Juan
Ortiz and an Indian Princess
by William Van Fleet
Most
every school child is familiar with the story of Pocahontas,
how she saved the life of Capt. John Smith, married
John Rolfe, and became the progenitor of prominent
Virginian families who proudly trace their lineage
to her. The story has become a fixture of American
history. Yet strange to say, comparatively few, even
among the educated of our country, have any knowledge
of a similar episode that happened in South Florida.
One day in late Summer of 1528, a high decked vessel
came out of the Gulf, and under half furled sails,
slowly made it's way up Tampa Bay. In the bow stood
a sailor heaving the lead, for the Captain, without
pilot or charts, feared to run in these strange waters.
The Captain, with spy glass in hand, was intently
searching the shoreline for some trace of Pamphilo
DeVarvaez, the great Adelantado, who had been with
Cortez in Mexico, had landed here some months past,
and no word having come of him, fears were entertained
for his safety. As the vessel came closer in, the
sailors gathered on the deck, admiring the semi-tropic
verdure of this vaguely known land. Presently a group
of Indians were noticed on shore, pointing to a paper
fastened on a stick in the sand. Believing this was
a letter left by DeNarvaez, the Captain ordered the
anchor lowered. It is possible the Indians sensed
the mission of this vessel and planned to match wits
with the white men. Soon Indian smoke signals arose,
conveying a message to companions further inland.
While the sailors could not understand this, they
felt it had some significance. Pointing to the paper,
the Indians made signs for the white men to come ashore
for it. The Captain having heard the Indians along
the coast could not be trusted, feared treachery and
refused to go ashore. Still he anxious to get the
supposed letter, as he felt sure it was left by DeNarvaez.
In the negotiations that followed, the Indians in
sign language proposed the three of them would come
out, and stay on the ship while three white men came
ashore for the "letter". This offer appeared
fair enough and it was accepted at face value. Three
Indians now came aboard the ship and three sailors,
one of them a boy of seventeen name Juan Ortiz, rowed
to shore.
As
the boat touched shore, other Indians who lay concealed
quickly surrounded it and secured the sailors as captives.
The Indians on board the ship watching this promptly
jumped overboard and swam ashore. The sailors had
fallen into a neatly laid trap. The Captain deemed
it useless to attempt a rescue. The Anchor was weighed
and the ship sailed away leaving the three men to
their fate.
