The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-05-10
CAPTAIN JOHN sMITH-POCAHONT
q JOHN ROLFE.
PREPARED FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PRESS
NJ NnEr1N

PREPARED FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PRESS
~ BY MRS p. N, COFFIN. E4esi =.
Perhaps it is but natural that we
should associate, and unite, two such
natures as those Of Capt John Smith
and Pocshontas. Human nature 10
proud to weave incident into romance,
and not content with an act of grand
heroism, we must surround it with the
mysterious charm which ever envelope
romance. To this do we attribute the
prevalent but erroneous impression,
that the beautiful Indian princess, one
whose heroism and generosity exceed
ed her personal charms. POcahontas
the daughter of the powerful chieftain
POwhattan, was the wife of Capt. ohm
Smith, that leading spirit in the. little
colony of jamestown growing and
blossoming in the wilderness. the bud
ding of civilization in the new world.
Capt. John Smith was man youth
full in years, but aged in experience OF
the world and human, nature, both civ
ilized and savage. He had fought for
the cause of freedom in Holland
against the Turks in Hungary, captur-
ed by them and delivered as slave in
COnstantinople, he was taken into the
service'o of a Turkish lady and convey
ed to the Crlmea, whence he contrived-
to escaped, and returned to England
in time to form one of the party about
to atempt the colonization of the new
world. Being captured by the Indi-
ans while one of an exploring party,
and condemned to death, his life was
saved, by what seemed to the savage
mind,a direct interposition of the will
of Heaven, by Pocahontas, then lit
tie maiden of ten or twelve years Of
age throwing her arms around his
neck and pleading with her father to-
spare his life. For some weeks Smith
was detained at the lodge of Powhat-
tan, a village numbering twelve wig
vans aud located in a sylvan spot
near the tails of the James river
where Richmond now stands. The
colonists who were meanwhile in a
famishing condition W ere sustained by
the corn which the generous Pocahon
tas and her companions secretly con
veyed to them. In 1909, just three
years after the landing At Jamestown,
Capt. Smith, injured by an explosion
of gunpowder, was compelled to re,
turn to England to seek surgical aid,
never more to return to the new
world. Some few years subsequent,
Pocahontas was betrayed by q neigh
boring chief, into the hands of the col
onists. Capt, ,Argall demanded of her,
father q ransom, to which, for three
months, the indignant PowhattaM did
deign to respond. ..~..-..
Meanwhile the young princess re-
ceived religious instruction. her sus-
ceptible heart was moved, she re-
nounced her 'country's fdolatry.' en-
braced the christian religion and was
baptised. John Rolie. pious and
discreet young man won the aflec-
tions and asked the hand Of the beau
tiful young princess in marriage.
POwhattan was delighted and the cir
cuInstauce conciliated the tribe. King
James, Of England, was greatly in
censed that any other than man OF
royal blood should we'd u princess.
isolfe, took his Young wife home to
England, where she was much caress-
ed. She never again saw her native
land, but died at the early age of 90
years. This union was productive OF
deem it an honor to have descended
from the noble Indian girl, Mrs. John
Rolfe.