The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-01-10
LOST COLONY OF RoAroKE
search by White-His Failure
and Observation-Disclosures Attempts.
RaIe1ghss MISREPRESENTATION stories.
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Search by White-His Failure |
and Observation-Disclosures Attempss.
RaIeighss Observation-Disclosures Stories.
Probable Fate
(Studies in North Carolina History
Governor White left Roanoke Island |
for England on the 9th of August, |
1887. He intended to return in a fewd
months with the supplifs SO much need
ed.
Reaching England, he went al once
to Sir Walter Raleigh and made known
to him the needs of the colony. At
that time all Egland was alarmed It
the threatened approach of the invinci-
BILE Armada. Raleigh, Lane, and Green
vile, three men interested in North
Carolina, were members of the council
of warrhey were, therefore n
crossed in laying plans to drive the
Spaniards from their coasts.
Towards the last of the year, Raleigh
did find time from his public duties to
equip a vessel for the relief Of the set
tiers. Before it could weigh anchor,
though, every ship in English ports
was impressed for service against the
Spaniards, and the preparation discon-
tinued.
White had, however, a baby's hand
reckoning to him from across the sea;
and he did not give up the attempt.
But it was late in April, 1888, before he
succeeded, by the help of Raleigh, in
equipping two small vessels for a trip
- IL Ayz-- VTy--JI T14-- ILL., - r.
22nd of April, but fell in with the
Spaniards, became badly damaged, and
had to return to England for repairs.
They " made the contemplated voy-
age.
Throughout that year England was in
suspense. The dreaded Armada was
coming. It came and vas conquered.
Then England breathed in peace. Ra-
leigh had spent forty thousand pounds
in his previous efforts. He was now
very much reduced in circumstances;
but he did not give up. White was al
most in despair.
Two years were spent in trying to
organize a relief expedition. By
a great effort three ships were
secured for the voyage. Their
names were the Hopewell, the John
Evangelist, and the Little John. With
these Governor White set sail on the
20 of March, 1890. The governor did
| not have command of the vessels, or he
| would have gone directly to Roanoke.
| AS it was their path lay through the
West Indies. Consequently much time
| was lost in hunting for booty among
those islands and evading the Span
iards.
Thus it was August 3rd before they
came in sight of North Carolina; but on
account of the foul weather they could
! not land until the 9th. On that day
the ships came to anchor, and a party
went on shore, the place Of landing
"being one of the islands west of Wo-
kOkOn."
Departing from that place on the
morning of the 18th, they came to
anchor at nightfall near the northeast
end of the island of Croatan. Some
time after anchoring the depth of the
| sound was explored, so that it was the
| 18th when the ship cast anchor at
| Hatteras within sight of Roanoke
island. Governor White, in his account
| of the voyage, says: cat our first
| coming to anchor on this shore, we
saw a great smoke rise in the isle Ro-
anoke. near the place where I left our
colony in the year 1887, which smoke
put us in good hope that some of the
colony were there expecting my return
out OF England"
Next morning White, with Captains
Cooke and Spicer, went ashore, intend
ing to pass to Roanoke. Before reach
ing the shore, however, they saw an
other great smoke to the southwest.
They resolved to go there first and see
if they could learn anything of the set
tiers. The distance was greater than
they supposed, and they were very tir-
ed when they reached the place. When
they got there, not a human bling could
be seen. Some logs and stuble We're
burning.
They returned to the boats and de-
ferred their going to Roanoke until next
day. Surely neXt day would bring sue
cess. The grandfather would surely
clasp in his arms the little grand daugh-
ter, nov three years old. The long sus-
fpense would soon be over, n hearts
long separated would be united. The
night passed and the morning came.
With it came the storm. The wind
was blowing a gale. Captain Spicer
went ashore early in the morning, in
one Of the small boats, with eleven men
to get fresh water. Governor White,
with Captain Cooke and some sailors,
went ashore in the other boat. They
came lear being capsized, but reached
the shore in safety. Captain Spicer,
With his boat, was not so fortunate.
Governor White gives the following
account of the terrible catasthrope that
happened:
by the time our admiral's boat was
hauled ashore, and most of our things
taken out to dry, Captain Spicer came
to the entrance of the beach with his
mast standing up, and was half passed
over, but by the rash and iEliscreet
steerage of Ralph Skinner, his masters
mate, a very dangerous sea broke in
to their boat and overset them quite:
the men kept the boat, some in it and
some hanging on it, but the next sea
set the boat on ground, where it beat SO,