Page 959 : JAMESTOWN EXPOSITION, THE — JANAUSCHEK
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and the British South African Company; and in 1904 he became premier of Cape Colony. In 1908 he resigned, the Dutch having outvoted his party.
James′town Exposition, The, which was held in Virginia in 1907 to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the settlement, recalled in the first place something of the early history of the south. The exposition stood in wide grounds, which covered some 500 acres, on the shore opposite Old Point Comfort, where the pioneers from the Godspeed, the Susan Constant and the Discovery landed three centuries ago. The locality is one of the richest in historical associations, even of the War of Independence and the Civil War. The historical collections in the exposition included many exhibits from the north and west and some interesting contributions irom the Colonial Dames, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. There were many exhibits from the south itself, including a series of portraits of the governors of Virginia. Then again, near by in Hampton Roads, there were seen not only a fleet of vessels from the navies of many nations, but the old ironclads Merrimac and Monitor reproduced as they appeared in their famous duel in the Civil War. Among the other features may be mentioned many valuable documents sent by the state departments; an arts and crafts village where were shown the processes of working in copper, iron, silver, pottery and wood; a good aquarium of both sea and fresh-water fishes; a series of boat-races, motor-boat races and air-ship trials; and an educational exhibit of the standard results of school work as well as a model school in which modern methods of teaching could be studied in their operation.
Jamestown, a city of Chautauqua County in western New York, on Chautauqua Lake, 58 miles southwest of Buffalo by rail. It is on the New York, Lake Erie and Western and Lake Chautauqua railroads. It has all the adjuncts of a progressive city, including electric lights, electric railways, good schools and adequate water-works. It has manufactures of pianos, furniture etc. Its industries also embrace the manufacture of alpacas, woolen and worsted goods, plush stuffs, boots and shoes. Power is furnished from two electric plants, and the natural gas supply leads to extensive use of gas-engines. Jamestown has 25 churches, 11 grade-schools, a high-school, a parochial school and night-schools conducted by the city and also the Y. M. C. A. Prendergast free public library has an excellent collection of paintings besides 17,500 volumes and 5,000 reference-works. Population 31,297
Jamestown, Va., is situated on a small peninsula, which lies off the northern bank of James River, about 35 miles above where this river broadens into Hampton Roads and empties into Chesapeake Bay. As early as 1526 some Spaniards tried in vain to settle in the neighborhood. In 1607, on May 13, three British ships, sent from London by the London Company, under Captain Christopher Newport, landed their crews and about 105 colonists upon this low-lying peninsula, where it was hoped to rest secure from Indian attacks. Edward Wingfield was chosen president by a council of six who had been appointed by the London Company. The ships sailed for England, leaving but a scant and wretched supply of food. The Indians threatened the colonists, while disease and mutiny were added to hunger. This year occurred Smith’s romantic adventure with the Indians, which seems to have resulted in much good for the colonists. But in spite of Smith’s resourcefulness only 38 survived till the ships returned with more colonists and with provisions. In 1608 Smith was chosen president, and it was chiefly due to his wonderful courage and skill in dealing with the Indians that the colonists were saved from massacre and that corn was brought in for food. The colonists for the most part were gentlemen and tradesmen, and could help themselves but little in the wilderness. Thus they struggled through the winter of 1608. In 1609 Smith suffered a terrible wound that compelled him to sail for Europe. An inferior grade of colonists arrived, who neither could work nor wished to try. The winter of 1609 therefore was a time of terrible suffering, known as the Starving Time. Of 400 men and women that Smith left only 60 survived till spring, when a small fleet that had been delayed by storm and wreck arrived with some little provision. The colonists, new and old, decided to abandon the settlement; but as they sailed down the river, they saw, far out in Hampton Roads, the long-boat of Lord Delaware’s ship, which told of a large and well-equipped fleet at hand. Sir Thomas Dale was then appointed high marshal, and with great firmness and wisdom brought peace to the colonists, compelling all to work by removing the privilege of sharing in the common store of the colony. A deputy governor, Argall, ruled despotically for two years (1617-19), so that, when George Yeardley was sent out as governor to supersede him, the people demanded self-government to secure them against such danger in future. Accordingly a House of Burgesses was summoned, the first representative assembly in America. This incident closes the separate history of Jamestown, which henceforth lived only as part of the colony and then the state. The town itself was burnt by Bacon (1676) and then abandoned as unhealthy; but a tower remains to mark its site, which now is largely under water.
