The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-22

N4 -
{ clearing up some OF the mysteries which
+ have for txo hundred years or more huns
about ire person. qualities and dolngs OF
Americas first heroine, Pocahontss-
When once an historical character has
found an abiding place ia the hsartE O.
people zho dearly love fantastic tradition.
a calm. cold. historical investigation which
upsets cherished IDEAS and drops fond
IDEAL into the ranks OF the commonplace
wlth duh thud Is looked upon as
species OF cruelty. To see a beautiful
fsacy shattered IL distressing. whether II
be the unfortunate disencnantmelt inc.-
dent 70 a chiid's scientific Investigation OK
s.. Nicholas chimney pranks or the more
serious fan OF a great public character
after tine. research and investigation have
furnished facts which correctly determine
his place in history.
The general story OF the English colon
lists 81 Virginia may be a little hazy in the
minds Of mos: Americans, but there is one
episode which from the earliest school
days. has been indelIbly stamped upon the
mind. The want and distress, the trials
ana tfaUUkAIlpBt "a AA&B5- TAI - SSAtAANo~''ft9
settlers ars remembered only as incis-
tinct. uncertain facts. but the picture OF
Pocahontaz throwing herself across the
PROSTATE form OF Capt. John Smith In
order 20 save him from the savage club
about 70 fall, rises as clearly now as when
Il was first seen in the old geography or
primary history. The scene was presented
ff4z. i'm
preston created by the picture Of the
captain. the beautiful dusky maiden and
the bIoodthirsty father with his awful club
cannot be easily disturbed by ransackers
who have fumbled among musty and I'M
familiar records
This sensational capture and rescue is
said 10 have occurred in January. 1905 but
although it was a highly important cpl
sode at least 10 Smith. no report OF it was
made until 1916. In Smiths tract called "A
True Relation" written in 1905, it was not
mentioned, but was. in sense. discred-
tied by the statement that the Indian
chief. Powhattan. had treated him very
eourteously. In 1924. however. Capt. Smith
published his General History of Vir-
ginla." and at that time, sixteen years
after Pocahontas' exhibition Of devotion.
| the first circumstantial account of it was
| given to the world.
From this time on Pocahontas shone out
as a star OF the first magnitude, as was
/ perhaps natural since an historian of tne
period wrote that the giant arm of Pow
haitian had already raised his club to
| ishment, the young and beautiful Poca-
| hontas, his daughter. with a shrek OF
| terror. rushed from the throng and threw
/ herself upon the body of Smith. at the
| same time casting an imploring look
| toward her furious and amazed father,
/ and in all the eloquence OF mute. but i'm
passioned sorrow 'beseeching the white
mans life
The story as thus told Was repeateS,
| with some artistic variations by all his
| torical writers up 10 the time o6 Thomas
Jefferson. He Ia his Notes on Virginia"
says nothing about It, although it had
come 10 be commonly regarded as one Of
the most exciting events that had ever oc-
| CURED on Virginia soil. jefferson says
Smiths history was written in "a barbar-
Gus, uncouth STYLE" although almost the
only source from which knowledge Of the
| early infancy Of the state was derived.
| Still. he couldn't stand the Pocahontas
story. no doubt believing II a picturesque
establishment added for the purpose Of
lists in brighter coiors.
Bancroft took Pocahontas In all her
| glory and made her one OF the prominent
and influential figures in the early settle
| ment OF Virginia. Such she would prob
ably have remained for all time had not
several historical writers Of high repute
begun 10 question her claims TO the title
81 heroine. Henry Adams recently point
Ell cat the improba3illty OF the romantic
rescue Win a degree OF fulIness and cir
eumstanlislity that was practically con-
elusive. 50 far as documentary evidence
was concerned. Hchry Cabot Lodge de-
clared that modern Investigation had
proved the story 10 BE- pure fiction. and.
more distressine than an. certain colonial
records were published showing that Poca-
hontas was in fact an ordinary little
uot exemplary In her behavior. from the
fact that she had lived with cant. Cook
ham and others about the fort At James
town.
what lends a greater interest 20 the
story IS that Prof F.Ske now comes for
UarI 20 defend the daughter Of The forest
from the shafts OF the icoaoclasts. He
/ thinks the absence Of mention OF the RS
cue ln sm,h's early work was due %
editorial eNc.slau. waich does not appea
- De- a very satisfactory reason. ana he
/ -ngeniously gets around a good many Of
the objections ~ Adams and Lodge finally
E.vtug IL a. his judgment that the ar
rested club incident IS we'll authenticated
and 20 ne regarded as An event Of real i'm
Portnnce in the early history of the United
States
god many viii probably thank Prof
Fiske fnr thus attempting - assist in
repairing the battered reputation n an
idol ~ childhood and saving the rescue
picture from the total eclipse which recent
historical researches had threatened
White his reasons may not be accented a.
conclusive. an interest may be awakened
In tAe subject which. = kindly fos;ere5
Snt allowed 20 grow. may Pc DEVELOPED
gradually int5 a fau-Hsige. P,caa5n,ss
/ revival