The Anaconda standard., 1898-03-03
FLoRiDA's PocAHoNTAs.
A Romantic Story Related by Governor
Bloxham in His Welcome Address.

n 6tOFg tbGIdtGu Dy 1oNeTuof
Bloxham in His Welcome Address.
From the Savannah News.
Governor w. b. Bloxham incidental
iy related the following legend in his
address welcoming the delegates of the
National Fishery society of Tampa,
Fla, on Thursday, Jan. 20:
You meet here on this historic
ground, where the footprints of some
of Spain's greatest cavaliers and Amer
| ica's nobiest captains can be traced.
While 1t is not my intention to recur
to their heroic deeds or to offer you
a cup filled with the ambrosia of an
cient story, yet there is one romance
based upon that historic fact associated
with this very spot that / feel you
will kindly indulge should brief refer
ence be made thereto.
Wherever the history of America is
read the story of Pocahontas is known.
The romance is most captivating, and
some of Nirginia's most nonored sons
trace back a lineage to this daughter
o. the forest. But the historic fact
! that similar scene was enacted on
this very spot three-quarters of a CEN
tury before the name of Pocahontas
was ever lisped by English lips is un-
known to even many Floridans. 1t was
here in 1928, twelve years before DE
Soto landed on Tampa bay, that Juan
Ortez, a Spanish youth of Is, having
been captured at Clear Water, was
brought before Hirrihugua, the stern
Indian chief, in whose breast was
ranking a vengeance born of the i'll
treatment of his mother by the follow
ers of the Inflated Narvarez. Ortez
was young and fair, but the cruel chief
had given the orders, and here was
erected a grdiron of poles, and young
Ortez was bound and stretched to
meet the demands of a human sacrifice.
The torch was being applied, the crack
ling flames began to gather strength
for a human holocaust, when the stern
chiefs daughter threw herself at her
fathers feet and interposed in Ortez'
behalf. Her beauty rivaled 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, implorinS 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 a few
months again took possession of Hirri-
hugua, and his daughter saw that even
her entreaties would be unayailing.
She was betrothed TO Mucoso, 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 0rtez
would be safe in Muscosos 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 none too soon. AS the
sun rose over this spot, it's rays fell
upon the maddened chief calling in
vain for the intended victim Of his yen-
geance. His rage was such that it
dried up the Well-springs of parental
affection. and he refused the marriage
of his daughter unless 0rteZ was sur
rendered. But that Indian girl, al
though it broke the heartstrings of
hope sacrificed her love to humanity,
and Muscoso sacrificed his bride upon
the altar of honor.
"Ortez lived 10 welcome De Soto.
Tell me--aye, tell the world-where a
brighter example or nobler virtue was
ever recorded, Where in history do you
find more genuine and more touching
Illustration of love, charity and for
giveness'-the very trinity of earthly
virtues. and the brightest jewels of
the Christian heaven?
What captivating theme this Flor
ida Pocahontas should present to the
pen of imagination. picturing this spot
then and to-day associated with ro-
nance rich in historic love.