, 1874-11-08
CAPT. JOHN SMITH.


Nne, 3Tpu1 Lu6 1h!eb u 9uUala' t5u0Alo ASsFt
| strange aud Interesting though somewhat con
| tradictofy history. Thera is no doubt, however,
that they wero discovered By John Smith in 16li
prosaic as the name now seems. IN consequence
Of its comnouuess. John, Of Virginia fame had
most romantic career. he IL chleny known m as
hontas. The story ID none tho less pretty De-
cause it is untrue.
"Indeod il Is rather the prestier therefor. !
have always noticed that tho prettler story is.
tue more likely it il to be quashcd By sono lm-
pertinent fact. fortunately, john does not need
tho Pocahoutas bit Of fiction to insure his illus
trlousness. Born IN Viii ,IyauY ia 1870, OF om1-
nontly respectable parents, he grew weary. of
school at IS, and sold his slender effects with a
view of running OF to sea. His f1ther kindly
dying at the t,lne aud leaving the boy what VAS
called considerable property, Ae altered his pur-
pose. He went into q counting -house at Lynn at
Is; but, having no tasto for trade. he accom-
panied son OF Lord Wl'lou5hby to France, hay
ing in his possession bus IL shll1ings, lent him
by his 1rcl1dB he says. in orier to ee- rid OF hn
His services having beea dsp4nscd with ut Or
leans, ho engaged Us q soldier in the war of the
Low Countries, 1cturnlns t. bis nativa town t
tho end Of four years. Then he triod the life Of
q rocIusc, dwelling in nelgnboriuy forest and
stadyiug military history and tactlcs, until his
restless spirit drove him eain into the world OF
tents. Io resolved 10 light against tho TURKS,
and while on hts way to 3iarscli!c5 he was lob
bed {of wAat it would be hard to oonceiTc), an
srange.s Al Marsei'cs lie embarked 10. Italy,
On the vessel wero largo number Of Roman
Catholic Pilgrims, who. wnen o fearful storm
arose. supersttiousy believed that it was sign
of heavan'5 wrath q. tho presence Of hocetlc IL,
their holy company. So they piously threw Smith
overheard but smith sinfuliy refused to drown.
He SWAN to tho iso OF St. Mary, n,llc distant,
aud, having been taken on board of Freuci,
ship. be sailed to Levau:. On The yoyaSo they
encouEtcr- d a rich Venetian carac and cAp.arcd
her. the Euglishman distinguishing hlsAas'f by
his lntrepidity. and receiving a large share Of
tie prize.
''Latez be travelled through Italy, and then
joioed the army Of Baron h.s,el in Sty.ia which
VAS struggling 70 releyo the Ttaus;,yluian torn
bcslegco by the TURKS. Uy his ingenuity com
lu11uicatIous vera opened with the town, and
cou1biued assault made that compelled the enemy
to raise ths siege. During tue war he was hc:i-
ously wounded, SLOW tlico noted Turks in siuSlo
combat, pei formed eundry daring exploits, Was
finally made prisoner aud seut 10 tonstantino2le
aud beautiful woman, he Won her affections 70
completely That she, fearing for his life, eeut
him toiav brother, . racha in ! distant Province.
frankly confcss1nS her Passion. The brolhes,
incensed ut what Ac considered his Sisters un-
worthy attachment. sent Smith to throshlag cofn
Oh his estate I'D one day lnsulsed him 30 gsosHi:
that. regarding tue flceroy in tue light Of q
brosAer-u-las. aud therefore natural enemy.
John braiued hin with hail. Putting on the
of without knowing where he WAS going, or
whcro nc wanted to 60. \ fortuisht's weary
wandering brought hin to Russian garrison Oh
the Don. Kindly treated there, he iourneycd t.
If'ranBylvan1a, aad WAS welcomed by his oil com
l'anious-iu-a1ms, who gayo him money to carry
lin to England. AS usual. ls travelled in i
roundabout war, and even weut to Morocco to
take par: in evil ets1fo that had sprung "
tneIe. but refrained, from disgust with both
SIDES. When he was only Is, he got back (1tv6)
to his native land, then much ag!tated by the
discoveries 10 the Now World. Easily persuaded
to engage in the founding OF colony, ho set
sail for Virginia. After countless Rdvereitics,
Which be steadily overcaue, after untold roman
tic invent res and narrow escapes. he was chosen
President Of tue colony. and finally deposed by
tho Council and Company il England. who had
beon disappointed iu NOT realizing their golden
Disorder aud disaster following
bis supersedure, he was induced by the better
part OF the coloi1ists to resume his functions,
aud he once moro administered affairs with wis.,
dom. Tired to degEeo OF the machlnations and
of his personal foes, be returned to
Europe (1603) and, i've yeara subsequent, he led
an expedition to New England for the purpose
Of Trade and exploration, nt which time he dis
covered the Shoals. Ho returned home tho yoar
and in nine or ten months 70 embark
cd with the intention OF effectinS { ornament
settlement On tho American coass- His old luck
followed him. He met with disaster upon dis
Reter; was chased again aud ngaiu by pirates,
and at last taken By French man-of war. really
D pirato and carried prisoner to Rocnolie. He
escaped to England; and the Plymouth Com
Pany. in consideration OF his services, made him
Admiral Of New England. Smith spent tue rest
Of his life uneventfully, in his native country,
d,ing i'll London in his SD year. Hc was tho
first TO recommend The settlement of Now Eu-
gland, aud did 30 much to that end that it is en-
!lrely fitting that rude monument to his honor
aud memory should hnye been erected on Star
Island. Tie monument is frequently visited by
summercrs here, who have but vaEuo idea what
Capt. John Smith did. For their benefit the
sketch OF his remarkable career has beea glven.'