The Detroit times., 1914-04-09

AS the TWO SHIPS brought supplies
not sufficient To last us above fort
night. a company furnished with nets
was sent down river to catch and salt
sturgeon, but no attempt was made to
plant our fields or gardens, and the
rumor gained currency that Virginia
was TO be abandoned; for with the
Patience and Deliverance. and our two
pinnAces. II was possible TO transport
the remnant OF our company back to
England; and presently Percy told me
that the intention was to coast north
to the English fishing stations at New
foundland. where We might reasonably
hope to replenish our stores.
Yet now. wonderfully enough, there
were those who were nightly cast
down by this decision OF our leaders.
1t smacked TOO much Of a backward
step. and some Of US who were sea
soned settlers OF three years standing
were sure that John Smith would
have managed better Some even who
had been his greatest maligners while
he was with us. and stiff necked TO
combat his authority. now boasted that
while he could stand or 60 so little
thing as furnishing us with victuai
would never Have sent him out OF
Virginia.
But for all the grumbling. and II
comported not with our dignity to fall
too readily into line with the new or
der. think there was no man OF us
who failed To understand that the sit
uation demanded some prompt action.
especially when Sir Thomas Gates had
| us come together before him, and
made q speech telling us how our
stores had dwindled until there was
not enough to last fourteen days long
er, and that while ii was true Lord DE
la War; had doubtless sailed from
England with an abundance OF all
things needful for the colony, and ex-
traordinary powers for the maintain
ing of order and discipline. yet the
hazard of the long voyage was so
great he might as we'll be eve months
as two on the way out--and what
then?
Truly he had given us something to
think on, and we began to fit the PIN
naces for sea, and with this open dec.
laration OF defeat the preparations for
sailing went forward apace. ! was
sent for young Henry Spilman, who
| was now at WerowOcOmoco, and while
1 was absent on this mission our ord
nance was dismounted, and together
| with the small arms and shot. buried
| beside the water-gate: then the four
crews were made up. company OF
soldiers and settlers allotted TO each
of the little fleet. and on fair June
| morning we marched out OF James
| Town for the last time. as We never
doubted.
As the first boats were getting clear
OF the shore black clouds of smoke
rolled up from one Of the cabins which
had been set fire to, and cur wooden
town seemed menaced w utter oe
struction, since the Offices appeared
not TO regard this act OF an incendiary
But Sir Thomas Gates ordered me u
take a file OF men and extinguish ths
flames: while was busy carrying GU
this order, he posted armed guards a
the water-gate and the preached pan
andes. which were not withdrawn un
III the last settler was aboard ship
Then volley OF small shot was nred
the soldiers came of from the iand
anchors were lifted, and our voyage
begun. And in token of all we had ell
dured. there was left only those lev
diamaptled cabins and the graves
some four hundred English.
We made no great run that DAY
The wind held contrary for the mos
mart. and at nightfall we were force'
. ;o anchor in midstream. Mornln
came to And us still struggling VIII
adverse winds, yet hour by nour, WIZ
our flagship holding the lead, we crep
down toward the rivers mouth, an
looking eastward, my thoughts wen
beyond the entrance to the great pay
be, ond the long days while we saile'
north to find the fishing settlements
beyond the oceans rough buheung. =
J the shores Of England. and Dane
Hill. and all that was most dear. An
whilst I dreamed OF my welcome, Their
was growing up out OF the distanc
what at first might have been taks'
for a bit of driftwood; and nttI
later for Athe- canoe OF some lndlan
Then we made ont that 1t was IN
longboat of our sturgeon fishers non
below.
She Law alongside the flagship, an
we saw her people 60 over the side
Not FIVE minutes elapsed when TN
flagship hoisted signals to the rest o
1.-THE feet to follow, and at the sam
moment came round before the fresh
ening wind, and her dripping DOW
pointed up stream. As she passed nea
us on her altered course caught sign
of the admiral, who was one OF IL
tie group standing on the quarterdeci