The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-03-30
HISTORIC JAMESTOWN
Interesting Sketch Of First Eos ish Settle
ment In America.

AS tue approaching exposition Ii
turning public attention toward the
'Old Dominionp state and to that 10
cality on the James river where the first
permanent English colony 10 America
was established, 1t may be OF interest
10 recall q few OF the notable events
connected with It's history.
As one journeys up the James river
there may be seen on Its right bank, a
short distance below City Point, the
ruins OF an,old church. Like a sentin.
Ell its Wondering, ivy-dad tower
stands guard over small and equally
ancient cemetery. This is all that re.
mains OF that jamestown, the founding,
struggles and achievements OF which
the exposition viii mark the 300th an.
niversary
Here In the spring OF 1907 came a
company Of Englishmen In fleet OF
three vessels, and on May 10, Told
style) laid the foundations OF James
town aud began the erection OF fort
Then beganIa record OF struggles, hard
ships, privations and triumphs as wor.
thy OF commemoratlon as any In Amer.
lean annals.
In August OF this year, disease cast
Its baleiul shadow over the little com.
munlty, reducing II to the verge OF ru.
ins. AT one time. the settlement con.
tanned but five we'll men and had not
the fatal ravages been arrested by the
autumn frosts the entire company
would doubtless have become It's vic
tins.
Under the direction OF Captain John
Smith said TO have been the most com.
petent aud notable Englishmsn In
America.at that time, jamestown first
began to'prosper and progress. He
secured the Friendship OF the Indians
aud was instrumental In obtaining pro
visions from them iorthe infant colony
during Its FIRST winter In the American
wilderness. : He lso.adopted measures
for restoring the sick TO health aud for
rendering the hsbitatlons OF the people
more durable.and comfortable.
II was while Captain Smith was a
resident OF jamestown. from which
place he had. gone 10 explore the
course.of the Chickahon 10y river, tina,
hs was ,captured by hostile indians
ADD eventually conducted TO Powhat.
ans Judgment hall where Indian
priests pronounced his death sentence.
Studentslof history are familiar with
the story.of his romantic deliverance
At the moment when the sentence was
10 have been carried into execution.
P0cahontas, a comely daughter OF
Powhatan, interposed and pleaded 80
efIectlyely.in behalf Of the condemned
man that his life was spared
Following a period Of detention At
the home OF the Indian king, Smith
was permitiedito return TO jamestown.
From this time. Pocahontas appears TO
have been n constant friend OF the Eng
llsh. On one occasion she went secret.
ly 20 the colony and notified Captain
Smith Of 40 Indian plot to massacre
the seitlers.
Subsequently, at a time when a scar
city Of food prevailed and PovhaiAn
refused corn To the colonists, Captain
Samuel Argall. on foraging expcdi-
ton in the vicinity OF the Indian vii.
lage enticed. PocahoniAs on board Of
his vessel and proceeded with her To
jamestown, holding her as a prisoner
10 be released for large ransom In
corn. Declining any negotiations with
Argall, Powhatan offered the Ebglish
terms OF friendship provided his daugh
Tor should be returned TO him.
Detained at jamestown several
months, the Indian princess seems not
10 have mourned her captivity. Given
the liberty Of the colony. she wasevery
where treated With respect and Siud
ness.
During her captivity. PocahoBias at
irscied the attention Of John Role. a
young EngllshmAn. Winning her love
he succeeded 10 converting her 10 the
Christian faith. In The presence Of the
colonis,s and relatives OF the bride,
their marriage was solemnized at the
little jamestown chapel one sunny day
In April. 1913.
One son Thomas vas born Of this
union. Eventually he become an I'm.
portant man 10 the affairs OF Virginia,
aud many influential persons OF that
commonwealth, proudly trace their de-
SCENT, through him, from Pocahontas;
among them was John Randolph Of
Roanoke.
A. jamestown also occurred the hor.
rors OF the "starvlnR Time. " The
winter Of lOO9 10, iollowing Smiths do.
p arturo for England, tho people we're
not onlv reduced TO q furnishing con.
dition, but Indians burned q number
Of the homes, and murdered their In.