The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-25
A FLORIDA ROMANCE
A VERAcIoUs TALE ABOUT AN IN,
DIAN CHIEFS DAUGHTER.

The Pocahontas of FIowers-During tho
Spanish Occupation She Saved the Life Of
Her Lover One Juan Ortes-How He
Requitsd Her Devotion.
Gov. W. B. Bloxham incidentally re-
lated the following legend in his adj
dress welcoming the delegates Of the
National Fishery society to Tampa,
Fla, recently:
you meet here upon this historic
ground, where the footprints of some
OF SPANS greatest cavaliers and Amer
ica's noblest captains can be traced
While it is not my intention to recur
to their heroic deeds or to offer you a
cup filled with the ambrosia of ancient
story, yet there is one romance, based
upon historic fact, associated with this
Very spot that ! feel you viii kindly in
dulge should brief reference be made
thereto.
Wherever the history of America Is
read there the story of Pocohontas is
known. The romance is most capti-
waiting. and some of Virginia's most
honored sons trace back a lineage to
this daughter of the forest. But the
historic fact that a similar scene was
enacted on this very spot three-quar-
tiers of century before the name of
Pocahontas was ever lisped by Eng
fish lips Is unknown to even many
Floridans. 1t was here in 1928, twelve
years before De Soto landed on Tampa
Bay, that Juan Ortez, Spanish youth
OF eighteen. having been captured at
Clear Water, was brought before Hir-
rihugua, the stern Indian chief, In
whose breast was ranking vengeance
born Of the i'll treatment of his mother
by the followers of the Inflated Mar
varez. Ortez was young and fair, but
the cruel chief had given the orders,
and here was erected a gridiron of
poles and young Ortez was bound and
stretched to meet the demands of a
human sacrifice. The torch was being
applied, the cracking flames began to
gather strength for human holocaust,
when the stern chiefs daughter threw
herself at her fathers feet and inter-
posed in Ortez's behalf Her beauty
r1valled 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 sympathy, implor-
Ing 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 Or
tez was for the time spared.
But the demon Of evil in few
months again took possession Of Hir-
and his daughter saw that
even her treaties would be unayailing.
She was betrothed to Mucoso, the
Young chief Of neighboring tribe.
Their love had been plighted, that
iod-given love that rules the savage
breast.
Her loving heart told her that Or
ez would be safe in Mucoso's keeping.
At the dead hour Of night she accom-
panied him beyond danger and placed
n his hands such token as Mucoso
would recognize.
She acted none too soon. As the
un rose over this spot, its rays fell up
n the maddened chief calling in vain
or the intended victim of his ven.
eance. His rage was such that il
ried up the wellsprings of parental af-
ection and he refused the marriage of
is daughter unless Ortez was surren-
cred. But the Indian girl, although
broke the heartstrings of hope, sac.
lficed her love to humanity, and Mu-
$50 sacrificed his bride upon the altar
honor.
"Ortez lived to welcome De Soto,
ell me-aye, tell all the world-where
brighter example Of nobler virtue was
yer recorded! Where In history do
GU find more genuine and more
illustration of love. charity
nd forgiveness'-the very trinity of
arthly virtues, and the brightest Jew
Is of the Christian heaven?
What captivating theme this Flor
la Pocahontas should present to the
en- OF imagination, picturing this spot
hen and to-day associated with ro-
lance rich In historic love"