During the long 4 month voyage over to Jamestown aboard the crowded ship
“Susan Constant” the following ocurred ……
aboard the “Susan Constant” pompous aristocrat Wingfield had a fit
he was angered due to the attention popular Captain John Smith did get
after a bit of devious scrutiny
he accused Smith of ”concealing a mutiny”
but …at this he did not let the matter sit
Wingfield’s power he did abuse it
he schemed …Smith’s head…he will lose it’
when stopped at the island of Nevis, he had a gallows erected
but Wingield’s grand plan for Smith could not be effected
for as Smith explained ”I could not be persuaded to use it”
soon after being elected President at Jamestown
Wingfiled proved that a good leader he was not
he was removed as president ..and put on trial for “guarding his pot”
also …guilty of making false charge against Smith he was found…
he was ordered to pay Smith some 200 pound**
removed to a boat in the James River
until the next ship due in would stop
there the unremorseful Wingfield
was forced to await his lot.
**~$100,000
***
The ambush at the Jamestown glass-house beach
Smtih was walking all alone on a beach path one day
an Indian Chief named Wochinchopunck, comparatively huge, .. was coming his way
as they neared one another, the Chief placed an arrow in his bow
he aimed it at Smith ….but he was just a bit too slow
Smith rushed the Chief, he pushed the bow to the side
the Chief then pulled Smith into the water attempting to drown his hide
but Smith got the big Chief in a headlock and drew his big Turkish knife
the Chief began whimpering and begged for his life
Captain Smith spared the Chief’s life’ …why? ..well, just because,
that was the kind of man Captain Smith was.
***
How Stingray Point in the Chesapeake Bay got it’s name
When exploring and mapping the Chesapeake bay
Smith was stung by a disagreeable ray
it was when he went fishing with his sword
he gigged something unfamilar, a monster untoward
the barb in the ray’s lashing tail pierced his forearm
Smith got so sick his men were alarmed
thinking he would not survive …his men dug him a grave
but a doctor applied heat to the wound and by this Smith was saved
this near death experience was surely a fright
feeling better, he ate the stingray for supper that night
when he drew up his map,… he never forgot that ”ray”
he marked the spot on his map where he almost met death
that location is still called “Stingray Point” today.
***
Captain John Smith goes off like a Roman candle
His gunpowder bag about his waist did ignite
when asleep aboard a boat one night
the flames were burning furiously, “he is on fire his men cried ”
yes..water would save him … so he jumped over the side
…this happened to Smith when he was President in 1609
suspects are some who were always bickering & waistng time
some say it was them that that set him aflame
yet we find Smith in his writing never assigned any blame
sailing back to England he was in agony from his burn
his wound would heal…… and he would return
four years later he’s exploring again
he maped the northern part of Virginia and named it “New England“.
***
Two near death experiences- 1st Smith is captured but spared while the men with him are killed
and weeks later warriors upon the orders of the great Chief Powhatan prepare to beat out his brains
but Captain John Smith is saved from death by Pocahontas
As many Indians as can lay hands on him, grabbed him,
put his head on large stones
and “others came out with clubs brain him and break his bones
he had gotten in this predicament due to a decision he had made
weeks earlier he left Jamestown leading an expedition
to find some Indians with whom he could trade
to trade toys (bells, mirrors, beads) for corn to feed the colony was the plan
a dozen men and Smith sailed in the barge Discovery, to bring back what they can
about 50 miles up the winding Chickahominy River was where he was surprised
fighting one against 200 is not to be advised
hundreds of Indians in the woods shot many arrows at him
now stuck and sinking into the mud of the swamp,
the situation began to look grim
surrounded and without hope, he threw his weapons away
his only choice was to to “rely upon their mercies” Smith would later say
taken captive, he must have thought …now what can I do
Smith gave his compass to to the groups leader Chief Opchanacanough
to test this Tassantassas for bravery, to a tree Smith was tied
if Smith screamed when threatened with death he would surely die
arrows were notched in the bows, the question of his life they would settle
all aimed at bound Smith,… to test this captives metal
brave Smith did not scream, he passed the Indian’s test,
they released him, fed him and allowed hin rest
paraded through a dozen villages for weeks he would go
finally he is taken to the big chief’s village called
Werowocomoco
on the chopping block went his head
if it wasn’t for Pocahontas, Smith would surely be dead
for suddenly this beautiful your Indian princess of 11
timely appeard as if an angel from heaven,
she rushed to Smith before the warriors struck
this was yet another one of Smith;s strokes of good luck
she pleaded for his life to the ruler of the land
to her father, the great Chief, called Powhatan
Powhatan granted Smith’s life out of regard for his daughter
Smith at the very last moment received the King’s quarter
you can believe this story, it is absolutely true
if you read Smith’s writings enough to know him, you will know it is true too.
Smith escaped death six other times from Indian attacks. during his 2 1/2 years at Jamestown
(not yet put in rhyme but coming in the future), They are :
….Smith saves his men and himself when ambushed and surrounded by 600-700 armed warriors
….Smith and his exploreers were attacked multiple times when exploring the Chesapeake Bay
1st by the feared Massawomeke Indians, then Rappahannock Indians twice, then by the Hasinnigas Indians , then a Nansemond Indian ambush.
….Smith and his men were poisoned when invited to supper by a nearyby Indian tribe
There is more…
….Smith’s arch enemy and troublemaker Ratcliff, when president of the council, (mouthpiece for Archer, Ratcliff’s cohort troublemaker), accuses Smith of being responsible for the loss of some men when he was ambushed by Indians on the Chickahominy expidition. Smith was put under arrest and scheduled to be hanged the next day.
…. Smith is aboard ship in a cabin terribly burned from his accident. In comes a couple of the individuals that were primary trouble makers at Jamestown with pistols to kill Smith.
If you wish read Smith’s adventures in his own words, it is best to to purchase Smith’s illuistrated autobiography …
you can find it online
follow this link, it will save you some time
Captain John Smith’s writings in his own words
CLICK LINK BELOW TO BUY THIS BOOK
good luck and happy reading .
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