Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-31


FAINT the tears started to every eye
The wild Savages looked upon the deli
cate babe as an angel from the sky, Sc
| different was her pure beauty from
! that Of their own rdde nurslings.
AT the close of the usual service, DIR
| Carson read the prayer for those going
10 sea, with deep feeling, and all added
a fervent amen. Then turning to the
baptismal service, he commended to
the care of the Almighty the little one
who, born amid many perils and depriv.
ed thus early Of it's father. seemed
| peculiarly to require His protecting
love and care. Then taking the babe
from the hands of its grandfather he
gave the name of Virginia Dare to the
first child born of English parents on
the soil Of America. AS he restored
it to Mr.. White ManteO came forward
and sOlemnly promised in the name of
| the great spirit to watch over and be-
friend the little stranger. Mrs. Dare
warmly thanked the generous Indian
who had from their first arrival, shown
himself their devoted friend" Mrs.
Dare and her child had still another
close friend in the person of Alice. an
old servant who had accompanied them
from England, and was devotedly at
tached to the family.
When Gov. White arrived in England
he found it preparing for the threat
ened invasion of the Spaniards, and
Sir Walter Raleigh had already ex-
pended so much on the enterprise that
he felt he could do nothing but send
a ship back with supplies. Mr.. White
embarked with them, but the command
er of the vessel concluded that sailing
for Roanoke would be tame compared
with the capture of rich Spanish ships,
and turned his attention toward the
latter, remaining Indifferent to Nh.
Whites threats and entreatieS.
Two years had passed away before
the governor was able to return to the
colony. AS he drew near the southern
seas a sad fOrebOding took possession Of
him, but he was not prepared for the
shock which awaited him. On arriving
at the Isle Of Roanoke, nothing but
ruins Overrun with weeds and vines,
greeted his sight. They wandered
all over the island but no traces of the
colonists could be found. The crew
were impatient to leave the dreary
spot. AS Gov White fingered before
taking Il final adieu, an inscription on
the bark of a tree attracted his atten-
ton. With eager haste he drew near;
+ 10, 1,o h1l Il
yiSed his daughter to seek refuge. He
implOred the men to delay until
further search could be made in that
direction. They fatty refused to humOr
such a Whim, and Mr.. White having no
means of crossing the island, was com
PEELED to 60 with them. The toll and
anxiety he had undergone for the last
three years had unsettled his mind,
and when he reached England he was
a mental wreck, calling constantly for
his daughter. At last he seemed more
rational, and during an interview with
Sir Walter Raleigh, he eXacted
promise from him never to rest until he
had discovered the fate of the colony.
That night the old man died.
Five successive times did Sir Walter
send out, but heard no tidings of the
city of Raleigh, as the little settlement
had been named, but to his last hour he
expressed his firm belief that the inhab-
itants yet existed i'll the wilderness.
Many years after this a young Eng
lshman, named Henry Johnston, who
had come over to jamestown the year
before was out with some of his COM
panions on a hunting expedition. Be
coming separated from them he
wandered about for several days with
out seeing q human being. One day he
was aroused from sleep by the sing
ing of a fresh, young voice. Looking
through the bushes he beheld radiant
creature, not so dark as the Indians he
had been accustomed to but dressed
something like them, though there was
a likeness to the European costume.
He stumbled as he attempted to get
a nearer view Of the maiden, and the
noise attracting her attention. Quick
as though an arrow was sent III his
direction, wounding him in the arm.
Hearing his exclamation she entered
the bushes and to her amazement be-
held a white man, the only one she had
ever seen excepting good old DR.. Car
son, who had always remained with
her and her mother. For of course 1t
was none other than Virginia Dare,
grown to wOmanhood, who thus made
the acquaintance of the young English
I, To no w
under the care of her mother and Old
Manteo, the chief, who had great
medical skill, he soon recovered.
Henry Johnston had heard Of the lost
colony of Roanoke, and listened with
interest to the story of their escape
from the hostile savages that mad at
tackled them while enfeebled by famine.
How some had been killed, others
taken captive, while old Manteo, true to
his promise, had protected Virginia and
her mother, also DR.. Carson and Alice,
who had composed the little household,
though Alice had died soon after. Man
teo, fearing the attack, had made prep
arations for it by packing up such of
their treasures as could be carried in
fight. Most of their books had been
saved, as Mrs. Dare had thought of her
daughters education, as well as her
own comfort.
Although Mrs. Dare had feared fol-
some time that her father was dead
to hear of it for a certainty gave her a
great shock from which she never fully
recovered, and a few months later she