The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-02-12
THE FIRST WHITE MEN
ON THE CHESAPEAKE
CONTINUED from Page Six)

(the Potomac). Unfortunately, they
give no information as to early ex-
;, ploring parties. They do, though,
give interesting records of missionary
expeditions to the bay, for Menedez
was convicted that conversion of the
natives to Christianity would establish
friendly relations which would be
valuable in his plans of occupation
and settlement.
Just how many voyages were made
to the bay previous to this time prob
ably will never be known, but it is
certain that perhaps some twenty
years before 1866, a Spanish ship,
bearing out to sea through the capes,
carried with it the brother of an In
dian chieftain-whom some Domin-
can fathers had persuaded to go to
Mexico. The Indian lad was duly in
structed in the Christian faith and
solemnly baptized in the Cathedral OF
Mexico. He was given the name OF
Don Luis de Velasco, after the viceroy
of the province who had taken great
interest in him.. Great things were ex-
pected from this Indian youth; yet he
was destined to play havoc with
Menendez's plans, as will be shown.
The more that the Governor thought
of the Bay of Santa Maria the more
L t. hod ItC ar
Effectiveness as a naval base for
Spain. 1t had, he discovered, appar-
emily endless deposits of oysters
which might bear pearls. And finally,
he began to hope that thorough explo-
ration of it's rivers might reveal a
wav through the continent to China.
This idea, strange as it may seem to
us, was not uncommon in these days,
for almost every geographer and map
maker of the time labored under the
delusion that the Pacific spread east
ward almost as far as the Appalach-
ian Mountains and many mariner
went to Davy Jones' locker searching
for the Northeast Passage" to the
Orient. That brought Henry Hudson
here.
In 1866 Menendez dispatched to the
bay vessel carrying thirty soldiers
and two Dominican fathers, with Don
Luis as their guide. This expedition
was to be the first serious attempt at
an entering wedge, but it met with
ignominious failure. The two mission
aries, previously stationed in Peru
and accustomed to the easy life there,
where the Incas had been enslaved by
the conquerors, had no fancy for the
laborious tasks which confronted
them in the unknown Chesapeake
country. Following some hurried
plotting, they melted mutiny among
the crew, and even before it neared
the bay the ships course was set for
Spain. Once there, they related how
one raging gale after another had
beaten them from the bays entrance
and had blown them off their course
far into the Atlantic! Menendez
waited time for word of his party,
and then formed a second expedition
of one missionary and ten associates.
They passed into oblivion-lost at sea
or killed by the Indians.
However, the Governor was de-
termined, forceful man. He was not
in the least daunted by the failure OF
the first two expeditions, and he was
now fortified by royal approval of his
plans obtained on a visit to Spain,
where, perhaps not to his surprise, ne
found Don Luis. Accordingly, in 1870
he sent out still another mission, one
which was to meet with some success.
Two Jesuits, Father Segura and Faith
er Quiros, five younger members OF
the society and four Indian boys as
aides for temporary service made up
this party. Don Luis had returned
from Spain with Menendez and once
again he was to act as guide. Be-
cause of his presence and influence
no soldiers were thought necessary,
and, besides, the including of armed
men might arouse undue hostility
among the red men. Not for an in
slant did any suspicion of treachery
enter the whites minds, for Don Luis
had lived some thirty years as de-
vout Christian.
They left from Santa Elena and
beat their way up the coast to the
bays entrance, from which point all
definite knowledge of their course is
lost. The Historical Magazine OF
1859 states that "they probably went
toward the head of the bay, and ira
. dition says they went up the Kappa,
hammock. Despite the fact that direc'
ton and distance were ignored, g
/ careful record was kept of even the
J trivial incidents. They reached theil
destination only after sailing for &
considerable distance" and then by
laboriously marching over six miles Of
rough country, packing with then
their lean supplies and their secrec