The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1867-02-21
A Romance RudeIy Dixpened


the remorselessneSs with which modern
criticism is sweeping away some of the
most popular historical traditions, fuds a
fresh Illustration in tie famous story of
Pooahontas saving the life OF Capt. John
Smith, which for TWO hundred years has
excited the won3er aud admiration of the
world. 4 Massachusetts, antiquarian.
Mi. Charles Deane, IN some receBtly
published works, of which the Ncyth
4naericaH Reuietc for January gives a
summary, comes TO the conclusion thai no
such occurrence ever took place, and that
the whole story was invented by Captain
Smith himself The incident is alleged
to have taken place In December, 1907
yet In history written by Smith, aud
published in London In 1908, called the
True Relation, though the account of his
captivity ao0 release by Powhattan is
given, not q word is said of Poeahontas
nor Ia all the histories OF the colonies
published afterward--on written by
Wingfeld, the dcp9sed Governor, in 1908,
ano'her written by DR. Simons, to
accompany a map of Virginia. by Smith
himself, and published in 1912; nor a
third, 6y Ihou.as Straobey, ia 1915;
ioursb by Raphe Hamor, one secretary of
she colony, in 1915 and ffth by Pura-
pas, derived from Smith himself, in 1917,
Is there the slightest mention of the ceIe-
brated iDcideut ia question.
Both Hamo: and Purapas gave full
accounts OF Pocahontas herself, of her
capture and detention as hostage BY the
coionists, ct her conversion to the Chris
tian taith, her marriage TO Captain Rolfs,
her visit to England and the interest she
excited there but not word of her hav-
lng lnuerpOsed 10 save the life of Captain
John Smith. The first hin: of that story
seems to have been given Ia a pamphlets
published by Smith himself in 1922. fs
which, speaking OF his captivity, he says,
"God made Pocahortas, the Kings daugh-
ter, the means TO deliver me J" and the
fuil account aS it has ever since been
received, Is fund in another publication
made by Smith In 1924, sixteen years afear
The alleged occurrence, entitled ''Gener.
all Historic. Ia both these last works
Fr. Deane detects sund7y Instances O.
exaggeTation and meudacity.
thy seem TO have been writ,au- By
Smirh mainly to enlist public sediment
and sympathy in his claims 20 reinsta;e-
ment in the c9lony from which ne had
beer depo>ed-and it is suggested that
THIS fiction was invented rs likely greatly
to enhance his own importance, after the
romantic visit, reception and death Of
Pocahoutas in Eogland. To those who
know the Indian maiden only through the
poetry, painting and sculpture OF which
she was made the subject, this picture of
her, when child of ten or twelve years
old, given by Strachey, may be curious.
Pucahoutas," he says, "a weli-Ieatured
but wanton young girl, Powhattan's
daughter, sometimes resorted to our fort,
OF the age then of eleven or twelve years,
would get the town boys forth into the
market place, and make them wheel,
falling 1n their hands, turning their heels
upw;.rLl, whom she would follow and
wheel so herself, naked as she was, all
the fort over" This is not the attitude
which has generally been selected by the
artists wh) have employed their genius in