Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-03-14

tion grounds there has been set out what is claimed to be the largest and finest parade ground on earth. Upon this field of level green the regiments of the powers will vie with each other in displays of martial pageantry.
 The development of this exposition has been something like the develop. ment of the original colony at James. town. with one important exception. Of all of the men and women engaged in this great enterprise for the Ex- ploitation of Tidewater Virginia, there has not stood forth one man of pre-. eminent executive ability. There. has been, however. all of the strife. dis cord. jealousy and suspicion that marked the founding of James City. In the original colony, however, there was passenger, one John Smith, who made himself so thoroughly felt at the time, that he graved his name in history more effectually than it could have been graved on metal or stone.
 There was a certain confidence in his bearing, much volatility and bold ness in his speech that was exasperat. ing. So acute did the situation be- come during the voyage across the Atlantic that this Englishman was finally put under arrest.
 The story of bis life hitherto cor. roborates the old saying that truth is stranger than fiction" The story re. lated by himself is exceedingly excit. ing and romantic. It would have been more easily believed if it had been put on record by other hands than his own. It runs something like this:
 When but a youth he ran away from home. carrying with him his trifling belongings. and entered upon a wonderful career of adventure, While .a mere lad he was shipwrecksd. and again, according to his own ac. count he was. robbed at sea. He be. came tramp and wanderer through France. where, being attacked and robbed, he was left half dead and ex. ceedingly near to perishing. Meeting this same horde of bandits later on. he reaped swift vengeance by staying some of them. While on a ship car. rying devout Catholics to the Easter celebrations at Rome, he was thrown overheard in order to appease a most furious storm for which his heretical person was held responsible. What. ever became of the pious Christian voyagers after their most alarming experience. is not known. Smith him. self partly fioated and partly swan to a desolate island. From this is. land he was rescued by a passing ship. While on this ship there was an en. counter with a Venetian argosy, and after a bloody conflict, in which he was conspicuous. the argosy was cap tured and It's treasury distributed amongst those engaged in the battle. Later on he joined the Germans. who were engaged in fierce var against the Turks. As a soldier of the army of Prince Sigismund, he had memorable experience with three Turks who were the champions of the Turkish armies. In this encounter hS slew first one and then another. and. still another of the Turks, who, in turn, engaged him in duel. This ex< ploit commanded for him at once tho favor of the German army: and espe, cially of Prince Sigismund, who madd him a present of a handsome purse. and who afterwards gave him a pat- ent of nobility. the coat-of-arms oe which was shield upon which werg emblazoned three Turks heads. coml memorating the combat with ths three Turks of the Mohammedau | forces.
 Whether one accepts the truthful ness of these stories related above de pends largely upon ones point a view. Fortunately for Smith, the mosl| exciting and unlikely of the incidentI is corroborated by other and oIdeT| records than his own. The story o1 the encounter with the Turks and th1 subsequent reward on the part o2 Sigismund are matters that had epns on record before Smish's nsrraf,o., concerning them had been made puh lie.
 But whether John Smith vas tb. hero and nobleman that he confesses
 himself to have been. he was . md
 who did things" and becauss of hil doinzs. the exploitation Of histpri} Tfde-vater Virginia. is called ,th( Jamestown Exposition" albeit, th( location Is far from Jamestown, and
 very few of the myriads of vislfsr
 will go out of their way to visit. th{ original place of settlement
 SMITH D. TRY.