Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-03-24
FLoRIDA's PoCAHoNTAs.
A Romantic Story as Related by Governor
Bloxham to the Fishermen.

A Romantic Story Related by Governor
Bloxham to the Fishermen.
Governor w. B. Bloxham Incl
dentally related the following legend
in his address welcoming the dele
gates of the National Fishery society
to Tampa, Fla:
Wherever the history of America
is read the story of Pocahontas is
known. The romance is most cap
tivating, and some of Virginia's
most honored sons trace back lin
cage to this daughter of the forest.
But the historic fact that a similar
scene was enacted on this very spot
three-quarters of a century before
the name Of Pocahontas was ever
lisped by English lips is unknown
to even many Floridians. 1t was
here in 1928, IL years before De Soto
landed OH Tampa bay, that Juan
Ortez, Spanish youth of 10, having
been captured at Clear Water, was
brought before Hirrihugua, the
stern Indian chief, in whose breast
was ranking vengeance born of
the i'll treatment of his mother by
the followers of the i'll fated Mar
vaez. Ortez was young and fair,
but the cruel chief had given the
orders, and here was erected a grid
iron of poles and young Ortez was
bound and stretched to meet the de-
mands of human sacrifice. The
torch was being applied and the
flames began to gather strength
for human holocaust when the
stern chiefs daughter threw herself
at her fathers feet and interposed
in Ortez's behalf. Her beauty ri
vailed that of the historic dame
whose heavenly charms kept Troy
and Greece ten years in arms The
soft language of her soul flowed
from her never silent eyes as she
looked up through her tears of SYM
pathy, imploring the life of the
young Spaniard.
''Those tears, the ever ready
weapon of woman's weakness,
touched the heart of even the savage
chief, and Ortez was for the time
spared.
'sBut the demon of evil in few
months again took possession of
Hirrihugua, and his daughter saw
that even her entreaties would be
unavailing. She was betrothed to
Muooso, the young chief of neigh
boring tribe. Their love had been
plighted, that God given love that
rules the savage breast.
"Her loving heart told her that
Ortez would be safe in Mucoso's
keeping. At the dead hour Of night
she accompanied him beyond danger
and placed in his hand such token
as Mucoso would recognize.
"She acted none too soon. AS the
sun rose over this spot its rays fell
upon the maddened chief calling in
vain for the intended victim of his
vengeance. His rage was such that
it dried up the well springs of pa
rental affection and he refused the
marriage of his daughter unless Or
tez was surrendered. But that In
dian girl, although it broke the
heartstrings of hope, sacrificed her
love to humanity, and Mucoso sac
rificed his bride upon the altar Of
honor.
"Ortez lived to welcome De Soto.
Tell me-aye, tell the world where
brighter example of nobler virtue
was ever recorded! Where in his
tory do you find more genuine and
more touching illustration of love,
charity and forgiveness'-the very
trinity of earthly virtues and the
brightest jewels of the Christian
heaven2
"What captivating theme this
Florida Pocahontas should present
to the pen of imagination, picturing
this spot then and today associated
with romance rich in historic lore!"
Savannah News.