The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-06
TIE CROATAN INDIAN.
An Interesting Account os The LOST
Colony.

lived in the sixteenth century was Sir.
| Walter Raleigh.
He was handsome, dashing, daring
and bold, with a spirit that besnok .
adventure itself BY his gaHantry he
came under the notice of Queen Eliza
beth, and later into her favor. Soon
after having gained royal favor he
secured the monopoly of the wine
trade and this lucrative business soon
made him man of great financial
power. With this power he determin-
ed to plant colony in America. And.
as other expeditions sent to the colder
climates of the continent had failed
he sent his ill-fated expedition to the
| warmer shores of Carolina, then cali
1 ed Virginia.
His first expedition, composed of
two small vessels under the Joint
command of Phillip Amadas and Ar
thur Barlow, set sail April 27th, 1894.
ana going via the Canary and West
| india Islands, landed on Wocoken
island July OF the same year. The
settlers found that the new land even
surpassed their dreams in its beauty
and wealth of Vegeta ton and a set
| tier in describing the land, said: "The
| fragrance was as if we had been in
the midst OF some delicate garden,
Astounding with all manner of sweet
| lowers and luscious fruits" The
vegetation struck the settlers with the
greatest wonder and admiration, the
equal of the forest was nowhere to
be found, and everywhere the Iuxur-
ian vines, filled with delicious grapes,
such as they had never seen before
climbed the trees and formed grace
fu! fcstoons.
The settlers were Hospitality receiv-
I'd by the Indians and were made
guests of honor by their rulers and
councilmen the Indians were not sus-
picious, and for a time there was per
feet harmony between them and the
whites.
on June 18th, 1855, another expedi-
ton arrived at Wocoken and made it's
way through OracOkc Inlet to ROa-
noke Island, where the other settlers
had gone. The new expedition, un-
der the command of Sir Richard
GreenvilIe, and composed of seven
vessels, brought 10S colonistS, among
whom was the new governor of tn"
colony, Ralph Lane. Sir Richard
Greonvillc, on being ordered by the.
Queen to make q report on the new
territory visited the Indians and OBJ
served their mode of life and charac-
ter. On one of his visits to an In
dian village a silver cup was stolen
from a member of the party. Green
vile became furious at this conduct
and at once ordered the whole village
Win us crops " ne DuI1cl. Ok dis
TO say, the Indians made no rcSis-
lance. but this harshness was prob
ably the beginning of the troubles for
the settlers. The Indians told the new
corners many stories OF places where
untold riches could be obtained. and
many of the settlers either persisted
from hunger and disease or were
murdered by the Indians While in
search for gold. This hunger for
gold shows very strongly why Sir
Walter Raleigh's expeditions failed;
of course the failure was not wholly
due to this thirst for gold, but to q
large extent it was. The gold hunter
never settles or upbuilds "a new land;
the pioneers are II Woodworking class,
who have normal imaginations ana
who desire only to get gold by toll.
Greenville soon left Carolina, TAX
lng his ships with him. This caused
the coloniSts to become respondent,
Cor they had no means of returning
to England in case they should want
or be compelled to go. So when Sir
Francis Drake avCiVed Ak OF them
were anxious to return. He diSSuaded
them from their purpose by leaving
them three vessels to use in case of
IN emergency. On the next day, how
ever, a storm arose and destroyed the
vessels. The settlers were then so
wrought up that Drake took them all
10 England on June 10th, 1856. In
this manner that expedition of RAJ
eigh failed.
few days later a supply ship. sent
by Raleigh arrived in Carolina and
finding all the former settlers gone,
it had to return. but the crew left
fifteen men to hold the English title
to tho Land.
1t is a surprise that Raleigh was
not dismayed, but the adventurous
spirit being high in him. he was not
at all dismayed by the failure of his
hoped-for settlement and at once pre-
pared a new expedition.
The new colony. under the com
mand of John White, arrived at Roa
nokc in July, 1857. In this colony
here were several women, including
The daughter of White. Eleanor Dare,
to the first white child on the Anerl-
Who on August 10th, 1881, gave birth
Dcerage ever created III America.
These colOnists, not being very IN
had been to England, was created
Lord Of Roanoke. This was the first
can continent. The child was named
Virginia, either in honor of the Queen
or in honor of the new lan'i, all OF
which at that time was known as Nlr~
ginia. All that the new colonistS
found of the fifteen men left by the
supply ship was their bleaching bones.
IL is SUPPOSED mat IIlcy NCIG fAiliNc'
by the Indians, but it is possible that
they died from starvation or disease.
The new coloniSts were hoSpitaDly
received by the Croatan Indians, ana
one of their number. Manteo, VINO
dustrious, their supplies soon ran out,
and they became restless and began
to urge White to return. Whlle at
last consented to go to England ana
bring back supplies, SO leaving ms
daughter and little Virginia Dare as
hostages, he sailed August ~, 1850
promising to return as soon as pos.
Sible. The colony, now composed Oh
80 men, II women, and two chlldfeh'
was now entirely dependent ON the
governors return. On his departure
it was agreed that in case they shouid
have to leave Roanoke that they
would make a cross on tree ana
beneath the mark would be Writtell
the direction they had taken.
White arrived in England ana
started back April %, 1888. Al TINS
time Spain and England were en-
gagged in war and the merchant yes
sells of both countries were armed
and they fought whenever they met
Such was the case with White. lie at
tempted to capture Spanish prize
on his return and in the engaselilel1
he was defeated and lost all ms
sells. He returned to Englalla' "a tiI
did not leave for America again ulllll