Newbern weekly progress., 1862-06-07
lFrsm the Confidential A0uihly.l
Roanoke Island.
THE SITE OF THE FIRST ENGLISH COLONY
IN AMERICA

Inc rclurn Oh htnluAb anu barlow,
wi b their flattering report-of the dis
covery and beauty of Virginia, created
great excitement throughout England,
and with it a desire to visit the new
land. The soldiers Of fortune, of which
that reign was fruitful, were ready to
embark in any cause that promised
wealth or fame and the mobility and
merchants, with sanEfiine views of
trade and extensive domains containing
the precious metals, were ready to
furnish the means to transport colony
to the new FL Dorado. 1T was not diff.
fieult to procure men, under such daz
cling aspects; o sufficient number was
soon enrolled, but the material was
not Of kind to make successful and
permanent settlement. Disbsnded sol
.diers from foreign service, and London
tradesmsn out Of business, and enlist
ing only with the hope of soon obtain
ing wealth, and returning home to
enjoy 1t, were not the men to clear
away forests, cultivate the soil, or
develop industry, the only true source
fepauccess In America. The fleet con-
sisted Of seven vessels, the Tiger and
Roeback, J, each of one hundred and
forty tons the Lion, of one hundred
and the Elizabeth of fifty tons with
a small bark and two pinnaces, which
were without decks.
In this feet were several, eminent
among the gallant men who have con,
tributed 80 much to render the reign
of the Virgin Queen illustrious in his:
tory. 'fhs ccmnan Ter, Sir Richard
' Grenvills, distinguished himself at the
battle of Lepanto, and afterwards lost
his life in a desperate encounter witt
= Spanish fleet off the Azores. lie WI.
a cousin of Raleigh, and always hi
friend. The next in real rank wal
Ralph Lane, to whom was delegated
the Office of Governor, and of whom
we shall speak hereafter. Thomas Cav
cndish commanded one of the vessels
He was wealthy and dashing adven
turer, who, after his return, fitted on
al expedition and captured some Span
ish ships with great treasure; but afie
a reckless life, he found an earl,
grave. Lewis Stnkely, another cousiI
-'of Raleigh, had some prominent sta
tion. He proved base character
and assisted, by his intrigucs, in bring
ing his patron to the block. Amida'
who was in the first voyage, also foun,
place here, with the title Of admiral
Simeon Fernando, the former pilot
was now in command of the Tiger.
= The feet sailed from Plymouth o
the ninth of April, 1885, and mad
one of-the West.India Islands on til
fourteenth of May, where they ha
many adventures. Thence procecdin
on their voyage, they reached tn
coast of Florida on the twentieth {
June; on the twenty-third they harel
escaped wreck on Cape Fear shoals
and on the, twenty-sixth, anchored =
Wocokon, now known as Ocrscok,
Three days atterward, in attcmptin
u cross the bar, the Tiger struck, an
remained for some time ;tho first {
many similar accidents OH that vii
and dangerous spot. On the third ,
July, they sent word OF their arrivs
% to Winginia, the Indian king at RoaI
oke 3; and the same day di.patche
Captain Arundel across the sound I
the main land, where he found tw
men who lad arrived twenty days b'
fore, in one of the smaller vessels. Fl
the next ten days they were engage
in visiting the Indian towns on I'll
main. Here one of the Indians -stol
a silver cup. To recover it, part
visited town, aud not obtaining Il
cup, burned the houses and spoiled I'll
corn "a mean revenge, destined
meet bloody retaliation.
Soon after, the feet sailed to Hat
rask not the cape or the inlet whic
we now call by nearly the same nam
but an inlet then nearly opposite Il
anoke, where all those intending TO T
main were probably landed. On II
twenty-ifth Of August, the feet saile
for England.
The colony, landed on Roanok
consisted of one hundred and sew
persons, of whom Ralph Lane W
the Governor, Amidas, the admirs
lIsriot, the historian and Chaplsi
and John White the artist. So so,
MS they were settled at the island, tn
began the exploration of the countr
This was done in boats, and entire
towards the South. Visiting the Nsu
and the western shore Of PaInli
Sound, they explored Currituct,
the east; while on the north, they p'
etrated to the distance Of one hundr
and sixty miles, and assembled Mo-
ito, now known a. the Roanoke riy
probably more than fifty miles frC
It's mouth. Thi, was done with extreI
labor and peril, as the Indians had
luded them with story Of mines q
gold, and having notice Of Lanes co
Ing, were prepared to attack him.
sanguino were the party OF 6ndi
,,;n.s and yet 40 reduced, that I'll