The Lincoln County herald., 1870-04-21

colony; but in none Of them Is there an
intimation that Pocahontas saved the life
Of Caefain >mith. Two OF these nara.
tives contain several particulars Of the
life aud death Of this Indian girl, and the
authors Of them had strong interest 10
exslting her reputation.
The reader, if he knows anything Of
the Indian character, 10 aware that moth
ing is more unlikely than that an Indian
chief should be diverted from his purpose
BY the entreaties '6i . little girl and
that Indian children, 90 far from being
disposed to intercede for . prisoner, on
joyed the execution aud torture OF cap
tives as our children do the circus and
the Fourth Of July.
Isay, then. farewell the Pocahont,s Of
romance. and approach the true PocahQp.
tas, the dumpy, Iiney little squaw whom
John Rolfe married, ami the counsel
sens to England to advertise forlorn Vir
ginis.
Pocahontss Was born in the year 1898.
Her father, Powhatan, by reason Of his
sgc and forner prowess was the principal
chief of the tribe Of Indians inhabiting the
region about the falls Of the James
tribe that may have numbered three
hundred warriors aud was connected by
iutermarrisge and alliance with tribes
living upon the Potomac aud other rivers
flowing into the hesapeake. We get
our first glimpse Of Pocahontas when she
was . girl of twelve, who used to visit
Jamestown. and play about the peninsula
with the white boys. William Strschey,
secretary Of the colony, aud one Of its 6rst
Historians. describes her thus as he cav
her in 1910.
Three years passed during which time
she resided in the family Of one Of the
settlers. Powhatan becoming actively
hostile to The whites, she left them, aud
went to reside for q while with chief
aud his wife, whose village was situated
on the shores Of the river Potomac. She
was living there IN the spsiog Of 1913
but the place Of her retrest was unknown
to the English.
One Captain Argol, q noted man in
the early day Of Virginia, WAS dispatched
thas tseason for the third time, in the
vessel which he commanded, to trade
with the Potomac Indians for corn; and
while he lay anchored in their river, he
heard that Pocahontas wss living near
in the village of the very chief with whom
he was most intimate. Japasaws was the
name Of this potentate. He had had
many q baubls from Captain Argol in
exchange for corn, and Was accustomed
to style the captain his brother. Al this
time Powhatan had eight white captves
aud Captsiu Argo, conceived that BY
gettisg Pocahontss into bis possession
be could induce her father to give then
up in exchange for her. He enlisted
Japazaws in the scheme, promising te
give him q copper kettle If no woult
lure Pocahontas On board his ship. The
temptation was TOO much for the Indian
His wife too gave way at the prospect o.
such . great addition to her household
treasures, aud promised her assistance.
So on . certain day the chief and hi
vito, accompanied by Pocahoutss, strollet
down the rivers bank to see the ship
aud while there the wife was seized witl
q longing to 60 on board. Her HUSBAND
objec,ed. She persisted saying this wal
the third time the vessel had been in thei
5river, and yet she bad never visited it
The chief still refusing, she reserted Il
the expcdieut employed by lovely woman
10 all ages and climes, to subdue the OBJ
stinacy Of man she began 10 cry. Ther
her husband, as husbands generally do
sclentcd; and when Pocahontas joiuet
her entreaties, the chief launched hi
canoe and took the ladies on board. Tn
treacherons couple returned to the shor,
rejoicing over their copper kettle. bu
Pocahontas was prisoner. ..,
| Arrived At jamestown, she was kept .
. hostage while the Governor negotiated
the exchange, aud during her stay Oh,
caught tac fancy Of one Of the early set
tiers, styled in the list of passengers
"John Rolfs. gentlenap. l think b.
really liked the girl. We have YER,
long and acrimonious letter Of bis il
which be declares that his motive in de
string 10 marry her was, 70 promote III
welfare Of tho colony. and the eonvessio
Of the hsathen. He ssys THE 1t suo
} length, sad in such pious phrsssology
that 70 are justified in Establishing bin
Il wss syidestly bis oss to sxalt Pooa
hontas, but there is no hint 10 his letse
OF her ssving John Smiths life six year
before. The Governor and Council con
ssotiog. aud Pooahoutas having bee'
bsotissd, the marriage was solemuissd il
1918. g,..- ,-a d, ol,.
Powhataa Wss coneiliatsd. He CAV
up bic prisoners aud pa2s Of bis pluodes
!, He remained tks frieaj and ally Of th
whites - long % he lived. ,. s.Nt,.
u For three years Joha Rolfe aud hi
wife Rsbsess-ass Poeahonsas-livs
together 10 Jamestown. A son vas Dor
10 them. In 1915. whom Sir Thoms
, Dale Vas going homo 70 sss bis friends
} it occurred to the Council 10 send Wit
} him q the expense Of the colony. thl
} interesting family % kind Of 6rss ksit Q