The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-02
LOST GLORY or ROANOKE.
A Strange Episode of American His
tory That Was Long a Mystery.
Raleigh Letter in New York World


Raleigh Letter in New York World.
Roanoke Island is noted as the place
where the first English settlement in
America was made the birthplace of the
first English-speaking child on this cond-
nent, the scene of the first Protestant bap-
tism in America, and the place where the
lost colony" of Sir Walter Raleigh left
only one word as a clew to the mystery
Of its disappearance forever.
The island is twelve miles in length
and three in breadth. The lost colony
of Roanoke is near the north end of the
island. The site is marked by a granite
slab erected in the center of the site OF
the old fort, the outlines of which are vet
plainly visible, and marked now by gran
lite pillars. The slab stands upright on a
base of rough granite. On its polished
face is cut a Maltese cross, and under the
cross this inscription:
............
: On this site in July-August, 1885 70.
So, colonists, sent out from England
by Sir Walter Raleigh, built fort. CALI
: ed by them
: ''The New Fort in Virginia"
!; The colonists were the first settlers
: of the English race in America. They
: returned to England in July, 1856, with
: Sir Francis Drake.
: Near this place was born on the 18th
: day of August. 1857, Virginia Dare, the
first child of English parents born in
America, daughter of Ananias Dare
and Eleanor White, his wife, mem
: bers of another band Of colonists sent
: out by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1897.
on Sunday, Aug 90 1857, Virginia
: Dare was baptized. Mantis, the friend
ly chief of the Hatteras Indians, had
been baptized on the Sunday preced-
ing. These baptisms are the first
: known celebrations of the Christian :
sacrament in the territory of the thir-
: teen original states.
!.........:
The fort, neglected for 312 years. was
marked last fall by the memorial stone
and the pillars. The land has never been
in cultivation. The work Of preserving
the property and placing the stones is done
by the Roanoke Colony Memorial Asso-
ciation," of which the late Prof Edward
Graham Dares of Baltimore, was president.
His brother. Maj. Graham Dares OF Will
mington, N. c., succeeded him as presl-
dent The association has bought 10 acres
Of land and will further mark the site
The air there now is as dangerous as
in May. The scent of early blossoms Is
in It; and as the breeze whistles gently
through the pines it bears with IL the note
Of a hooking bird.perched on the topmost
limb of a tree within the fort Enclosure.
Doubtless. on this hight, whence the sea
Is 80 distinctly visible, the little band of
colonists sat many a day, looking eastward
and longing for the sight OF a sail.
The Island is much the same as Il was In
1884, when Amadas and Barlowe discover
ed it. Let them tell the story in their
quaint old English:
THE 9th day Of April, In the yeare Of
our redemption, 1854. we departed the west
Of England. with two barkes well furnish
ed with men and victuals. The tenth Of
June we were fallen with the Islands Of
the West Indies. The second of July we
found shole water, where we smelt so
sweet and so strong a smell as II we had
been In the midst OF some delicate garden
Astounding with odoriferous flowers by
which we were assured that the land could
not be fare distant. Keeping good watch
and bearing but slacke sayle, the fourth
OF July we arrived upon the coast, which
we supposed 10 be a continent, and sayled
along the same l2O miles before we could
find any entrance or river issuing into
the sea. The first that appeared unto us
we entered and cast anker about three
harquebuz-shots within tho haven's mouth
and after thanks given 70 God for our safe
arrival thither we manned our boats and
went 20 view the land next adjoining and
20 take possession OF the same. In right
OF the queene's most excellent majestic
We viewed the land about Us, being. where
as we FIRST landed. very sandle ana low
toward the water side, but 20 full Of
grapes as that the very beating and surge
Of the sea overlooked them, OF which we
found such plenty. both on the sand and
on the green soil on the hills. as we'll on
every ehrubbe. as also climbing towards
the tops Of high cedars. that I thlnke In
all the world the like abundance ia not 20
be found"
THE colony Of which the Dares were
members was left from 1857 20 1890 and
then Gov White returned TO look for IT,