea
/ SAINT fiction at the best. The reviewer
4 merely repeats the theory of Mr., Charles
a Deane, which,. during the war, has been
hidden away in his reprints of "WIngfeld's
Discourse of Virginia" and OF Smiths True
Relation"
1t is shown that Smiths character was not
A unquestioned in his own times He had trou-
\ BILE with his colonlsts; "it was proved to his
face" says Wingfleld. "that he begged in Ere
land like rogue without a lysense." But
such testimony in such times and from such
Amen-fOr the first families in Virginia were
motley crew-would hardly iDiure his repu-
tation now, were it not tor the fact that he
has LETT several autobographical records
which will not adjust themselves on a criti-
cal examination to any theory that can Vindi-
cate his character as a man of veracity.
Let us examine, for example, the legend of
Pocahontas.
Smith started on his trip of exploration lin
the history Of which POcahontas first appears
as his deliverer from impending death), on
n the 10th of December, 1907, and returned on
" the 9th of January following. In the same
n year Smith published his "Irue Relation" of
a this adventure. In this report he makes no
a mention whatever of the heroic Pocahontas
n In 1924 he published his General Historic"
n which introduced PocahOntas in the attitude
best adapted Tor winning the applause of
Bowery audience.
4 In his "True Relation" he thus speaks of
Il Introduction PnWbotan foil nf
4 the renowned Pocahontas:-
"From hence this kind king conducted me to
place called Topahanocke, kingdonre upon
Il another river nOrthward. The cause OF this
y was, that the year before shippe had beene in
the river Pamanuke, who, having been kindly
entertained by Powhatan, their Emperor, they
Bsturned thence, and discovered the river of
Sopahanocke, where, being received with like
kindnesse, yet he slue the king and took of his
4 people, and they supposed | were hee; but
the people reported me great man that was
Captaine, and using NEE kindly; the next day
''The next night lodged at a hunting town
Of R0whatan's, and the next day arrived at
Watauacomoco, where the great king Is resi-
dent.
Arriving at Weramocomoco their Emperour
kindly welcomed me with good wordes
and great plattcrs OF sundry vlctuals, assuring
NEE his friendship and my libertie within four
II days hee desired NEE to forsake Paspa-
hegh. and to live with him upon his river, "a
u countrie called Capa-Howasicke, ne promised
70 give me corne, yenison, or what | wanted to
feed US, Hatchets and copper wee should make
& him and none should disturb us. This request
~ promised to perfoTme: and thus having with
+ Yall the kindness hee could devise sought to
content me: hee sent me home with tour men,
=. one that usually carried my gOune and KNAPP
sacke after me, two other loaded with bread
and one to accompame me. ="
Compare this account with his version OF
Fl the same adventure published in 1924
"At last they brought him TO Meronocomoco,
where was PoWhatan their Emperor. Here
more than two hundred of those grim Courtiers
stood wondering at him, as he had been a
monster; till POwhatan and his trayne had put
themselves in their greatest braYeries , At
= his entrance before the King, all the people
ff gaYe great shout. The Queene of Appama-
a tuck was appointed to bring him water to wash
his hands and another brought him bunch of
feathers, in stead of a Towel to dry them:
having feasted him after their best barbarous
manner they could, a long consultation was
held but the conclusion was, two great stones
wer' Drought before Powhatan: then as many
as could layd hands on him, dragged him to
them, and thereon laid his head, and being
ready with their clubs, to beate out his braines,
Pocahontas, the Kings dearest daughter, when
no intreaty could prevaile, got his head in her
armes, and laid her oWne upon his to save him
from death: whereat the Emperour was con-
: fented he should live to make him hatchets,
and her bells beads and copper
1.-TWO dayes after, Powhatan having dis
guised himselte in the most fearfulest manner
he could more like a devil than a
man, with some two hundred more as blacke as
himselfe, came untO him, and told him now
they we're friends, and presently he should goe
4 TO JamestoWne, TO send him two great gunnes
and a grynstone, for which he would give him
the county of Capahowosick, and for ever
esteeme him as his some Nantaquoud. So to
Jamestowne with twelve guides Powhatan sent
him. he still expecting (as he had done all this
long time of his imprisOnmenO every houre tC
Be put to one death or other; for all their feast
ing But Almightie God (by His divine proyi
dence) had molli6ed the hearts OF those stern'
Barbarians with compassion. The next morn
ing betimes they came to the Fort. :"
These passages show that the episode o
PocahOntas was an afterthought. Not onl,
does he make no mention of her in his hrs
narrative, but his account Of the treatment h
received from her father precludes the pos
sibility OF the action for which she is nov
renowned. He was treated with the utmos
kindness and speedily released. There ar
other additions in the later narrative an
several exaggeratlons. When he was mrs
captured according to his "True Relation
be was guarded by eight men, who increase
lin his history to thirty or iOrty tall fellows
his four guides from PoWhatan in 1908 bC
come twelve in 1924; Smith, on his returl
in 1908, is grateful that the arrival ofCaptai