The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-03
ASHES Of F ANGUS
INDIAN PRINCESS
To BE SENT H0ME
PoCahontas Remains Ignore
In England For 307 Years
Now Being Exhumed

CRAvEsEND, England. June p
The traditional grave Of Pocahonta
beautiful Indian princess. who in thu
dawn of American history gave
Captain John Smith of Virginia fro
death. was opened Wednesday.
If the body there discovered &
proved to be hers, the ashes will b.
sent to American from Englan5
whore they have lain, ignored, Tor
Wednesday grave. elderly me-
frock- coated experts of history an
ethnology, gazed silently at the lit
heap of human bones that are bz=
lieved to have held the flanai
spirit of the savage princess who
life of proud glory and bitter ira
edy ended in death when she col
not win the love of Captain smith.
the hero of her dreams.
Even above the grave is tho gree
yard OF St. Georges church. Tn
controversy has begun as to whethe5
the remains are those OF the pria
cess Ethnologists Will Judge by IT, o.
whether the North American india
girl lies there. Digging is proceed
ing in the hope that identif1catio
may be assured by the discovery a.
Indian trinkets and the girls low
tokens which may have been ourled
with her.
The opening of the grave follow
a plan Of American organizations to
take the body to the United State.
Edward Page CASTOR. F. R. G. s., and
an American archaeologfst In Lon
don, believes that Pocahontas was
buried in St. Georges church IN
little crypt under the chancel. Tha
spot was known traditionally as the
grave of the princess, and his IN
designations convinced him that the
body actually lay there.
o O o
Empassy Assists.
The American embassy assist
tomb, and the English Speakin
Union, Daughters of the America
Revolution, Colonial Danes, the 20
cahontas Memorial association, tn
Am erican Legion, the Pilgrims al
Rotary clubs have all participant
in the work.
interviewed. Castor declared tbs
the body viii be Identified prina.-
pally by the skull, which must be-
that of Il female North American II
diam An original portrait of Poe
hontas painted by an unknoWn
Italian artist, and now in the pc
session of fountain Edwin of Nor
wich, England, will aid. The pain
ing shows that the princess wore L
earring of peculiar type, peat-
shaped, with n large hoop at the top
1t is hoped that this will be discos-
cred. giving absolute proof.
CASTOR, furthermore, possesses a
copy of tho burial registry of tho
body from the records of St. George 3,
which reads:
"i6i6-Mareh 21-Rebecca wrelfe
wyffe of Thomas Wrolfe, gent. a
Virginia lady borne. was buried in
ye chauncea.
Thomas Wrolfe was, Castor -
| 1feves. the John Rolfe who mari
/ l'ocahontas. It is known that VIII
the princess became converted L
Christianity she took tho name O
"Rebecca.
stor, To Live E PoE 70 g
The story of Pocahontas is onf
| that will never die In the da
when gallant English gentlemen ad
venturers founded on the shores oi
an unknown new world their III IF
colony of jamestown, Va. Poeaho-
tas was IL years old, known
Princess Matoaka. In the colo =
that lived on the frontiers of pe.
fathers tribe Capt, John Smith, das
ing soldier of fortune, ruled. 81
fell in love with him at first sigh
for she had never seen such man
strong, fair and with the white SIT 1
Of the gods; man whose st b
spoke with tongues of fire. who hs'
come. in a huge and white-sail'
bird from lands OF magic in l-a
far sea.
But although Smith was not ur
grateful for her act in saving
life. the thought Of marrying tat
tcnder-aycd and dark skinned pr
cess had never entered his mind. '
soldier born and welded to wars
returned to England, remaining ID
bachelor until death.
John Rolfe appeared in the colon
and wood the lovelorn girl. Wofe
came that Smith was dead. Belle
ing, the Princess married her ne7
lover. Converted. baptised into On
faith Of the Christians, she return
with Rolfe to England, bearing him
son.
Lady Rebecca," as she was callei
became the darling Of the royal cour
flattered by King James. surround
by courtiers. living in dream Oh
Then one day Captain Smith pa
the girl a visit She stared at h'T
with wild eyes He had come ha
from the gravc-and. she loved h m
For two hours she was unable De-
sneak in his presence, He left. an
broken hearted, she Cancelled aE
| plaus and prepared to return to v
rinia to die among her people. Il
shin vas waiting at GraVesend VIII
stricken with smallpox, she d..
there, still calling in her deliriu=
fn, CAPTAIN Smith. Her body W
Hurled at St Georges where 1t h
rested, forgotten,