The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-03
A FLORIDA
Romantic story of IA sixteenth Centur
Devotion and Sacrifice.


From the Savannah (Ga.) News.
Gov. w. Il. Bloxham incidentally re-
lated the following legend In his address
welcoming the delegates of the Ma
tional Fishery society to Tampa, Fla,
on Thursday, Jan. 20:
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 IL 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 will kindly
indulge should brief reference be made
thereto.
Wherever the history of America is
read the story Of Pocahontas is known.
The romance in most captivating, ana
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-quarters of a century
before the name of P~ocahontas was
ever lisped by English lips is unknown
to even man. F1oridans. 1t was here
in 1928. II years before De Soto landed
on Tampa bay, that Juan Ortez, a
Spanish youth of is, having been cap
AtAN' ~ St'aA aANip was AtuSh Z
fore Hirrihugua. the stern Indian chief.
in whose breast was ranking a ven
geance born of the i'll treatment of his
mother by the followers of the Inflated
NarvareZ. 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
annlia1 the Grabbing flames hanan IN
gather strength for a human holocaust,
when the stern chiefs daughter threw
herself at her fathers feet and inter-
posed in Ortez's behalf. Her beauty
rivalled that of the historic dame
whose heavenly charms kept Troy and
Greece ten years i'm arms h 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 weaknesses, touched he
heart of even the savage chief. ana
Ortez was for the time spared.
But the demon of evil in a few
months again took possession of Hirrl-
huga. n his daughter saw that even
her entreaties would be u~navailing. She
was betrother to Mucosco. the young
chief of a n~eighboring tribe. Their love
had been plighted. that God-given love
that rules the savage breast.
Her loving heart told her that Or
tez would be safe In Mucoso's keeping.
AT the dead hour OF night she accom-
panied him beyond danger and placed
in his hand such token as Mucoso
would recognize.
she acted non 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 IL dried up the
wellsprlng OF parental affection and he
refused the marriage Of his daughter
unless Ortez was surrendered. But that
Indian girl. although II broke the heart
strings 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 recorded, Where I'm history do you
find more genuine and more touchins
illustration of love. charity and forgive
ness'--the very trinity OF earthly vir-
tues. and the brightest Jewels of the
Christian heaven?
What a captivating theme this
Florida Pocahontas should present 10
the pen of Imagination. picturing this
spot then and to-day associated with
man rich in historic love-"