The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-12-29
A FLORIDA ROMANCE
A VERAClOUS TALE ABOUT AN IN
DIAN CHIEFS DAUGHTER.

Her Lover, One Juan Ortes-How He
Requited Her Devotion.
Gov. W. B. Bloxham incidentally re-
lated the following legend in his adj
dress welcoming the delegates Of the
National Fishery society to Tampa.
Fla, recently:
"You meet here upon this historic
ground, where the footprints of some
OF Spains greatest cavaliers and Amer
ica's noblest 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 In
dulge should brief reference be made
thereto.
Wherever the history of America is
read there the story of Pocohontas is
known. The romance is most capti-
waiting, and some of Virginias most
honored sons trace back lineage to
this daughter of the forest. But the
historic fact that a similar scene was
enacted on this very spot three-quar-
tiers of century before the name Of
Pocahontas was ever lisped by Eng
lish lips is unknown to even many
FlCridans. 1t was here in 1928, twelve
years before De Soto landed on Tampa
bn+ Gyi ich
of eighteen, having been captured at
Clear Water was brought before Hir-
! NdGua, the stern Indian chief, in
whose breast was ranking a vengeance
born of the i'll treatment of his mother
by the followers of the Inflated Mar
varez. 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 a
human sacrifice. The torch was being
applied, the cracking flames began to
gather strength for 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 in arms The soft
language Of her soul flowed from
her never silent eyes as she looked uI
through her tears of sympathy, implor.
ing 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 Or.
tee 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 treaties would be unavaiing
She was betrothed to Mucoso, thu
young chief Of neighboring tribe
Their love had been p!ighted tha
God-gven love that rules the savag,
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 hands such token as Mucost
. would recognize.
! she acted none too soon. AS thu
, sun rose over this spot, its rays fell up
on the maddened chief calling in vail
! for the intended victim Of hi4 ven
eeance. His rage was such that /
| dried up the wellsprings of parental af
lection and he refused the marriage o
his daughter unless Ortez was surren
dered. But the Indian girl, although
it broke the heartstrings of hope, sac
rificed her love to humanity, and Mu
coso sacrificed his bride upon the alta
Of honor.
"Ortez lived to welcome De Soto
Tell me-ayc, tell all the world--wher
brighter example of nobler virtue wa
ever recorded. Where in history d
you find more genuine and NOR
touching illustration of love, CHART
and forgiveness'-the very trinity O
earthly virtues, and the brightest jew
els of the Christian heaven?
What captivating theme this Flor
ida Pocahontas should present to III
pen of imagination, picturing this spo
then and to-day associated with re
nance rich in historic love"