The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-01-31
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Ia.s.x.,,e .u.junsf iisssry-Pseahsn.
m md Captain John Smith. >
The "Fat Contributor Of the Gncin-
natl Tsues gives the following true YER
sion Of this historic incident: y
The celebrated Captain John Smith,
the saving of whose life by Pocahontas
is q historic event of no little incident
especially to Smith at that time-was
the earliest settler of Virginia Grant
being the latest settler they have had in
that State), and stands at the head Of
the Smith family in-this country-we
are informed that there iss John Smith
living in one Of the Western States, but
lie couldn't be the same man that set
tied Virginia, because he would have.
been too young at that time (1607) to
settle anything. He couldn't have set
tied for his board even. Captain Smith
founded Jamestown, which was totally
un-founded (like many Of the anecdotes
about hini) up to that period. Besides
giving jamestown a start, he started q
number Of Indian villages, so that they
never came back again. 1t is said that
he could start a village Of that descrip-
ton quicker than any white man living
at that time. He started so many that
the red men hearing of it through the
daily papers (the Indians were ,reH red
in those days., determined to check his
enterprise.
Smith specialized q good dealin corn,
purchasing it in the interior and ship
ping it to jamestown, which was the
great grain centre at that time, Chi
cago not having yet been discovered.
In one of his trips in search, OF corn, he
trespassed upon the dominions of King
Powhatan, a powerful chief, who, from
his intrenchments on the James had
long threatened Washington. Smith,
being somewhat overloaded with
"corn,n fell into an ambuscade, and was
captured by Powhatan's savages n
taken before their chief. After q brief
hearing. in which no witnesses were
examined for the defence, (Smith de-
manded o jury trial, but was refused)
he was condemned to die. He was
asked if he had anything to say why
sentence of death should not be passed
upon him, He said, nothing in partic-
ular, only his death would seriously in
terfere with the settlement of Virginia,
and might retard her admission into
the Union. This had no effect what
ever, and he was marched to the place
of execution. There vas q bowlder on
which to place his head, while a savage,
painted in the most hideous manner,
was swinging a stuffed club, and utter
ing diabolical cries, impatient to mash
him.
John gazed upon the preparations
undismayed, for he belonged to one or
the first families of Virginia, (the second
families had not arrived from England
YETI and he didn't scare worth a con-
%tiuental. Powhatan, with a generosity
that one would hardly look for in q
yag asked him if there was any
message he would like to send to his
family, and even offered to take charge
of any little mementoes he desired to
leave for them. He immediately be-
thought him of IN accident Insurance
policy which would expire about the
same time lie did, and q ticket in q gift
enterprise, (only 10000 unsold,) both OF
which he desired to have sent to his be-
trothed. Powhattan promised to send
them by the mex steamer. Capt. Smith
then walked firmly to the block with
out the aid of crutches, placed his head
upon it and babe the master proceed to
mash, At this moment the forest rang
with a scream and n beautiful Indian
maiden dartcd into the midst of tho
throDg.
Raising her parasol to protect the
head of Smith from the impending club,
she exclaimed
"Hold! Red man, stay thy hand! (She
couldn't stay it herself, because she
didn't wear any stays.) Stay him and
Virginia remains a Rowling wilder
ness. prolonged bowls from the saw
agcs.) Spare him and ratify the Con-
stitutional Amendment, and Virginia
resumes her place in the Union"
Some reconstructed Secesh savaSes
shouted "Never y and rushed on Smith
with their carving knives, but Powhat-
tan intcrfered.
"Spare his life" said he, "the Great
Spirit wills it. (This put Smith in great
spirits at once.) l commute the sentence
to the obloquy of founding the first
families of Virginia. Smith, git up and
gitm
lie lived TO found the first families of
Virginia, a race that is mostly run out
of the State of Virginia. Pocahontas
went across the water as Commissioner
to the Paris Exposition, and Powhatan
ran an Indian Exhibition for years after
with great success,