Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-02-25
FLORlDA'S POCAHONTAS.
A Romantic Story as Related by Governc
Bloxham to the Fishermen.

Bloxham to the Fishermen.
Governor w. B. Bloxham incidental
ly related the following legend in his
address welcoming the delegates of the
National Fishery society to Tampa,
Fla, on Thursday, Jan. 20:
"You meet here upon this historic
ground, where the footprints of some of
Spain's greatest cavaliers and Amer
lea s %oblest 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 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 captivating and
some of Virginia's most hOnOred sons
trace back lineage to this daughter Of
the forest But the historic fact that a
similar scene was enacted Oh 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 1923,
IL years before De Soto landed on Tam
pa bay, that Juan Ortez, Spanish
youth Of IS, having been captured at
Clear Water. was brought before Hirri-
hugua, 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 Naryarez.
Ortez was young and fair, but the cruel
chief had given the orders, and here
was erected q gTidirOn Of poles, and
young Ortez was bound and stretched to
meet the demands of human sacrifice,
The torch was being applied, the crack
ling flames began to gather strength for
human holocaust, when the stern
chiefs daughter threw herself at her
fathers feet and interposed in Ortez :
behalf. Her beauty riyaled 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, inn
ploring the life Of the young Spaniard.
"Those tears, the ever ready weapon
of woman 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-
rihugua, and bis daughter saw that
even her entreaties would he unayail-
ing. She was betrothed to Mucuso, the
young chief of a neighboring 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 recog'
nize.
"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 we'll
springs of parental affection, and he re-
fused the marriage OF his daughter IN
less Ortez was surrendered. But that
Indian girl, although it 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 in history do you
find more genuine and more touching
illustration Of love, charity and for
giyeness'-the very trinity Of earthly
virtues and the brightest jewels Of the
Christian heaven;
"What a captivating theme this Flor
ida Pocahontas should present to the
pen of Imagination, picturing this spot
then and today associated with romance
rich in historic lovew-Savannah News