The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-05-18

Washington. D. C.--wNU Service.
"a EODERN engineers have thrust
N n Virginia Dare trail down the
" islands off the North Carolina
coast and built the Wright
Memorial bridge across Currituck
sound, bringing the islands into touch
with the modern world, yet the visitor
still finds in Roanoke island the
speech and customs common in the
days of Sir Walter Raleigh whose fol-
lowers established there the first Eng
lish settlement in America.
From the skipper of the small mail
boat that plies between the islands
one may supplement his limited
knowledge of this region supplied by
obsolete descriptions and by copies of
the original letters and maps left by
Sir Walter Raleigh's adventures. He
learns that Roanoke island perfectly
exemplifies the adage that byways of
isolation pocket the choicest realities
Of life. Here is a genuine, inbred
dignity, expressive of a mild-mannered,
hospitable folk. The islanders are
ners, and customs-historic surviyals
of old English Devon.
The ubiquitous automobile did not
reach Roanoke island until less than
a decade ago. For land transporta-
ton there were up to that time only
two-wheeled carts and sand ponies and
occasional oXcarts. Even the little
sand ponies tradition went back to
castaway vessels, to the Portuguese
and to Sir Walter Raleigh's voyagers.
On Raleigh's attempts at colonial
ton hinged momentous results in the
New world. The "Lost Colonies"
though they began and ended Sir Wal
ter's ventures upon the North Carolina
Sea islands, were the first English
speaking settlements in America.
Discovered in 1884.
In 1884 the adyenturer obtained a
patent from Queen Elizabeth, whose
favors his genius readily commanded,
and dispatched to the New world the
first of his expeditions The little
band, under Amadas and Barlowe,
sailed through an inlet on July 4, 1884,
to discover Roanoke island-a spot so
favored in climate and setting and so
rich in fruits, game, and bird life
that it seemed to them veritable
paradise.
Back to England they sailed to de-
scribe it, taking with them two friend
~ Indian chiefs; and also tobacco,
sassafras, maize, pumpkins, squash,
grapes, and other fruits. Their story
created excitement, and in the follow
ing year Raleigh sent out Sir Richard
Granville with a second colony, num-
bering 1OS souls, determined to make
a permanent home on Roanoke island
and establish plantations.
They landed on August II, 1855,
and built log fertilization. to which
they gave the name "The New Fort in
Virginia." also spoken of as Fort
Raleigh" However, they could not
live at peace with the Indians and
the entire colony sailed back with Sir
Francis Drake in 1886, just two weeks
before the arrival of reinforcements.
Finding the fort deserted, the new
group also returned to England, but
left Is men on the island.
A third expedition, sent out by
Raleigh in 1857, found the fort de-
molished and no trace of the Is men
except the bones of one slain by the
savages. The gruesome discovery was
shock to the homeseekers, and they
f1I1 0f
leader, John White, to forestall future
hostility by making friends of the In
dams. The plan succeeded admirably.
Manteo, one of the friendly chiefs, was
even baptized and given title of no
bility as Lord of Roanoke-the first
English peerage in America
Virginia Dare's Birth.
On August IS, 1887, five days after
the baptism of the Indian, was born
John Whites granddaughter, Virginia
Dare, the first English native of
America. She was baptized on the
following Sunday. Thus was Eliza
bethan civilization anchored here by
baby, a mother, and the American
family.
X Around little Virginia Dare re-
kmained more than hundred men,
women and chillren. They were left
alone for three years. Then John
White, who had gone back to England
after establishing the colony, returned
Ito find that they had disappeared.
The only promising clue White
& found was the sign Gro" blazed on
tree. Since these letters were part
4 Of code agreed upon by the colonists
three years before, the rescue party
hoped that their friends had gone to
Jroatan. home of the friendly Manteo.
who had promised sanctuary in emer-