The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-11-12
HISTORIC JOHN SMITH.
The Trials and Tribulations of the Dis
coverer of the Isle of Shoals.

| cOverer of the Isle of Shoals.
The Isle of Shoals have a strange
and interesting, though somewhat con-
Trajectory history. There is no doubt,
however, that they were discovered by
John Smith in 1914. Prosaic as the
name now seems in consequence of its
extreme commonness, John, of Virginia
fame, had a most romantic history. He
is chiefly known as the Englishman
whose life was saved by Pocahontas.
The story is none the less pretty be-
cause it is untrue. Indeed, it is rather
the prettier therefor. I have always
noticed that the prettier story is, the
more likely it is to be quashed by some
impertinent fact. Fortunately, John
does not need the Pocahontas bit of fc-
tion to insure his illustriousness. Born
in Willoughby in 1879 of eminently
respectable parents, he grew weary of
school at thirteen, and sold his slender
effects with q view of running off to
sea. His father kindly dying at this
time, and leaving the boy what was
called considerable property, he altered
his purpose. He went into a counting
house at Lynn at fifteen but having
no taste for trade, he accompanied
son of Lord Willoughby to France,
having in his possession but ten shil-
lings, lent him by his friends, in order
to get rid of him. His services having
been dispensed with at Orleans, he en-
gagged as soldier in the wars of the
Low Countries returning to his native
town at the end of four years. Then
he tried the life of recluse, dwelling
in nelghboring forest and studying
military history and tactics, until his
restless spirit drove him again into the
world of events. He resolved to fight
against the Turks, and while on his
way to Marseilles he was robbed (of
what, it would be hard to conceive), and
must have starved to death but for the
succor of strangers. At Marseilles he
embarked for Italy. On the vessel were
large number of Roman Catholic Pill
grims, who, when a fearful storm arose,
superstitiously believed that it was a
sign of Heavens wrath at the presence
of hereto in their holy company. So
they piously threw Smith overheard
but Smith sinfully refused to drown.
He swan to the Isle of st. Mary, a
mile distant, and having been taken on
board of French ship, he sailed to
the Levant. On the voyage they en-
countered a rich Venetian carack and
captured her, the Englishman distin-
| gushing himself by his intrepidity,
and receiving large share of the prize.
Later he travelled through Italy, then
| Joined the army of Baron Kissell IN
Styria, which was struggling to relieve
Transylvanian town besieged by the
Turks. By his ingenuity communica-
tion was opened with the town, and
combined assault made that compelled
the enemy to raise the siege. During
the war he was seriously wounded, slew
three noted Turks in single combat, per-
formed sundry daring exploits, was
| finally made prisoner and sent to Con-
stantinople as q slave. Falling into the
hands of young and beautiful woman
| he won her affections so completely
that she, fearing for his life, sent him
to her brother, Pasha in distant
province, frankly confessing her pas
sion. The brother, incensed at what
| he considered his sisters unworthy
attachment, set Smith to threshing corn
on his estate, and one day insulted him
so grossly that, regarding the viceroy
in the light of brother-in-law, and
therefore a natural enemy, John Drained
him with fail. Putting on the dead
mans clothes, he mounted horse and
rode off without knowing where he was
going, or where he wanted to go. A
fortnight's weary wandering brought
him to Russian garrison on the Don.
Kindly treated there he journeyed to
Pennsylvania, and was warmly welcomed
| by his old companions-in-ar who
gave him money to carry him to Eng
land. AS usual, he travelled in a round
about way, and even went to Morocco
to take part in civil strife that had
sprung up there, but refrained, from
disgust with both sides. When he was
only twenty-f he got back Q606) to
his native land, then much agitated by
the discoveries in the New World
Easily persuaded to engage in the
founding of colony, he set sail for
Virginia.
After countless adversities, which he
steadily overcame, after untold roman
he was chosen President of the colony,
and finally deposed by the Council and
company in England, who had been
disappointed in not realizing their
golden expectations. Disorder and
disaster following his supersedure, he
was induced by the better part of the
colonists to resume his functions, and
he once more administered affairs with
wisdom. Tired to q degree Of the
Vaccinations and jnalignity OF his per-
sonal foes, he returned to Europe
Q609), and, tive years subsequent, he
led an expedition to New England for
the purpose of trade and exploration,
at which time he discovered the Shoals.
He returned home the yeat following,
and in nine or ten months re-emabarked
with the intention of effecting a per-
manent settlement on the American
coast. His old luck followed him. He
met with disaster upon disaster was
chased again and again by pirates, and
at last taken by French man-of-war,
really pirate, and carried a prisoner
to Rochelle. He escaped to England
and the Plymouth company, in consid.
Grafton of his services, made him
Admiral of New England. Smith spent
the rest of his life, uneventually, in his
native country, dying in London in his
SD year. He was the first to recon-
mend the settlement of New England,
and did so much to that end that it is
entirely fitting rude monument to his
honor and memory should have been
erected on Star Island. The monu-
ment is frequently visited by summer
ers here, who have but vague idea
what Capt. John Smith did.
Not long ago, during the discussion
of the project of closing the cemeteries
| = III IL. IT, x,.a