Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-05-14
Captain John Smiths Landing
Fittingly Commemorated.
AN ELOQUENT ADDRESS
Attorney General Montague Spcnks-
Hundreds OF People From Nor
folk, Portsmouth nmd Newport
News Attend Mnny Prominent
People Prcscnt-A Brief Review OF
Mr.. Montague's brilliant Address.

The anniversary of the landing of
Captain Smith at the site of jamestown
on May 18th, 1907, was fittingly OBJ
served yesterday at that historic point.
1t has been the custom for many years
celebration was fully up to the best
that has ever been held there
The steamer Vigilant. Of the Norfolk
and Ocean View fleet. carried go peo-
pie from Portsmouth. Norfolk and
Newport News. She left Portsmouth
at 7:3O. Norfolk at and Newport News
at 9:15 n. m, making the run TO James
town in two hours and thirty minutes.
At Newport News the Newport News
ship-yard band, composed of boys,
came on board and played patriotic
airs at intervals during the trip to
jamestown and return. adding very
greatly to the pleasure of the day.
CADETS ATTENDED.
The cadets of the Newport News Male
Academy also went to jamestown on
this boat and attracted much attention
in -theirneat- gray-unifeFta4s- and let5u-
lation army hats.
When jamestown wharf was reached
Il large crowd of people was waiting
the arrival of the Nigilant, composed OF
students Of the College of William and
Mary. at Williamsburg. and people
from the country for miles around. who
had come in all manner of conveyance
wagons. carriages, carts. yachts. row
boats. fishing smackS and vehicles and
craft of all descrip,ions-to attend the
exercises.
NUMEROUS EXCURSIONS.
Following the arrival of the Nigilant
the steamer Ariel. of Norfolk. and the
steamer S. ~. Mccall. also ri Norfolk.
were az the wharf, all about the same
time. and the scene was one Of great
animation. but nothing was done in the
way of celebration until the arrival Of
the steamer Pocahontas from Rich
mond. She came along about 30 y. III.
with 800 passengers ana exchanged sa-
lutes with the Nigilant. both OF these
vessels being gay with national flags
and bunting.
The people then took w the line Of
march TO the spot selected for the cele-
bration. which was chosen under some
ancient trees at the old church tower.
which is all that remains of the old
settlement founded i'll 1907.
PROCEEDINGS OPENED.
The Rev. l.. X. Mason. of ST. James
Church, Richmond, opened the proceed =
ings with fervent prayer, and after
he had concluded Prof j. Leslie Hall,
of the College of William and Mary,
made Il brief address. introducing the
orator of tile day. who was the Hon
Andrew jackson Montague. Attorney
General OF the State of Virginia. Prof.
Hall has a very pleasing style of de-
livery and his remarks Introductory Of
the speaker were heard with attention
and pleasure by the large audience of
cNcursionists. college students and citi-
.g H..
had come to attend the celebration.
ORATOR OF THE DAY.
Mr.. Montague is very well known for
The forcible and eloquent style in
which he handles any subject, and he
fully sustained his high reputation. be-
ing frequently Interrupted by applause
the conclusion of his remarks bringing
n4t =;
from his hearers. He told OF the trials
and tribulations of those early settlers
who had landed on the spot 30 years
ago. OF their great courage and hcroism
In their Venturing to settle in a new
and to them, unknown land. Referring
to celebrated deeds OF daring done
in other countries and at other times
as for instance the courage of Hora-
tus at the bridge. as told by the Roman
historians. he said. that such men were
checred on and surrounded by the null
=
tiers of 1867 came To Il strange land
with no one to cheer them. They were
dcsolatc and bravcd the dangers OF dis
ease. besides those of the red men
Nevertheless, they pressed on, and
though there were Cuarrels and divi-
sions among them in their councils. thew
were settled finally by the supremacy
of CAPTAIN John Smith. who asserted
his authority ana so delivered them
T.E.(,I@Nn OL- \IIn>-r,>
He referred to the story OF Poca-
hontas and the well known legend con-
corning her saving the life of Captain
John Smith. He said he had no SYM
pathy with the people who tried TO
make that occurrence out Il myth and
he believed in the truth of it, He
praised her for that noble deed and for
her saving the lives of these settlers
by telling them of the conspiracy which
the Indians had formed 10 cXtcrmnate
them Reference was made by the
speaker to the further courage and
tenacity of these English settlers in
their sticking To their posts until re-
lief came from England. This relief
found them with scarcely enough living
members TO bury the dead
1t is quite impossible to do justice
10 TINS most instructive and eloquent
address of the Attorney General. and
his selection as the orator was n very
happy one.
Az the conclusion of his address an
orchestra. which came from Richmond
on me Pocahontas. and was directed
by Mr.. Moses Stein. who is director
OF the Academy of Music orchestra of
richmond. played America" and the
audience joined heartily in the hymn.
thus concluding the formal observance
of the day.
Alter these were over all those who
were present dispersed about the
SroundS surrounding the old tower