Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-01-26
MISCELLANY.
IRE LEGEND 0F P0CaHONTas.
Did Captains John smith haven't It'll
Eeraeity ImpeaehCd.

Did Capitals John smith haven't it-His
Veraeity ImpeaehCd.
An article ON Captain John SMITH
in the new number of the North Amer
lean Review is the first popular presen-
taticn of a theory which has been held
for few years past by class Of our
historical students. 1t not only i'm
peaches the veracity of the founder of
Virginia, but it almost demonstrates
that the celebrated story which tells
how heroic POcahontas saved his life,
Is but pleasant fiction 1t the best
The reviewer merely repeats the theory
OF Mr.. Charles Deane, which during
the war has been hidden away in his
reprints of "Wingfeld's Discourse of
Virs mia" and of Smiths True Rela-
ton"
It is shown that Smiths character
was not unquestiOned IN his own times.
he had trouble with his cOlOnists: 1T
was proved to his face" says Wing
field, ''thst he begged In Ireland ike a
rogue without a Iysense." But such
testimony IN such times and from such
mentor the first families IN Virginia
were IA motley cTew-wOuld hardly in
lure his reputation now, were it not for
the fact that he has left several auto
biographical records which will not adj
lust themselves on a critical examina
ton to any theory that can vindicate
his character as a man of veracity.
Let us examine, for example, the Lee
gend of POcahontas.
Smith started on his trip of exploration
lin the history of which Pocahontas first
appears as his deliverer from impend-
ing DEATH, on the 10Th of December,
1907, and returned on the Sth of Janu-
airy following. In the same year Smith
published his "True Relation" of this
adventure. In this report he makes no
mention whatever of the heroic Poca-
hOntas. In 1924 he published his
General Historic, which introduces
POcahontas IN tine attitude best adapted
for winning the applause of BOwery
audience.
In his True Relation" he thus
speaks of his introduction to Pawhatan,
the father of the renowned POcahOntas:
''From hence this kind king con-
Quoted me to place called TOpahanocke,
kingdom upon another river north
ward. The cause of this was, that the
year before 6 shippe had beene IN the
kindly entertained by POwhRtan, their
Emperor, they returned thence, and
discovered the River OF TOdahanOcke,
where, being received with like kind
nesse, vet he slue the king and took of
his people, and they supposed l were
hee; but the people reported me "a
great man that was CaPtaine, and using
NEE kindly; the next day we departed.
II T,s1 ~ =
ing town of Powhatan's, and the next
day arrived at Waranacomoco, where
the great king Is resident. -.
Arriving at Weramocomico their
EmperOur ..... kindly welcomed me
with good wOrdes, and great platters of
sundTy victuals, assuring NEE his friend
ship and nay H5ertte tCitI.in four daqeS....
hee desired me to fOTsake Paspahegh
and to live with him upon his river, a
a countrie called Capa- HOwasicke, hee
promised to give me cOrne, venison, or
what wanted TO feed us, Hstchets and
copper wee should make him and none
should disturbe us, This request /
promised to perfoTme; and thus hd0iRg
lsith all the kindness hes cOnld devise,
sought to content m hee sent NEE
home lgik four men, one that usually
carried my gOuue and knapsacke after
me, two other loaded with bread, and
one to accOmpanie NEE. 49,.
Compare this account with his YER
sion of the same adventure published
IN 1924:
eat last they brought him to Meron-
OcOmOcO, where was Powhattau their
Emperor. Here more than two hun
dred of those grim Counters stood
wondering at him, as he had been q
monster; till Powhstan and his trayne
had put themselves In their greatest
brayeries. his entrance before
the King, all the people gave great
shout. The QUeene of AppamaTuck
was appointed to bring him water to
wash his hands, and another brought
him a bunch of feathers, instead of a
towel to dry them; having feasted
him after their best Darbarous manner
they could, long consultation was
held, but the conclusion was, two great
stones were brought before Powhatan;
then as many as conld lloyd hands on
him, dragged him to them, and there
on laid his head, and being seady with
their clubs, to beat out his braines,
Pocahontas the Kings dearest daugh-
ter Will AO NOAAa
got his head In her armes, and laid her
owne upon his to save him from death:
whereat the EmperOur was contented
he should live to make him hatchets,
and her bells, beads and "copper".
'sTwo days after, Powhatan having
disguised himselfe in the most fearful
est manner he could more like
a devil than a man with some two hun
dred more as blacke as himselfe, came
unto him and told him now they were
friends, and presently he should goe to
Jamestowne, to send him two great
gunnes aud a grynstone, for which he
would give him the Country of Capa-
howosick, and for ever esteeme him as
his some Nantaquoud. So to James
towne lCith twelve guideSPowhaian sent
him, he still expecting las he had done al
this long time Of his Imprisonment ereT,g
hOslre 10 be put TO one death or other: T0I
all their fedStiHg. But almightie God
10y his divine providence) had molli-
fed the hearts of those sterne Barba-
rians with compassion. The next
morning betimes they came to the
Fort -.
The passages show that the episode
of POcahontas was an afterthOught
Not only does he make no mention oi
her in his first narrative, but his ac-
count of the treatment he received from