Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-12-23
J. 295. ALEXANDRIA. Va, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEA

of the executioners, did the child-like Q
superstition of her kindred reverence
her interposilion ss token from ST.
perior power? Her fearlessness ard
her entreaties persuaded the council to
spare the agreeable stranger who
might make hatchets for ber father and
rattles and beads for herself, the fa-
vorite child.
The barbariaps, whose decision had
long been held in suspense by the
mysterious awe which Smith had 10.
spired, now resolved to receive him as
Al friend and to make him partner of
their councils. Accordingly, they tempt
ed him to Join their bands, and sought
to gain bis assistance in an attack upon
the colonists at jamestown. but when
his decision of character succeeded in
changing the current OF their thoughts
they dismissed him with mutual prom
ises of friendship. Thus the cap
tivity of Smith did itself become
a benefit to the colony for be had not
only observed with care the country
between the James and Potomac, and
had gained some knowledge of the
language and the manners OF the ma
tives, but be now was able to establish
peaceful intercourse between the
English and the tribes of Powhatsn !;
and with her companions the child who
had rescued him from death, afterwards
came every day to the fort with baskets
of corn for the garrison.
Captain Smith returned to England
in 1909 anc never revisited the colony.
Soon after Pocahontas was sent to live
with friendly tribe on the upper Pc
tomac, in the neighborhood of Potomac
creek. In the year 1872 foragipg
party of the colonlsts under the com
mand of Captain Argall sailed thither
for the purpose as they said by some
strategem of capturing the sequestered
maiden, that they mi eht hold her for
the ransom of many Englishmen then
prisoners of PowhataD, and also "to
get such arms and tooles as he and
other Indians bad got by murder and
stealing from others of their nation,
with some quantity of corne for the
colonies reliefe." To gain this end
Argall promised Japasaws, the rul-
iug sachem, the Gift of cop
per kettle if he would betray the
unsuspecting Pocahontas into his hands,
which was accordingly done in this
wise Jnpasaws ma ie his wife pretend
to be very anxious TO see Capt. Argtll's
vessel ard beg of him to take her
aDo&ri q then threatened to beat Eer
!or her importantly until she crieG; but
at last said If Pocahontas would accom-
pany h=r, she might go, aud thus they
betrayed the poore innocent girl
aboard" and carried her to Jamesto~n,
where she found in the person of John
Rolfe, young man Of oftwenty-eigbt, an
admirer and suitor for her hand, and
TO whom she was married in the little
church of the colony with becoming
ceremonies April 5, 1914.
About year after this interesting
event, Governor Dale sailed Tor Eng
land taking with him Rolfe and his IT,
dian bride, and number of other ma.
tives. Captain Smith was at this time
about to embark upon voyage to New
Eagland. but before sailing he wrote 6
letter 10 his sovereign, recommending
Pocahontas to her good graces, express
ing his gratitude to his old friend and
prese1ver in the wilderness for her
kindness to him ard FOR the many SER
vices she bad rendered the English il
Virginia, and declaring that ''she had
been under Gcd the instrument to pre-
serve the colony from death, famine
and utter confusion"
(Corclusion next weekly