The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-01-03
THE FIRST ENGLISH
SETTLEMENT.
jamestown Exposition to Celebrate
This Most important Event in
American History.

Norfolk, Va, Jan. 2.-On the 18th
day of December, three hundred years
ago, here set sail from Blackwell,
England, under the command of Cap
tain Newport. three vessels, the God
speed, the Susan Constant AID the
Discovery, the largest not exceeding
one hundred IONS burden. This lit
tie feet a1d it's one hundred and
five passengers was destined to mark
the beginning of the most important
epoch in the history of the world. The
commencement of their voyage was
inauspicious and its progress unhap-
py. By reason of contrary winds they
were buffeted about on the great O.
cean for six weeks before losing
sight of the English coast. 1t was
after many more weary weeks of ira
vel ere they saw land, the coast of
Virginia, on the 26th day of April
1907, and, to the point first sighted
they gave b name Cape Henry, and
the peaceful place where they drop
ped anchor, they called Comfort"
which is the Old Point Comfort of to-
day. The beauty of the scene about
them already affected them and Jonn
Smith, one of their number, was led
t. utter this sentiment: within
have the prerogative over the most
pleasant places known. Heaven and
earth never agreed better to frame
a place for mans habitation, were
it inhabited by industrious people.
Here are plains, hills, valleys, riv-
ers and brooks, all compassed with
fruitful and delightsome land"
After resting at Comfort for sew
eral days and feasting upon the oy-
sters which they gathered from the
waters 4 the strawberries and 9TH
err early fruits which they gathered
from the land, they proceeded up the
mighty river which they called the
James, AID landed, May Is, 1907,
upon the Island of jamestown, where
as Smith again says, was chosen a
very fit place for the erecting of a.
great city" In this Smith was mistak-
en- as later years proved the disad-
vantages of the location and the set
tlement never beanie much more
than a village.
This was founded jamestown, the
first English settlement in the new
world; the birthplace Of the Ameri-
can Republic and the beginning of
the land of the free and the home
of the brave. 1t was a small com
mencement, but, considered from the
point of outgrowing results, it was
one of the most p~ortentious events
in all nistry, for had the jamestown
settlement failed in its incipiency the
Pilgrims had never landed at Ply
mouth Rock, the Dutch had never
left their shores a1d tne United
States of America might never have
been.
Nothing now remains of the pomp
ood nri5a Of tho oDoo boroio v;JIo oo
but h Uncovered tower of the old
church and a few ressurrected ruins.
yet what hallowed associations cling
like the ivy about the crumbliag ruins
of the old church tower.
How appropriate then, and how i'm
portant to all the people of the IA
ton and the world, is the Great In
ternatiolal Celebration to be neld on
the shores of Hampton Roads, oppo-
site the Old Point Comfort of Smiths
day, beginning April 26. 1907. in COM
memoration of the founding of James
town. The Jastown Ter-Ceatennial
will mark the progress of the world
day, and will be the most education
al exposition ever neld.
Not only will the Exposition af-
ford an opportunity to visit the scene
of the first settlement. but the thous-
and Other places of beauty and his
torical interest as well. Famous old