The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-20

sueYesting mortal risk or danger. by such
means as these not yet forgotten by SKILL
| fui manipulators OF stock markets. the
clever fellow pictures the state OF things
very different we may be sure from the
| original account OF the letter itself. and
represents the American Indians as as
posed TO be friendly and amiabIe 10 the
foreign stranger, even when captured
| in q desperate fight.
Such a version, seemingly authentic,
from "a Gentleman Of the Colony" or,
better yet, as in the last edition. from
Captain John Smith, Coronell or the
Colony" might easily gain credit In Eng
/ land, ignorant at that time on tndian
| character, where IL was designed TO ef-
feet public opinion; at any rate 1t would
/ take at least five or six months for
authentic contradiction or comment to
come from John Smith or anybody else
] on the other side of the Atlantic, while
| five or six weeks or less was all that
were needed IL the scheme succeeded. as
IL probably did. In keeping up the value
of the Virginia Company's stock and en-
aiding the successful operator to unload
The stock market had its tricks then
as well as to-day, and some OF the clever
est men In England were in the business
This stock jobbing theory Is only a theory,
but fits the case. and may do TIL better
explanation appears. At any rate 1t may
explain why, having served Its purpose.
the Relation" was lost In oblivion, only
to reappear in our day, where rarities,
however worthless intrinsically, are eager
~ sought after and so highly valued by
bibl;omaniacs and collectors Deane. its
modern editor speaks Of Ii as one or the
rarest Of early America, as IL Is.
To sum up the matter. this Relations"
account of Smiths captivity Is false on
the face OF 1t, contradicted by all known
facts of Indian character and methods,
and utterly inconsistent with all the cir
cumstances of the case, and is fraud
virtually confessed in it's preface, which
admits suppressions that is, garbing OF n
private letter.
The critics may pin their faith TO 1t,
but they cannot fasten to Smith any
responsibility for somebody else's per-
versions and falsehoods. He utterly ig-
nored it when compiling his History"
in which are incorporated his own pre-
vious writings and the writings Of others
on Virginia. When, on such authority as
this Relation" they challenge my
belief and ask me TO discredt Smiths
authentic statement as to the incidents
Of that captivity, l reply In the words
that Smiths great contemporary puts in
the mouth of his Hamlet, I'll take the
Ghosts word for a thousand pounds"
Let us turn for a moment to Smiths
own account of the rescue. which sup
plies an explanation of his escape from
death at once sufficient and natural,
though extraordinary. His story of res
cue is so consistent with and explanatory
Of subsequent well-known and undisputed
facts that its denial makes these facts
simply unintelligible and absurd and de-
stroys the coherency of our early history,
leaving gaps utterly inexplicable.
If the Pocahontas rescue is not true
the main question arises, then, how in
the world did Smith escape death, Of
which no other explanation is yet offered?
and next, how account for Pocahontas'
frequent and familiar visits to James
town and her repeated services, even at
the risk of her life, for the safety of the
colonists until Smiths return to England?
Why the occasion of her visits after
Smiths departure for England, and why
a dozen other undisputed facts, easily and
naturally explained by the rescue. but
utterly incoherent, not TO say impossible,
on denial of that fact, the solution Of so
many others?