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.

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