The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-04

y
tempt to COLOMBO North Carolina, or
Virginia as it was then called
1t is not hard to assign reasons for
the failure of this colony. In the first
place il consisted of adventures who
scorned to cultivate the soil and who
were too fond of provoking the hatred
of the natives; furthermore. regular
communication with the home gov
eminent could not be maintained be-
cause of hostile Spanish vessels; still
another reason was the shallowness of
the harbors in Albemarle Sound. But
all difficulties might have been over
come had there been skillful leader
and wise governor at the head of the
colony-had there been John
Smith or Miles StandiSh-adVerSe
conditions would have been over
come.
This disappointing failure did not
deter Raleigh from making another
effort. In fact he felt more certain of
success than before, he had learned
several important things from his first
attempt: 1st, that husbandmen instead
of adventurers should be selected as
colonists: End, that the men must
have family ties in America to keep
them from becoming discontinued;
3rd, that no suitable harbor could be
found in Albemarle Sound but that
one could be found in Chesapeake
Bay.
In 1887, the year following Lanes
return, a colony of 81 men, z women
and 9 children, well equipped with
agricultural implements and other
necessary supplies was entrusted to
John White Cor With, as then writ
tenn with instructions that they
should touch at Roanoke and pick up
the Is men left there by Greenville
(who upon his return from England
with achievements the year before
had found the settlement deserted
and had left these men to defend the
fort until the coming of another col
ony). After taking on board these
men White was to sail north until he
came to a good harbor which Raleigh
thought could be found in lower
Chesapeake. Around the borders of
first suitable harbor to present itself,
he was to lay the foundation of viii
lage which was to be called the City
Of Raleigh"
On the 23rd of July, 1887, the col
onists reached Roanoke and were in
formed by Manteo that Greenville's
men had been maSSacred by the In
dams; therefore White wished to con-
tinue the voyage without further in
terruption. But an unexpected barrier
was thrust in his way: the navigator
of the expedition positively refused to
carry them farther. This meant the
establishment of the colony on
Roanoke Island, for without consent
of the navigator the vessels could not
be carried into the Chesapeake.
Landing on the site of Lanes col
ony the men went actively to work
and soon had comfortable houses for
all of the settlers; but realizing the
disadvantages of the site, thus forced
upon them, and the advantages of
neighboring localities, they did not
make any great preparations for
permanent settlement. The hostility
of the Indians kept them I'm constant
fear, they felt that they We're. not
strong enough to cope with the num-
erous tribes, should they unite in an
effort to drive them out. The whites
felt that they could count on the
friendship of Manteo's tribe, but no
more.
Continually annoyed by this fear,
they persuaded White to return to
England for re-inforcements and adj
ditional supplies. Fate, however pre-
vented Whites immediate return
from this voyage, for when he reach
ed England every man and every ship
were needed to guard the country
against the dreaded Spanish Armada.
Sir Walter Raleigh was busily en-
gagged helping man and organize the
navy to defend the coast; yet he
found time and means to fit out a re-
lief expedition for the American col
ony In few weeks White started on
his return voyage, but encountering
some Spanish vessels, he was COM
PEELED to return to England.
The expense of defending the coun-
try against the Armada had been such
a drain on the revenues of patriotic
Englishmen that it was three years
before Raleigh was able to start White
with another relief expedition. Upon
returning to Roanoke in 1890 White
was disappointed to find the settle
ment deserted. though he was not
greatly surprised because leaving for
England he discussed with the set
tiers the ACCESSIBILITY of abandoning
Roanoke for more suitable place
either on the main land or on some
island more removed from the hostile
Indians.
No place had been decided upon
but it had been agreed that if they
should emigrate the name Of the place
to which they might go should be
carved on tree as q guide TO White
upon his return; and if they should
be in distress they were to carve
cross above the name.
At a glance it was evident that the
colonists had left the island; but
where had they gone? White landed
and made diligent search in every
part of the island, but no positive
clew could be found. He wished to
continue the search to the neighbor-
ing islands and mainland. but the
commander of the expedition, having
already lost one vessel and some of
his best men being anxious to return
to the West Indies to engage in trade,
refused to allow the use of his boats
and men in what he considered Il
fruitless and dangerous undertaking.
Therefore, White, who was simply a
passenger in the expedition, was
forced either to return to England or
to remain alone on the island. With
the hope of bringing over another ex-
petition. he decided to return to Eng
land. Because White failed to find
the colonists at this time and later
expeditions sent out by Raleigh and
Captain John Smith having met with
similar disappointments, the majority
of the people. without examining cir
cumstances, fastened to the conclu-
sion that they had all been massa-
creed by the Indians; yet in the minds
of the authorities there has always
been a grave doubt as to the probab-
ility of this theory, and recently q