The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1961-07-28
SENATOR
SAM ERWIN
- SAYS -

'The Lost Colony" at Waterside
Theatre on Roanoke Island.
SIR WALTER RALEIGH - Sir
Walter Raleigh was one of the most
remarkable of the many men who
lived in Elizabeth England. He was
famous as courtier, sailor, soldier,
poet, and dreamer of dreams. A
favorite of Queen Elizabeth,
Raleigh secured a Royal patent
granting him free-simple title to
any lands he should discover mot
actually possessed by any Christian
Prince, nor inhabited by Christian
people"
COLONY-377 years ago, i.e., in
1884, Raleigh sent Captains Philip
Amadas and Arthur Barlowe forth
in two tiny banks to find the lands
granted him by the Queen. They
discovered and explored Roanoke
Island and the adjacent lands and
returned to England with a glowing
account of what they had seen,
taking with them two natives of
Roanoke Island, the Indians Manteo
and Wanchese. AS a consequence,
Raleigh was knighted and the new
ly found lands We're named Vir-
ginian in honor of the virgin Queen.
During the following year, i. e.,
1885, Raleigh sent his first colony
to the new world. 1t consisted of the
noted painter, John White, and lot
other men, headed by Governor
Ralph Lane, who We're transported
to Roanoke Island in ships COM
manded by Sir Richard Granville.
Here the Colonists built the original
Fort Raleigh and some dwellings.
After some weeks, Sir Richard
Granville returned to England for
supplies. He was accompanied by
John White. who carried with him
his famous paintings.
TROUBLES - Ralph Lanes
colonists became dissatisfied be-
cause of the lack of food and de-
veloping hostility on the part of the
Indians, and returned to England
in a fleet of the old sea dog, Sir
Francis Drake, who happened to
touch Roanoke Island. A short time
later, Sir Richard Granville return
ed from England with supplies.
Finding Ralph Lanes Colony gone,
he left Is of his men to hold the
land.
FIRST CHILD-With the assis-
lance of some joint Adventures,
Raleigh sent his second colony to
Roanoke Island in 1887. This colony,
which is known to history as The
Lost Colony, was led by Governor
John White and consisted of So
men, II women, and children. 1t
Found Fort Raleigh in ruins and
no identifiable trace of the Is men
left by Sir Richard Granville.
These colonists rebuilt Fort Raleigh
and repaired the old dwellings and
constructed new ones. AS DR.. Hugh
Letter informs us, "The best known
incident in the history of the colony
was the birth on August Is of Vir-
ginia Dare, daughter of Ananias
and Eleanor White Dare, grand
daughter of Governor White, and
the first of English parents born in
America"
After some time, Governor White
was compelled to return to England
for supplies. Before he left Roanoke
Island, he made an agreement with
the colonists, who were contem-
plating removing from the island
to the mainland, that they would
leave some indication of their ioca-
ton in case of their removal, and
would "carve over the letters or the
name a cross" if they suffered any
distress in that connection.
AS a result of vicissitudes occa-
stoned by the threat which the
Spanish Armada presented to Eng
land, Governor White could not re-
turn to Roanoke Island until 1890.
At that time, he discovered to his
CONSERVATION that his colony had
vanished, leaving no indication Of
it's fate except the cryptic word
"Croatoan" carved on one tree, and
the mystifying letters "CRO"' on
another. Neither tree bore the carv-
ing of cross.
LOST COLONY - The Lost
Colony thus vanished forever from
the pages of history, but has ever
since occupied a prominent place
in the speculations of historians.
Some historians surmise that the
members of the Lost Colony were
massacred by the Indians, others
that they were slaughtered by the
Spaniards, others that they were
absorbed by the Indians of Robe
son County, North Carolina, and
others that they were lost at sea
in attempting to return to England,
A poet has addressed this inquiry
to history:
"Speak History, who are life's
victors? Unroll thy long annals
and say, Were they those whom
the world called the victors, who
won the success of the day?"
T,,Jc,aJ h1, hic ropta,,,no,.a vi ac