Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-05
AMERICAN HEROINE.
No Nobler Name In History Than
That Of pocahOnias
OyS OF NATURES GENTLEWONEN.
,,cnsh Rorn OF Savage and a Bsrbnrous
Race. Her Instincts Taught Her Lofty
IdeaIs-Hcr standard of Life.
Philadelphia Times,)

tlhiadelphih IfneSJ
-,., women have exercised potent
,.scnce over the destiny OF our race one
las only 10 turn TO the opening scene in
OBJ. worlds unfinished drama 10 be con-
,,-si That her power continues undi-
.,,.shcd the rise OF the curtain in ecah
,..-.ssive generation shows, and yet how
.,.n has she abused that power. Turing
.o invest depths Of degradation those
.,,,, she might have won TO loftiest
,..s,s. and by the subversion OF rulers
ling the Indirect ruin OF nations and
- ,be world itself. There are Instances
,,,rrycr. OF women In whom worth and
.,e.nce have been welded. and from the
.-,.oeinas. the Ceopatras. and the
=, Iame Pompadours Of history one turns
- "a feeling akin 10 gratitude TO an
,,.mple Of true womanhood as shown
d., simple Indian maiden, In whose dusky
,...o beat a heart overfowing with ten
....ees and compassion and the courage
,.t is born in them; and who. despite
D., blrbaric birth and environment and
d., absence OF elcvating models. FASH
,oD.! her life according 10 her innate lofty
tAl& Il anu AthAdiAfh tAdN W INV
,.rbar instincts OF her nature as the
,..lie 10 the pole.
n.Cahontas, the "Nonpareilla OF Viz
and the dearest daughter OF the
t Werowance chieftain, Powhatan
good deeds woven in the early
t.t.r, Of the colonization OF the Old
I.-r.rion shine like golden threads upon
s ate warp, was born in 1895.
-f.rc are among modern writer's those
Of bar 70 rs pf
U captain John Smith in his True
travels and Adventures" published In
london in 1863. but these are shallow
rt.s From a single bone the skilled
.. Hm.st forms a correct idea OF the
.-..t.re OF an animal. and. furnished
al. the record Of his high qualities as
.fu.t-d In his achievements, the annto-
rt of character could scarcely fall into
t .rror OF supposing Captain Smith de-
..rt IN that virtue which is the basis
... others and without which the super
... .4rc would have no foundation 10 rest
Nor is the reverence in which he
r. held by his contemporaries, or the
H,acr reposed in him 10y the colo
,.. whose acknowledged leader at
moe. critical period in their history he
consistent with an inhrmity so
..... to he detected and so universally
MAToACA.
H frst introduction 10 Pocahontas,
secret name. Matoaca, was con-
from the English lest they should
r.... t spell about her occurred when
.. ua~ about II years OF age. Failing
r.. bog he was captured by a band
0. -ltalcs after a manful defence, and
WIS .arried TO the village of twelve wig
cams. where Powhatan's rude court was
esq.,. he'd
Arriving late in the afternoon n scene of
Cr.na splendor burst upon the captive's
,.s lcfore a glowing campfire stood
. chrome covered with drapery OF rae
r skins and adorned with a fringe
.. Ha animals tails. Upon this throne
n. I'D clicftain described as Of majes-
ta arIearancc'O sat. his person covered
u..a .ru4mcnts and mantle of skins
tvu loosely about him Behind him
s.l tho women OF his household-for he
f 4= many wives as an Eastern SOW
.-..-.- with punches Of white feathers
..E iu their hair. strings of cOloTed
ts1- wound about their Threats and their
f.s .ul necks painted a brilliant red.
Or 'is right hand and on his left were
young women. the favorites among his
wives about him stood a guard OF 20
l-r warriors. and in the rear. forming
l.re-eround to this fantastic group
stretched an open. canopied tent. A basin
NJ water was brought 10 Smith In which
WIS AdtAhSt anu a. bbiiNh Va
feathers. in lieu OF a towel. 10 dry them
upon ne was feasted. too. with all the
Hefc.es that the royal larder afforded;
af,r which his entertainers. binding him
hr. ami foot rolled huge stone IN
t'.rt ~ the company and stretching him
1- ground. placed his head upon it.
SHE SAVED SMITH.
T.- club Of the executioner was even
rI % dash out his brains when the
t'ts young daughter rushed suddenly
rHarl. and falling upon her knees be-
-e the victim. implored her father, with
''.r- 90 spare his life, shielding him at
"a same time with her own person and
..-s her head upon his that she might
protect him from the impending blow.
H pardon was granted. and for time
b was retained about the royal house
i. poWhatan being himself skilled in
o.. arts u his people-making his own
f.s ana Notwithstanding TO employ
'r .r the manufacture of trinkets for
Io1hoHtas owing to her interpostion,
NEVER ne was finally released
'n his return TO jamestown he sent
f.rrrrgs presents TO her father and
.f which so pleased the old King
'a' Focthontas was allowed to visit
'- town "as freely as her own habita-
'- Indeed. In the time OF scarcity
rH.h foilowet known in history as
,'aryIng time" accompanied by her
wild train bearing osier baskets filled
tt1 -.ppues she went every few days
itr settlement. and for two or three
+-t was according 10 Smiths nara
.'- che means. under God. OF pre-
serving the colonie from death, famine,
ass .rhtT confusion. which. II in those
tJ 81 had been dissolved, Virginia
a- have line Qain) as II was at our
i-ti ARRIVAL TO this day
Nh.n Smith went 20 England that his
HHr'- caused by the explosion Of a
hu Of gun-powder. might be cared
.r t'e colonsts deprived OF his coun-
' re "murthered and spoiled" by
%. Indians. On one occasion, OF a party
t.fty whom the savages attacked
'4 ue, a boy named Henry Spelman
'swe. by POcahontas. escaped. Under
D. election he lived for years among
t- F4:awomekes. and afterwards proved
ar an interpreter between the
sht and red men.
Az his time Captain Newport ar
rtr with a cargo from England, and
.r 20 conciliate Powhatan, sent
.1 him, among which was a crown
't.'filuately, however. the desired ef
tas not produced. The old chief
',r condescendingly presenting New.
- .th his old shoes and a mantle OF
.. skins felt that his obligations
tr had been discharged, and th'
~ Of the coronation having beer
..iGod with savage pomp and mag
LI 'l-e he was so elated with a sense
own dignity that II was impossi
% treat with him He utterly re
II -r- 10 restore the arms which tbs
II Mans had stolen from the coionists
~ smith, who was again at the heat
a1tirs VI jamestown, resolved 10 cap
.iN TIC newly crowned sovereign anC
d 'i- lake terms with his subjects.
HER INTERPoSITIoN.
tempt was unsuccessful, and th'
WI .nceuscd. Powhatan summoned hi
'ast.rs about him. and would have
L-'--te1 smith and his followers II
~ ''f s.eep had not Pocahontas creep
- though the dark and irksom
~ - apprised him Of his danger ans
s-sAt him. with watered eyes" q
n ~ good his escape. Again her mercl
n q. t.teGposition was exercised In be
Fl "a. " Rchard wyfiin. who. while goini
Fl aunIm smith OF new attempt upoi
81 Ate. was chased by party
"a ~'-s-s. and whom she concealed iron
81 - 7vfsuers. When Captain spith wen