The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-04

the Sth with Captain Stafford and
Manteo leading twenty-four men, he
went, by boat, over the water to the
country where those savages lived, re-
solved to avenge the death of George
Howe and b fifteen men Of Green
ville's colony, slain the year before.
On the next day a very sad thing
happened that grieved the hearts OF
the colonists and Manteo. Early in
the morning while it was yet dark, the
Englishmen came in sight of the set
Element of their enemies, seeing it by
the light Of the fire. There were the
red skins sitting by the blaze or walk
ing around it. At the command of
Governor White the men made a
! charge upon the frightened savages,
who fed terror stricken into the reeds
near by for protection, firing upon
them as they went. One of the Indians
I was shot down, and all of them would
perhaps have been slaughtered, had
not n of them recognized Captain
Stafford and ran toward him with out
stretched hands for protection
1t was then found that those Indians
were friendly ones from Croatan who
had gone over there to despoil the set
Element of Wingina's men, who had
fed farther into the interior. Manteo
was very much grieved over the mis-
chance, but did not blame the English
for it; because these friendly Indians
were found in the place where the hos
tile Indians were expected to be found.
This young Indian prince, in all of
his dealings with the English settlers,
showed a noble Christian spirit, which
the colonist very much appreciated. So
on the 18th of August, Manteo was bap-
tised into the Christian church, and
received the title of Lord Roanoke and
Dasamonguepeak in reward for his
faithful services. 1t is a pity that We
do not know how he used these honors
thus bestowed upon him; for we might
reasonably expect to see a fine example
of modesty and heroism in this noble
native of Roanoke. But his history
is i~ndissolubly connected with the fat
ed colony that so completely disappear
ed from the eyes of the world as to
leave nc adequate conception of its
fate.
One the 18th of August another event
Of great interest took place. This was
the birth of a little girl, grand daugh-
ter of Governor White, who was nam
ed Virginia Dare. The story of her life
is a shOrt one, only min days that we
know she lived, yet so notable is she
that the great state of North Carolina
has hOnOred her with the name of one
of the counties in the commonwealth.
After the ships had landed all the
cargo, they prepared to return to Eng
land for more supplies for the colony
now established in the new world.
Then it was that a controversy arose
between the governor and his assist
ants as to who should go back to Eng
lang as a representative from the col
Ony and attend to %equipping a relief ex-
petition for the next year. All want
ed to stay and no one would volunteer
to go. Christopher Cooper did volun-
teer. but next day through the solicit
tatiOns of his friends he withdrew his
offer.
Then it was that all of the colony
united in a request that the governor
should be their representative and re-
turn to England in their behalf. He
refused, however, alleging the follow
ing reasons as to why he could not:
First that he could not 81 suddenly
return back again without his great
discredit, leaving the action and SC
many whom he. partly had procured
through his possessions to leave their
native country, and undertake that
voyage that some enemies to him and
the action (meaning the enterprise of
colonization), at his return into Eng
land, would not spare to SANDER false
ly both him and the action, by say
ing hat he went to Virginia, but po-
liticly, and to no other end but to lead
SO many into a country, in which he
never meant to stay himself, and there
to leave them behind him. Also, he
alleged, hat seeing they intended to
remove fifty miles further up into the
main presently, he being then absent,
his stuff and goods might be both
spoiled and most of them pilfered
away in the carriage" For those reas-
ons he said that he could not go.
While the reasons, as given by John
White, seem to be good, they were not
cOnclusiye;f for the next day they return
ed and besought him with more earn
estness than ever, binding themselves
in a written agreement to the following
effect:
May it please you, her majesty's
subjects of England, we your friends
and cOuntrymen, the planters of Vir-
ginia, do by these presents let you and
every of you understand, that for the
present and speedy supply of certain
our known and apparent lacks and
needs, most requisite and necessary
for the good and happy planting of us,
~. ,o,- - -, %I;~ 1orI Nf Nirninio
We all with one mind and consent,
have most earnestly entreated, and in
cessantly requested John White, gov
of the planters in Virginia, to
pass into England, for the better and
more assured help and setting forward
Ct the foresaid supplies" The remain
der of the agreement pledges the col
Onists to look after his goods during
hj- ohcoran nn1 70 rEn1ocn INV thot