The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1867-02-20
VOL. XXI.
From the Cincinnati Times.l
"Injun" History
POcahontas and Captain
John Smith,
by THE FAT CONTRIBUTOR.

The celebrated Captain John Smith,
the saving Of whose life by Pocahontas
is historic 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 stands at the head of a
Smith family in this country. We are
informed that there is John Smith liv.
ing in one of the Western States, but he
couldn't bo the same man that settled in
Virginia, because he would have been too
young at that time (l607) to settle any
thing. He couldn't have settled for his
board, even. Capt. Smith founded
jamestown, which was totally unfonnded
(like many of the anecdotes about him)
up to thatperiod. Besides giving James
town start, he started number Of H.
dian villages, so that they never came
back again. 1t is said that he could start
a village of that description quicker than
any other white man living at that time
He started SO many that the red men
hearing of it through the daily papers,
(the Indians were peN red in those days)
determjred to check his enterprise.
Smith speculated good deal in corn,
purchasing it in the interior and shipping
it to jamestown, which was the great
grain center at that time, Chicago not
having yet been discovered. In one of
his trips in search Of corn he trespassed
upon the dominiorS Of King Poyhatan,
powerful Chief who from his intrench.
ments on the James had long threatened
Washington. Smith being somewhat
over loaded with "corn" fell into an am
buscade, and was captured by Powhatans
savages and taken before their chief
After brief hearing, in which no wit.
nesses were examined for the defense,
(Smith demanded ajury trial, but it was
refused J he was condemned to die. He
was aked if he hpd anything TO say Why
the sentence of death should not be pasa-
ed upon him. He said nothing, in par,
tcullr, only his death would seriously in.
terfere with the settlement Of Virginia,
and might retard her re admission into
the Union. This had no effect whatever,
and he was marched to the place of exc
cution. There was boulder on which
to place his head, while savage painted
in the most fideous manner, was swing
ing stuffed club, and uttering diabolical
cries, impatient to smash him.
John gazed upon the preparations un'
di:mayed, for he belonged to one of the
first families in Virginia, (the second
families had not arrived from England
YET and he didn't scare worth con
tiSental, Powhatan, with a generosity
that one would hardly look for in saw
age asked him if there was any message
he would like to scbd to his family, and
even offered to take charge af any little
mementoes be desired to leave them. lie
Immediately bethought him of en- "An.
cent Insurance" policy. which would ex.
pire about The same time be did, and
ticket in Gift Enterprise (only 80 O.0G0
unsold } both of which he desired to
have sent to his betrothed. Powhatan
promised to send them by next steamer.
Captain Smith then walked firmly to the
block without the aid Of crutches, placed
his head upon it, and bade the masher to
mash ! At this moment the forest rang
with scream and beautiful Indian
maiden darted into the midst of the
throng.
Raising her parasolto protect the head
of Smith from the impending club, she
exclaimed
"Hold! Red man, stay thy hand !
(Shc couldn't stay it herself, because she
didn't wear any stays. Stay him, and
Virginia remains q h o.w Ling wilderness
Prolonged howls from the savages J
Save him and ratify the constitutional
Amendment, and Virginia resumes her
place in the Union"
Some reconstructed Secssh savages
shouted-"NevOrP P and rushed on Smith
with their carving knives, tut Powhatcr
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 fam.
lilies of Virginia. Smith, git up and
git.R
And Smith got.
He lived to found the FIRST families Of
Virginia, race that is mostly run out
of tho State of Virginia. Pocahontas
went across the water as q commissioner
to the Paris Exposition, and Powhatan
run an IDjuu Exhibition for years after
with greas success. tff