The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-03
ON ROANOKE ISLAND
A Visitors Impression of This Historic Spot. The
Celebration.

a..
Roanoke Island, which appears quite
small in comparison to the county OF
Dare, of which it is part, and separated
by Croatan Sound four miles. 1t has 2
population of about 1880, is about fifteen
miles long and four to five miles wide
1t is bounded on the east by Roanoke
Sound and across this sound five miles
east lies Mays Head, the old famous
summer resort. The island lies between
the great Sounds of Pamlico and Abe
marie. 1t has two towns, Manteo and
Wanchese, named after two noted In.
dams.
1t was on this island that the ships
sent out by Sir Walter Raleigh in the
year 1884. left a colony.
1t was here that the first English child
was born on American soil.
1t was here fort was built.
1t was here that the first spot was
cultivated by an Englisman. And it is
here that the North Carolina Historical
Association propose to hold celebration
in 1905. Not a local celebration, but
a national one
At a meeting held in July delegates
were appointed to hold a preliminary
celebration to view the situation, and
make plans for the coming event. The
invitation was extended to all historical
societies in the State, requesting repre-
,sentatives, as it is the desire of the COM
mittee to interest every one in this effort
to accord to North Carolina her proper
place in history.
A goodly company of delegates and
others left Raleigh on the 23rd of July
and arrived at New Bern at D. m. the
same day, took the steamer Neuse at Z
p. m. and sailing up Pamlico Sound, a
beautiful inland sea as it were, arrived
at Skiko, the boat landing on the east
side of Roanoke Island, at o'clock in
the morning of the oath.
Carriages were in waiting, were driven
over fine level sandy road five miles
to Manteo, passing the old battle ground
of Roanoke Island. made famous during
the Civil War. The Notifications are
plainly to be seen.
We arrived at Manteo at o'clock a..
m. and registered at the Tranquil House.
w. j. Griffin, where we were extended
every courtesy.
Manteo is a very pretty little thriving
IOhh VI dUOut OVU pOpuldIlOH. mere Is
the courthouse of Dare county, the Jail,
which at times stands with open doors.
weather bureau, life saving station,
wireless telegraph and fishing stations,
etc. We were told that a quarter of a
million dollars is passed in this town
every year.
The banking is done in Elizabeth City.
Everything seems to be moving on in a
happy way here. No hurry of steam
cars, or street cars or telephone bells
to disturb the general quiet that pre-
walls.
There is no better place for fishing,
sailing, rowing and resting than right
here.
The Tranquil House, kept by Mr.. and
Mrs. Asa Evans, is rightly named, for
here you get all necessary comforts and
freedom at your will.
The hotel and stores are situated in
fifty yards of the beautiful Roanoke
Sound, which is skirted by numbers of
wharves where boats are anchored ready
for the traffic and pleasure of the town.
Five miles to the east is Mays Head
below that point is the inlet in which
the colonists entered this haven, and on
the north point of the island they plant
ed their foot, four miles north Of
Manteo.
At $50 o'clock the oath, the celebration
exercises began in the Manteo Academy
commodious and we'll constructed
house. The ladies of the town had shown
their good taste in the arrangement of
a rostrum, which extended across the end
of the building, decorated gracefully with
bunting, flags and flowers.
The programme had been carefully ar
ranged by the chairman of the Celebra-
ton Committee, Mr.. w. J. Peele, and
proved all that it professed to be.
The exercises were called to order by
the President of the North Carolina His
torical Society, Mr.. w. d. Pruden, of
Edenton (the right man in the right
place.
The address of welcome to the island
was made by Mr.. c.. R. Pugh, of Wan
CHEESE, a youth of II years. This intro
ductory address was perfectly excellent
and he was voted the Demosthenes OF
the island. Every one who heard that
speech will watch the career of this
young man, and predict for him brilliant
future. This was followed by the singing
of Carolina" by a choir of young white
piano by another. This soul-stirrins
music was an inspiration to the whole
assembly, making their hearts swell with
gladness when the whole assembly JOINED
in the glad chorus, "Hurrah! Hurrat
for the Old North State forever"
Mr.. Pruden responded to the address
OF Mr.. Pugh, giving most interesting
history of the Albemarle country from
It's earliest attempts at settlement tt
the present time, proving by undoubtet
authority that our settlement antedates
those OF jamestown and Plymouth Rocl
by many years.. 1t is this fact that the
celebration committee wish to bring be-
fore the world and to commemorate He
said that this undertaking was begun
over ten years ago by the late lamented
Prof Edward Dawes, who was aided by his
no less patriotic brother, Major Graham
Dawes, and few others. The Virginia
Dare Memorial Association was inaugu-
rated in 1894. and in 1896 a granite
memorial was erected on the site of old
Fort Raleigh, and stands there nonu-
ment of the beginning of a great end
This association purchased 24O acres of
land on the north of the island. near
which is situated the sixteen acres on
which the entertainments of the old fort