The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1867-08-29
Authentic "Injun" History.
Pocahontas and John Smith
BY THE FAT CONTRIBUTOR.

Oiilli3 tiO oo'fh6 W
life by Pocahontas is an histor-
ic event of no little interest
especially to Smith at that
time-was the earliest settler
in Virginia, (Grant being the
latest settler they have had in
that State and st,nds at the
head of the Smith family. in
that country. We are in
formed that there is a John
Smith living in one of the
Western States but he couldn't
be the same that settled Yir-i
ginia, because he would have
been too young at that time
(1607) to settle anything. He
couldn't have settled for his
hoard even. Captain Smith
founded j Jamestown, which was
totally uniounded (like many
of the anecdotes about him )up
to that period. Besides giving
jamestown a start, he st,rted
a number Of Indian villages so
that they never came back
again. 1t is stated that he
could start a village OF that de.
Scription quicker than any
white man living at that time.
He started SO many that the
red men hearing of it throught
the daily papers, (the Indians
were aceU red in those days) de.
termined to check his enter
prise. a"w ~ cog /.
Smith speculated agood deal
in corn, purchasing it in the
interior and shipping it. to
jamestown, which was the
great grain center at the time,
Chicago not having yet been
discovered. In one of his trips
IN search of corn, he trespass-
ed upon the dominions of King
Powhattan, powerful chief,
who, from his intrehchments
on the James, had long threat
ened Washington. Smith be-
ing somewhat overloaded with
"corn," fell into an ambuscade,
and was captured by Powhat-
tan's savages and taken before
their chief After a brief hear.
ing, in which no witnesses were
examined for the defence
(Smith demanded a new trial
but it was refused, he was con
demned to die. He was asked
if he had anything 10 say why
sentence of death shouldnot
be passed upon him. He said
nothing, in particular, only his
death would seriously interfere
with the settlement of Virgin
ia 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 boul-
der on which to place his head
while a savage, painted in the
most hideous manner, was ut
tering diabolical cries impa.
tient to mash him. ..
John gazed upon the prepar-
ations undismayed, for he be-
longed to one of the first fami-
lies of Virginia (the second fami.
lies had not yet arrived from
England) and he didn't scare
worth continental. Powhat-
tan, with a generosity that one
would hardly look for in saw
age, asked him if there was any
message he would like to send
to his family, and even offered
to take charge of any little me-
mentoes he desired to leave
for them. He Immediately be-
though himselfof ali "accident
insurance policy; which would
expire. about the same time he
did, and a ticket in a gift en-
terprise (only 10000 unsold),
both of which he desired to
have sent to his betrothed.
Powhattan promised 10 send
them by the next steamer,
Captain Smith then walked
firmly to the block without the
aid of crutches, placed his head
upon it. and babe the masher
to mash! At this moment the
forest rang with a scream, and
a beautiful Indian maiden dart
ed into the midst Of the
throng. . 2-.j t-.H
Raising her parasol to de-
fend the head of Smith from the
impending club, she exclaim-
ed: -.,.s...
sHoldl Red man, stay thy
hand! (She couldn't stay it her
self, because she didn't wear
any stays.) Slay him. and Vir-
ginia remains a h-o-w.ling
wilderness. (Pl6longed howls
from the savages.) J Spare him
and ratify the constitutional
amendment, and Virginia re-
sumes her place in the Union"
Some reconstructed secesh
savages shouted "Neverp and
rushed on Smith with their