St. Landry democrat., 1891-01-03
An Historical Tale.

An Historical rale.
Almost three hundred years ago 1t was
whsn three vessels started out from EGG
land. bound for Virginia. These were
nothing like the grand vessels that now go
back and forth across the ocean, for IN the
whole three was only room enough Tor
about hundred men besides the crew
This was not pleasure trip, such rs people
so often take nowadays, for they we're
going to a strange country-a country
where there were no houses ready built
to live in, nor any shops or markets in
which to buy food and clothing.
Even for that time this was iong voyage
but after weeks and months they drew near
their journeys end. Just then heavy
storm came up and, carrying them past
their landing place, drove the vessels into
Chesapeake Bay Unjust have been great
comfort to everybody to have been cast INTO
such fine harbor, for the northern point
took the name of Old Point Comfort and
has kept it ever since.
As they sailed on up the bay the air was
so warm and fragrant, and the gnmpses
that they had of woodland and f1owery
slopes made such pretty picture that they
were all sure there was Lo pleasanter place
in the whole world than that to which
they had come. The vessels went on TIL
they came to the mouth of long rlver
This they named James, after their klng
Still on they went up the river tor ABOUT
fifty miles, where little peninsula Jutted
out on which they concluded to land and
| build town. This was jamestown, tbs
| first English settlement IN the United
States, founded in May, 1907. Now there
n. al ho Coro huf the
tronbls was. most of the men there were
not used to working. Trees had to be cut
and houses built, while something must be
sent back to England to show the people
there what sort of q country 1t was to
which they had come
After about month the ship went back.
leaving the emigrsnts behind. 1t was not
| long before they were homesick. Things
| did not look as pleasant as at first 1t was
yery hard working; the sun was so hot,
the damp air made many of them i'll, the
Indians troubled and annoyed them, and &c
make things still worse, they began to gel
short of food.
Before the autumn came about one-hal1
Of the colony was dead, while the rest were
| 40 ILL., weak, and discouraged that they
cared but little wha: became of them
And no knowing what might have hap
psned had they not had very brave ant
wise man among them, Captain JOIN
Smith. He made the Indians afraid
cheered up the people, and went arount
hunting up something to eat.
However, after time the weather grew
colder, the sick people got better. an tn
friendly Indians on cutting their gran
brought some to them, while there wer
MANY wild fowl about which they kille
and cooked, 80 that things began to look
little better for the colonists.
AS there was little to do just at thi
time. Smith, with some companions, stat
ted out to SOC more of the country in whic
they were living. After going as far
, thew could up the river they left thel
boats and started off through the fores'
In a short time his companions were kille
.. by Indians, and Smith himself was take
> prioner. He did not seem the least b
!, afraid. He told ths Indians many thing
that they had never heard before. II
. took from his pocket little compass an
. they were surprised when they saw tn
needle always pointing 10 the north, r
> matter how the compss was held. 81
the straneest thing of all was when I
made some marks on paper aid sent 1t
. | Jamestown, thus letting his friends kno
y what had become of him.
- The Indians began to be rather afral1
= Smith. They thought he was some hag q
. being, but were not quite sure whether
WAS q friend or an enemy to them. I
Z was taken around to the different tribes
a sort of show, and Eca!ty came hef"
Powhatan, the king. Tits great nan ilv'
:, in a little village of about dozen WI
~ vans. Hsre q council was called a.
u Smith 7,as condemned to die, but W
8 saved by PocaLontas, the daughter or q
l. chisftain. You all know this story: DC
the prisoner made friends with The lit
y maiden, and how, wher his lead lay
: the block ali ready to be cut CIT by T.
- tomaha wk, she ran out, and, throwing q
10 arms abou. him, begged them to spare L
life, And then how the Indians ma
Z friends with him and tried to persuade III
) to leave his own people and become one
them. ard when this could not be, ~
II thew promised to be friends with all
~ whites.
IN When Smith vert back he found t
strongest men OF the co]only about to r
~ awav and leave the feeble ones behlr
"a He stopped this, and things went on gu
~ smoothly for q while. The next "
i more emierants came over, till this "
O. quite a settlement; but their troubles W.
- by no means over. There were the lnolal
10 famine, sickness, and quarrels to conte
." with. In 1910 they became so discourse
y that they sill left TIE settlement ana san
~ down the river. They had had sucn N
III times here that many of them waited
=. burn the town. This was not done' WI
ia was fortunate for the runawsys, Tor me .e
.. ing a boat with men and supplies "
u turned, and the next day were pack IN
70, little fort at Jamestown.
Us The year went by, and more ana n
az people came to jamestown ana w
no no country about. Here the first congr
S Na was held, composed of eleven men men
no no were called together to help MAKE MAKE .,
idy laws. Here, too, only a few Gays o.
"a this, about twenty negroes were o.ou
no over by q Dutch vessel and sofa 70
10. planters. This was the beginning
s sss slavery in the Eng .ish colonies Am
, sa seventy years after that May day wnen
'en frst White man came to Jane town
p village was burned, and all that was
N TO tell where it once stood Is ru1
De church tower and some grave stones
We,