Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-03-31
FLoRIDA's PocAHoNTAS.
A Romantic Story as Related by Governo
BIoxham to the Fishermen.

BlOxham to the Fishermen.
Governor w. B. Bloxham inciden-
tally related the following legend in
his address welcoming the delegates
of the recent National Fishery society
to Tampa, Fla.
"You meet here upon this historic
ground where the footprints of some
of Spain's greatest cavaliers and
Americas noblest captains can be
traced. While it is not my intention
to recur to their heroic deeds or to
offer you a cup filed with the am
brosia of ancient story, yet there is
one romance, based upon historic fact,
associated with this very spot that I
feel you will kindly indulge should
brief reference be made thereto.
Wherever the history of America
is read the story of Pocahontas is
known. The romance is most capti-
waiting, and some of Virginia's most
honored sons trace back lineage to
this daughter of the forest. But the
historic fact that similar scene was
enacted on this very spot three-quar-
ters of century before the name of
Pocahontas was ever lisped by Eng
lish 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 Is, having been captured at Clear
Water, was brought before Eirrihugua,
the stern Indian chief, in whose breast
was ranking a vengeance born of the
i'll treatment of his mother by the fol-
lowers of the ill-fated Narvarez. Ortez
was young and fair, but the cruel chief
had given the orders, and here was
erected gridiron of poles, and young
Ortez was bound and stretched to meet
the demands of human sacrifice. The
torch was being applied, the cracking
flames began to gather strength for q
human holocaust, when the stern
chiefs daughter threw herself at her
behalf. Her beauty rivalled 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, 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.
But the demon of evil in few
months again took possession Of Hir-
rihugls:. and his daughter saw that
even her entreaties would be unavail-
ing. She was betrothed to Mucoso,
the young chief of neighboring
tribe. Their love had been plighted,
that God given love that rules the saw
age breast.
"Her loving heart told her that
Ortez would be safe in Mucoso's keep
ing. 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
win for the intended victim of his
vengeance His rage vas such that it
dried up the wellsprings of parental
affection, and he refused the marriage
of his daughter unless Ortez was sur
rendered But that Indian girl, al
though it broke the heartstrings of
hope, sacrificed her love to humanity,
and Mucoso sacrificed his bride upon
the altar of honor.
''Ortez lived to welcome De Soto.
Tell me > aye, tell the world-where a
brighter example of nobler virtue was
ever recordei Where in history do
YOU find more genuine and more touch
ing illustration of love, charity and
forgiveness ss'-the very trinity of earth
ly virtues, and the brightest jewels of
the Christian heaven?
'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 love. "-Savan-
nah News.