The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-06-02
NORTH CAROLINA
'''''4 '4'''' HISTORY.
FIRST TRAGEDY AT ROANOKE.
COMING OF SUPPLY SHIP-RICHARD
GREENvILLE TO THE RESCUE--FINDs
COLONY ABANDONED.
W. C. Allen. in Wilmington Messenger.

Reldsville, n. c., May Is, 1898.
Lane returned to England in June,
having embarked Oh brakes fleet the
18th of that month. Had he remained
a week longer, the colony, in all proba-
bility, would haye been successful; for
Sir Walter Raleigh, much too thought
full and noble to neglect the men he had
sent to Roanoke the year before, had
equipped relief ship loaded with sup
plies, and dispatched it to Roanoke
early in the year.
This ship, laden with provisions and
good cheer for the colonists, was COM
ing up the coast Of Florida at the time
Lane embarked for England. Toward
the last of June the supply ship came
into North Carolina waters and cast
anchor at Roanoke The commander
was astonished at not receiving well
come visit from some of the colonists
and so dispatched part of the crew
ashore to learn the whereabouts of the
colony. After having been gone tor
some hours they returned, reporting
that the colony had been abandoned.
Others went ashore and searched in
vain for their countrymen, but only
the forsaken settlement could be found.
Having satisfied themselves that Lane
and his men were not on the Island,
and having received intimatlon from
the natives that they had gone away
over the sea, the relief expedition re-
turned to England. Thus it was that
the connection, which, doubtless, would
have made the settlement at Roanoke
a permanent one, failed to be made
and a weeks delay caused the miscar-
rage OF the project.
About two weeks after the departure
of the supply ship. Sir Richard Green
vile, who had been cruising among
the West Indies in search OF Spanish
ships of war, stopped at Roanoke on
his way back to England. He had led
the colony to Carolina the year before,
and now came to see how they were
faring in the new world. What was
his astonlshment to find the island de-
serted, the crops neglected and the fort
going to ruin For days he searched
diligently for the settlers, but at last
came reluctantly to the conclusion that
the settlement bad been abandoned.
Unwilling to give up the land which
England had possessed, like a true
Engllshman he resolved to maintain
by rights OF occupancy. Accordingly
he asked for fifteen volunteers from
his crew, who would be willing to stay
upon the island until another colony
could be sent out. Fifteen men were
thus landed with supplies Tor two
years, instructed to hold possession in
the name OF Elizabeth, queen OF Eng
land.
With these instructions Greenyllle's
fleet sailed away leaving the fateful lit
tie colony behind, the first sacrifice
upon the altar of Carolina colonization.
Nothing is known of this history af-
ter leaving Greenvllle's ships further
than the story told by an Indian next
year to John White, who led the next
colony to this state 1t will be remem-
bered that the enmity ct the natives
was first aroused when the village of
Aquascogoc was burned by the settlers
on account OF the theft of silver Gun.
This enmlty had been shown several
times during the year, and Governor
Lane had been compelled to resort to
strategy more than once to defeat con-
spiracies against the colony.
This enmity Sir Richard Greenville
was ignorant of, Or he would have hest
tated long before leaving the little
company SO poorly protected against
hostile attacks. AS it was the devoted
company staid, little dreaming of the
terrible tate awaiting them.
The following is Governor Whites
story about them related to him by
friendly Indian the following year at
Croatoan
"The next day we had conference
further with them concerning the peo-
pie OF Slcotan, Aquascogoc, and Pomi-
COX, willing them OF Croatoan to certi-
fy the people of these towns, that if
they would accept our friendship, we
would willingly receive them again,
and that all unfriendly dealings past
on both parts should be utterly for
given and forgotten. To this the chief
men of Croatoan answered that they
would gladly do The best they could,
and within seven days bring the Wero-
ances and chief governors of those
towns with them, to our governor at
Roanoke, or their answer.
Eve also understood of the men of
Croatoan, that our man, Master Howe,
was slain by the remnant of Wlngina's
men dwelling then at Dasamongenenk.
with whom Wanchese kent connanv