Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-07-26

Wnetner ne formed a settlement mere
or not, haven't been able to ascertain. |
have ascertained, however, that in 1910
settlement was formed and by one man
only. In that year a certain Portuguese,
by the name of Diago Alvares Corvea,
attempted to come up the bay with his
ship, but for some reason he ran on the
rocks near the entrance and was, of
course, wrecked. Five years ago the
steamship "Reiance" of the U. S. and
B. M. Steamship Co. ran on the rocks in
about the same place, the engine of
which may still be seen in the picture l
enclose.
AS soon as Diago Alvares was wreck
ed, tribe of Indians called the Tupin-
ambas, who seem to have squatted upon
this territory-I don't know how many
years before-rushed down from the hill
side and fell upon the survivors of the
shipwreck and destroyed all except Cap
tain Diago Alvares. can't find out why
they saved him just at that particular
time, unless it was to have an opportuni-
ty of trying their hand at putting him to
death afterwards, a thing which they
tried but their little scheme failed. He is
said to have aided the Indians in saving
some things from the wreck and perhaps
gained their favor in this way, by help
ing them to his property. Among other
things he saved were a musket, powder
and ball. He took occasion then to give
the chief of the tribe and few of his
followers an exhibition of his markham
ship, by bringing down a large bird
which was flying overhead. The explo-
sion of the shooting and the immediate
dropping down of the bird shivered the
old chief into such very ample surprise
and terror that the captain chad the
floor" and held it for some time. For
what Diago did on this occasion he was
called by the Tupinambas "Coramusu,"
''the man of fire. In course of time,
however, the Indians became jealous of
his growing power among them and the
old head-chief, Itapsica, resolved to
make a John Smith of him and do the
Powhattan act. OF course he couldn't
have been acquainted with the old Vir-
gina chief. Accordingly he, Alvares,
was, on one of their gala days, led out TO
be shot by trained Indian and no doubt
with his own musket. He is placed in
the center of bowling band of Tupin-
ambas. The trained Indian with mus
ket in hand stands erect short distance
before him. On all sides about him scores
of others, Indians, (no white men) with
bows strung, and arrows in their place
ready to cut the air and be buried in AL
wares body, who stands meanwhile with
perfect cOmposure awaiting his fate
Slowly and solemnly the head-chief
Itapsica, approaches. The gathered Tu-
pinambas part to let him pass, touching
with reverence some portion of his gau
dy trappings as he passes. Behind him
a dusky Indian maiden softly, almost
stealthily, moves, her raven train falling
in uncared-for and uncombed disorder
about her shapely shoulders. On to the
erected for the occasion, with stately
steps Itapsica moves; the beautiful In
dian girl, daughter of the chief, trem.
blingly follows Just behind. The dais is
reached. The old chief ascends its fouI
steps with heavy tread. He raises his
hand and is about to give the word tC
the dusky warriors all to fire, when dart.
ing from her place "lille frightened deer
the Indian girl bounds into the ring, and
instantly "clasping round" the statu-
esque form of Diago, she performs the
celebrated historical Pocahontas act in
the case of Powhattan versus John
Smith. 1t is needless to say Chief tap
sica was largely astonished, when he
realized the young girl was none other
than his daughter. Paraguassu. This
event took place at that part of the city
known as the Graca, and where Diago
first landed after his shipwreck and
where subsequently the church, "pho-
to" of which enclose. called 1.-THE Ora
ca" was built by Paraguassu when she
became Mrs. Captain Diago Alvares
Corvea; for. of course, you see such a
romantic affair could only terminate in
marriage. Blu. before the marriage a
miracle occurred, or is represented as
having occurred, and is shown with all
of the incidents above related in an old
painting now in "The Graca" church
The painting shows the Blessed Virgin
appearing to Paraguassu, while she was
sitting in her mud hut one day, and tell
ing her about heaven and heavenly
things and how important and how bless
ed thing it would be for her to be a
Christian. If this be true, that the Vir'
gin did appear as related, here is another
miracle. "Robert Ellsmere" to the con-
trary notwithstanding. You know Ed
ward Everett Hale, Mrs. Stowe, Rev
Heber Newton and others are trying tC
force the Ellsmere craze upon the people