The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-02-02
FlOrIda's Pocahontas.

Gov. W. B. Bloxham incidentally
related the following legend in his ad-
dress welcoming the delegates Of the
National Fishery Society to Tampa,
Fla. on Thursday, January 20:
"You meet here upon this historic
ground, where the footprints Of some
of Spain 3 greatest cavaliers and
Americas noblcst captains can be
traced. While it is not my intention
to rccur to their heroic deeds or to Of
fer you cup filled with the ambrosa
OF ancient story, yet there is one ro
nance, based upon historic fact, as
sociatcd with this very spot that |
feel you will kindly indulge should
brief reference be made thereto.
Wherever the history Of America
is read there the story of Pocahontas
is known The romance is most cap
iiyating, and so:nc Of Virginia.; :; most
honorcd sons trace back Il Image to
this daughter Of the forest. But the
historic fact that similar scene was
enacted on this very spot three quar-
tcrs Of a century before the name Of
Pocahontas was ever lispcd by Eng
lish lips is unknown to even many
Eloridians. 1t was here in 1928,
twelve years before De Soto landed on
Tampa Bay, that Juan Ortcz, Span
ish youth of eighteen, having been
captured at Clear Water, was brought
before Hirrihugua, the stern Indian
chief, in whose breast was ranking q
vengeance born of the i'll treatment Of
his mother by the followers of the i'll
fated Navarez. Ortcz was young and
fair, but the cruel chief had given the
orders, and here was erected grid
iron Of poles, and young 0rtez was
bound and stretched to meet the de-
nlauds Of "a human sacrifice. The
torch was being applied. the cracking
flames began to gather strength for
the human holocaust, when the stern
chief daughter threw herself at her
fathers feet and interposcd in Ortez's
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, impioring the
lie of the young Spaniard-
"Thosc tears, the cvcr-rcady weap
on of woman's weakness, touched the
heart Of 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 his daughter saw that
even her cntreaties would prove un-
a7ailing She was bctrotheo to Mu-
coso, the young chief Of ncigkbor-
| ing tribe. Their love had been plight
ed, that God-given love that rules the
savage breast.
! "Her loving heart told her that Or
tcz would be safe in Mucoso's keep
ing. At the dead hour cf night she
accompanied him beyond danger and
placed in his hands such token as Mu-
coso would recognize.
| "Shc acted none too soon. AS the
sun rose over this spot, its rays fell
upon the maddcned chief calling in
vain for the intended victim of his
vengeance. His rage was 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-whcrc a
brighter example of nobler virtue was
| ever recorded! Where III history Do
you find more genuine and more touch
ing illustration of love, charity and
forgiveness very trinity OF
earthly virtues, and the brightest
jewels of the Christian heaven?
''What a. captivating theme this
Florida Pocahontas should present to
the pen of Imagination, picturing this
spot then and to-day associated with
romance rich in historic lore. SD
rnnnah News.