Connecticut western news., 1886-05-12
4 RENOWNED VIRGINIAN
STRIKING INCIDENTS IN THE CA
 REER OF KING POWHATAN.

STRIKING INCIDENTS IN THE CA
 REER OF KING POWHATAN. The Veracious Story of n "Puck.
 Chronicler-Carcer of an Emil
 ncnt Aboriginal Warrior.
 In this brief article i purpdse giving a few of the more striking incidents in tho long and useful career of tho late es- teemed King Wahunsonacock, perhaps better known to the public as Powhatan.
 I do not deem it necessary to write an extended biography of this late eminent Virgiinian; for, though he left no per sotal memoirs to be carried around by book agents, he has had host of biog- raphcrs, many of them able, fluent and practiced liars with whom I could not pretend to compete in an extended effort. 1 shall therefore only strive to bring out few salient points in tho life of the illustrious Sachem which other biog- raphers have omitted, either from hurry or ineXcusable ignorance. 1 was at one time personally acquainted with de- scendant of the grand old Wahunson- acock, and us my biographical data is gleaned from that sonrcc, the reader need hot hesitate to accept 1t at its face value.
 Early iii life Wahiins6nacock displayed abilities that marked him for something more than plain nine spot. He had pack the convention and fix tho voters. jority every time.
 From Town Commissioner to Justice of the Peace, from Justice of the Peace to Circuit Judge, from Circuit Judge to Past Chief, from Past Chief to Grand High Old Sachem, and ruler of thirty tribes, the rise of Wahunsonacock was smooth, rapid and exhilarating, like going up in the embrace of young and gentle cyclone.
 Wheh an English excursion party, per- sonally conducted by Christopher New port and John Smith, came over to Vir- ginia in 1907, they visited Wahunsona- cock at his city of Powhatan, and were hospitably received. The King, though then somewhat advanced in life. was a man of fine physique and able digestion, having never eaten 'boiled dinner" or kiln-dried pie, and he told his visitors many amusing jokes, and otherwise en- tertained them Tight royalty.
 There was banquet, the bill of fare including stcwed terrapin, baked sweet, potatoes, oysters on the half-shell and corn-meal pone, la Virginia. The Powhatan Ereniug Tomahouk, in report ing the affair next day, remarked that ''thc table groancd with all the delicacies of the season." and that "all went merry as a marriage bell"
 The English called the king "Pow- hatan," after the name of his capital city. They did this more from necessity than from choice, having lost all their best teeth in trying to say 'Wahunsonacock'' off hand. And thus it came about that history rarely refers to that grand old king by the name he put to his pro clamations and bank-c checks.
 The English tourists were much pleased by their reception at the hands of the hospitablc Wahunsonacock The parting after the banquet was one of mutual re. grets. The stewcd terrapin and corn-mea pone, especially, hit John Smith in , tender spot, and few days later Inc called round alone, intending to drop ir on Sachem Powhatan about his dinner hour.
 The matter has never been fully explain ed, and Mir. Smiths own statements about the affair are vague and unsatisfactory but it is thought he called during tho annual house. cleaning at the Executive Mansion, or when Wahunsonacock wa suffering from an attack of old Virgini' malaria. At any rate, Wahunsonacocl was mad about something Instead O inviting MT. Smith to walk into th' reception-room and stay for dinner, h requested him to go round in the back yard and take part in little entertain ment he had arranged expressly for thu occasion. Then asking him pleasantl, to lay his head on the biscuit block Wahunsonacock commanded his heavies Indian-club swinger to step forward anl take his position over the prcstrate forn of the guest of the day.
 Mir. Smith now realized that Wahun sonacock intended to have him killed ol an empty stomach, fate he had alway dreaded; but, seeing that the show coult | not go on very well without him, he dit not object.
 "Let him have itl" said Wahunsona cock to the heavyweight club-swinger in an impressive tone of voice. | The club-swinger raised his fifty pound | club with all the ease of an old per former, and polscd It over John smith intellectual brow. At that moment breathless man burst through the congre gation and whispered few words in th' ear of the Kings clubswinger, who i'm mediately lowered his club without spoil ing MT. Smiths countenance, and put hi hands in his trousers pockets.
 "Well, why don't you striker" i'm patiently thundered King Wahunsona 1 cock.
 'I have!" answered the club-swinger calmly but firmly. ''The Executiv' Board of Assembly No. 9,S27, Knight of Leisure, of which I am a member has just ordered a general strike unti you consent to have your nose painted b, a member of our order."
 As it was the custom of the King t. color his own nose with Virginia peacl and honey, he, of course, peremptoril refused to accede to the demands of tn Knights of Leisure; and thus John Smitl was saved.
 After being advised to keep off tn grass of Powhatanville, John strucl himself. .-Scott Nay, in Puck.