The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-19
THE ROANOKE ISLAND CELEBRA.
TON.

The Washington correspondent of the
Richmond Dispatch, having alluded
slightingly 20 the proposed celebration
OF the birth of the first English child in
America at Roanoke Island. and charge
Senator Simmons with having tried
'if possible to obtain an appropriation
for Roanoke Island before the Virginians
be gin to get their work in for the James
town Ter-centennial celebration" the
Richmond Dispatch makes it the occa-
sion for an excellent editorial, showing
an admirable spirit. 1t is in such fine
spirit and taste, that we copy it in full
below:
"Our North Carolina friends will not be
pleased with the Washington kilograms which
speak OF their purpose to celebrate, next sum
ner, the alleged landing of the Sir Walter Raj
eigh colony on Roanoke island in aid OF which
celebration they ask a Congressional approprla-
ton of $4,000
$50 far as our information extends, the use OF
the word alleged in this connection is unjustl-
fable. There is no doubt of the fact that in the
spring of 1854 Sir Walter Raleigh sent Sir Rich
ard Grenvlle in charge of two banks on an ex-
ploring expedition which landed near 0craccEe
were Hospitality received there, and two OF the
natives returned home with them. The glowing
accounts of the country given by Grenvllle ana
his companions greatly pleased Queen Elizabeth
and moved her TO name it Virginia.
'In 1885 Granville returned to America, and IN
July left los colonists on Roanoke Island,but the
colonists became dissatisfied there, and upon SIR
Francis brakes touching the island, returning
with his fleet from the West Indies, the colonsts
took passage with him for home. In 1887 Raj
eigh made another effort to COLOMBO that coas',
when lis settlers were left on the island unuer
Governor White. There on the 18th OF August
Eleanor, daughter of the Governor, wife OF
Ananias Dare, gave birth to the first chmid OF
English parentage born in the New World, ana
on whom was bestowed the name OF Virginia.
'sWhite went back to England for supplies;
he looked for his colonists they were gone; ne
was unavoidably detained there but returned IN
three years-to-wit, in August, l5O. But when
could not find them, though he searched the Is
land and the main land.
''Ths was the lost colony to which SO much
of pathetic interest attaches and ABOUT wlhch so
much has been written in prose ane poetry III
history and fiction.
.Many other exploring parties were sent out
by the great nations of Europe, and some setue
ments were made in America; but 1t was not un
til May, 1907, that a permanent Englsh settle
ment was effected in what is now the United
States. In that year Christopher Newport, Johh
Smith, and their fellow voyagers entered tne
mouth of James river, and after some Gays speht
in sailing up and down the river, on May inc
18th they chose jamestown as the site or their
settlement That settlement was abandoned
once: but it was only for day. The next day,
the colonists having met the ships of a relief
party near Hog island, returned TO jamestown,
out of sight of which they had never BEEN Thus,
saws Fishes History, was laid at jamestown the
foundations of the first permanent English col
onv in America.
."rhe Dispatch is not fully informed as to the
plans the North Carolnans have in mind for
celebrating the great events which occurred on
Roanoke Island, but we have no doubt they viii
frame proper program, and we hope their
State Legislature and Congress both Will give
them liberal assistance. The Virginia delega
ton in Congress- we suppose, will be heartily
in accord with the movement. which is merl
torious in itself and which is OF especial inter
est to us as a forerunner of the jamestown cele'
bration.
..rhe project of English colonization, which
failed at Roanoke, succeeded at jamestown; botii
localities are in what was then called Virginia,
and the peoples of the two States OF North
Carolina and Virginia have community OF IN
terest and bond of affection in common an
cestry, in kinship renewed and cemented by IN
termarriage, and by the blood of many soldiers
porrcd out into enc stream in the great wars oil
this country-that for American independence
from England; that of Southern independence
from the North with such ties and such feel
ings, we cannot but wish success to the Roanoke
ceiebration.