The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-06-24

entered the lonely eapes Of tho
Chesapeake, bringing the little com
pany who were % make the FIRST
permanent English settlement In
America, at jamestown, In Virginia.
They presently found a great "river
on the south side. running into the
main" and they chose a place on its
banks for their settlement which was
quite forty miles above the mouth Of
ITS stately stream; for they wished
% be away from the open hay. where
adventurous seamen Of other nations,
none too sure 20 be- their friends.
might AZ any time look IN and End
them. They named their river the
James, and their settlements James
town, in honor Of the king at hcme.
There were but a few more than a
hundred men put ashore now from
the English ships 70 try their hands
az making a colony and not q woman
among them 70 make a home. They
had been sent out by a mercantile
company IN London, as II 20 start a
trading pest, and not a community
set up for its own sake. though there
could be little trade for many a long
day III that wilderness. The name
Virginia" had been given, in honor
~ Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen, 90
the mainland which Raleiah's first ex-
plorers found beyond Roanoke. So far
as Englishmen were concerned, the
name covered the greater part Of the
Atlantic coast Of the continent. The
patentees ~ the new company we're
10 attempt both q northern and a
southern settlement, and, 70 serve
their double purpose the better, were
divided into two bodies. The London
stockholders were 90 undertake the
| first colony, IN some southern part Of
Virginia" between the thirty-fourth
and the forty-firEt degrees Of north
latitude; while the incorporators who
were Of Somerset and Devon were 20
undertake q second colony. 70 be con-
| Quoted % some point farther north
though all were e remain under the
government Of a single general coun-
| Gil
More than one-half Of the company
Captain Newport conducted 10 James
River called themselves gentlemen"
were men, that is. Of good blood
enough, but no patrimony, no occu-
l patton, no steady habit, who we're
| locking fer adventure or some happy
/ change Of fortune I'm a new land. of
1 which they knew nothing az all. They
/ expected the company 20 send them
/ supplies out Of England. and gave lit
tie thought 70 what they were 20 DO
for themselves. When Captain New
ports ships put 70 sea again and left
them, they were az their wits ends
70 know how q maintain themselves.
There was ono among them, Cap
tain John Smith, TO whom, in large
part &C any rate. they owed their
salvation. lie at least found ways Of
getting food from the Indians, and
Of making interest with their chiefs.
/ No doubt there were others who sec
onded Captain Smith in the mainten-
ance u ofslcr and Of hope, and who
worked rs he did 10 take some hold
/ upon the Wilderness for their princi-
| pals at home; bet upon him fell the
chief burden Of th2 task, because he
could carry Il and prevail
/ When at last, In the autumn Of
I 1909. be was obliged 70 take ship for
England, dangerously wounded by an
/ explosion 81 Ranpowder, e looked al
J N the worst were over as jamestown
/ The company ct home had been very
busy getting ooioniEts. and had sent
them ever in go0dly numbers. Added
numbers made them q little more
helpless than before; and The siz
months which Immediately FOLLOWED
/ Captain Smiths departure brought
upon them desperate starving
time" which no man who survived Il
ever forgot. There were few 60 worl
where every ore was 3ll and in want
They tore their rude houses down fcl
ircwood before the winter was over
10 what they could only sixty 81
them lived 90 see the spring again
/ It was resolved at last, when thal
Icoald. 20 aban5oa the deHoiafs ar.
! hopeless place. and the forlorn lit
, tie band were actually on their wa
. down sAc river, meaning 20 seek foo,
] and shelter among the fishermen ID
{ Newfoundland, when Lord nelawar
! met them % its very mouth viii
; fresh colonists and supplies sent b,
j the company 90 their relief
{ lord Delaware. though q little SLOW
! and stiff and fond o. wearing en-
{ apparel ard going about attended b.
{ officers and halhred-hearers, whicI
: seemed fantastic enough there in th
{ shadow of the untouched forests O
J, that wilderness. was s wise and cap
= able man. and no doubt saved 81
colony - coming out. that hopeless
! spring 81 1910, as Governor ard CAP
E tain General Cor The company. b.
6 Ed needed a Fadie8. 81 new policy 2