Newbern weekly progress. [volume] (Newbern, N.C.) 1858-1863, 1862-06-14

dred and seventeen persons to an un-
known fate. He, with his vessel and
her consorts, arrived safely in England.
The ship in which the Governor en-
bafked, reached England in November
1887. The succeeding year was, per
haps, IS trying for that country as any
it had ever experienced, the fear of the
Spanish invasion and its consequences,
being the absorbing theme of public
attention. No doubt White had in
view the best interests of his colony
lie knew the condition Of the colonists,
and that their prosperity and perhaps
their lives depended on his reinforcing
them. But the war was imperative,
and demanded the services of all. Ra-
leigh, Lane, and White had important
positions assigned them, and all gained
.s4-az=.4.ssss. not,
thcrefore, till two years later, that
White was able to embark for the
colony, and then without either men
Or provisions as he expresses it, with
only myself and my chest
The ships put to sea on the twentieth
Of March, ana fingered among the
est-India Islands till the last Of July,
when, proceeding on their voyage,
they anchored off old Hatorask Inlet
on the fifteenth of August Here
they deserted great smoke is
suing from Roanoke, which gave
White great hopes of meeting the
friends lie had left three years before.
The party landed with much difficult
ty, explored the island, andefonnd that
the smoke proceeded from the burn
ing Of grass and dead trees. Footprints
Of savages were seen in the sand, but
to the sound of their voices and their
trumpet-calls there was no response.
Circumnavigating the island, they
went to the north end, where a colony
had been left, and where they saw let
ters cut i'll the bark Of tree, indica-
ting that the settlers had gone to Gro
atan, (Cape Lookout.)
They found the fort deserted and
dilapidated, and within it, guns, bars
of iron, and lead, thrown on the
ground, with weeds growing over
them and they afterwards discovered
buried in a trench, several chests,
some containing property Of White,
and among it his own ar1nor.
He was now anxious to proceed to
Croatan, but a severe storm coming on
compelled the ships, after losing men
and anchors tolp1t to sea- AS it con
tinued, they bore away for home,
leaving Roanoke to solitude.
1t is probable that the colony found
the Indians hostile, and despairing Of
relief from home, abandoned the is
land and proceeded to Croatan, where
they ultimately perished. u U.wever,
a writer who resided in the Country
more than century after, says there
were traditions among tribe that in
habited the coast, that their ancestors
were white people, and could talk in
book, and many of the children had
gray eyes, which are never seen
among natives OF pure blood.
Raleigh is said to have sent three
several times to ascertain their fate,
but without any success. In some Of
the memoirs Of the later Virginia set
Elements, which has recently been
printed, there are references to persons
said to have been recovered from Ra-
leigh's colony on Roanoke, but they
are indirect, and only show that tradi-
ton was busy with their fate. There
can be no doubt every soul peTished on
this isolated coast.
The ancient history Of Roanoke clos
ed with the departure of Raleigh's last
ship, and the natives resumed possess
ion of their tavorite spots.
The Chesapeake was entered, and
jamestown settled, in 1907: and al
though the bold explorer Of the bay
and rivers, Captain John Smith, was
desirous Of sending a party to look af
ter the lost colony, it was never done.
Years passed away, and the grant OF
Carolina embraced all the country once
elei4aea ..nd occupied by Raleigh and
his colonists.
In 1858, an adventurer from Virgin
ia,with small. craft, entered Currituck
Inlet and visited Roanoke. Here he
found residing a great Indian chief,
with whom he made treaty Of peace
and alliance, which led 10 purchase
of land and to a long intimacy. A
house for the chief was built like the
English dwellings,, and his son was
confded to the English to be educated.
The young chief embraced Christian
ity, and was baptized.
At this time the ruins of Lanes fort
were plainly visible, and the natives
were familiar with its history
The first permanent settlement in
what is now North Carolina, can not
be traced to an earlier date than 1856.
1t was on the shores of Albermarle
Sound, some forty miles from Roanoke.
Continued on the Third Paqe