Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 191?-19??, 1915-06-03


are preserving the manuscripts, ira
dftions and relics of the olden days;
are restoring the buildings connected
with the early history of the country;
and today, are honoring the memory
OF a man whose ability, valor, suffer
ing and achievements in the early
days Of the colonies should be per-
petuated and kept in lively remem-
brance
John Lawson, the first historian of
North Carolina, Is name that should
not perish from the earth. His works
are filled with interest to those even
of this day. and his hearty sympathy
with everything that pertained to
North Carolina, her flowers, her soil,
her animals and reptiles her bays and
rivers her swamps and marches, are
described by him with the sincerity OF
lover and with the devotion that
comes only with the enthusiasm of the
devotee
His journey down from South Caro-
lima through the western and central
portions Of the State to the settle
ments Of the Neuse River section
looking for a highway to connect the
southern settlements of South Caro-
| lima with the colonies in Virginia, is
! a long march filed with many eXcit-
| ing episodes and interesting incidents,
many hardships and difficulties, and
I of hob nd
of the Indians with whom he lived
while on the journey.
/ In September, I'LL, on account OF
jealousies aroused in the hearts of the
| Indians by men who persuaded them
! that Lawson and his friends were
making eneroachments on their do
main and conspiring to evict them
from their hunting grounds, Lawson
while on a trip up the Neuse river to
select the route for the highway lead
: ing to the Virginia colony, was seized
! together with his friend, Baron De
Graffenreid, carried Immediately be-
| fore the Indian chiefs, and a council
: being called, they were condemned to
death.
De Graffenreid freed himself BY
;, representing himself to be King il
: his own country and an especial FRIEND
of the Queen of England who would
S ayenge his death should they kill hiEl
7 but Lawson was held and put to deatl
/, by fire-torture, most inhuman an(
1 cruel form of execution, filing thu
7 skin with lightwood splinters and set
3 ting them afire.
Thus perished the colonial surveyor
general and the historian by a say
age mode of execution, in strange AM
t and humane sentiments he had ex
g pressed in his history in regard to tn
S proper treatment and welfare ane
Happiness of these original inhabi
r tants of the Carolinas.
: And now, Mr.. Chairman, in behal
I of the Colonial Danes of North Caro-
i lima, present to the City of Goldsbor
1t and county of Wayne this monumen
IS to John Lawson, the surveyor-genere
d the writer and historian of North Ca1
1t olina
g It is the earnest wish that it ma
: aid posterity to learn Alright the his
n tory of the stirring times in which
le lived, and inspire in the hearts of a
a more abiding affection for the Stat
" where he wrought so well, and who's
lie waters and shores and lands an
is swamps filled him with an enthusiast
st tic devotion and everlasting love.
ID At the conclusion of Mrs. Bailey
Of beautiful pres Dtation, the audient
a, Joined in singing "The Old Mort
In State" after which they adjourned
ne a body to the court yard, where Il
r massive granite boulder stands, whit
re was, then formally unveiled by lit
T. r. Robinson, Jr., lineal descen
no ant of Lawson, son of Mr.. and MI
at T. R. Robinson of this city.
ut Following the unveiling Mr.. L.
he Ormond, chairman of the Board
he County Commissioners, and himself
he 1inea1 descendant of the Palatine G
ne mond, accepted the boulder for t
in county, speaking as follows:
sw Madam President and Colon
OIL Danes, Ladies and Gentlemen
4 Chairman of the Board of Commissio
es, ers, and on behalf of Wayne coun
sc, I accept this boulder, in honor to t
yer memory of Surveyor-General 10
sly Lawson with thanks and sincere {
len probation.
ur- The North Carolina Society of {
lch Ionial Danes deserves great credit, a
ian the people of this county and sect
ro- of the State, especially, owe you
has lasting debt of gratitude for this {
nd, dence of your patriotic devotion
lth. perpetuating such important hist
lis and tradition which is so closely c.
air. nected with the pioneer days of
ted Republic.
on, In her presentation address
So speaker has indeed given us an in'
lea eSting sketch of that unusual Eng1i