We were discussing Roanoke (sweet looking map of the island below) in history today, and I wanted to share a humorous Roanoke theory with you. However, if you aren't familiar with Roanoke, it was the first English colony established by the English in the Americas, but it's location is a mystery to this day (hence, "The Lost Colony..."). It was founded by Sir Walter Raleigh who was rumored to be the queen's lover, but anyway, it's thought to have been on an island just off the coast of North Carolina. Well some time when by in Roanoke, and supplies were needed, so John White, governor of Roanoke, sailed back to England promising to return as quickly as possible with some new goodies. Well unfortunately for him and the rest of the colony, the year he sailed to the mother country, they were preparing for the forelorn naval war with the most dreaded fleet that ever sailed the Seven Seas. So pretty much any boat that could float with absconded into the British Navy, and to Mr. White, there was no exception. Long story short - he didn't return to Roanoke for three years. And when he did there was no sign of settlers ever having been there. All he found were the letters "CRO" carved into a tree and the word "Croatoan" inscribed on the post of a palisade. Even the colonists' houses were gone!
Disease, hurricane, running off with Native Americans - there are countless of theories as to what happened to the "lost colony".
Disease is a pretty believable reason - if we gave it to the natives, wouldn't there be a pleasant germ awaiting us as well? You'd think that that would've left some bodies, or houses, though.
I've never heard of the possibility of a hurricane until today, but I'd guess that'd explain what happened to the houses and the people. The palisade was still standing, however.
Scurrying off with Native Americans is a likely possibility. The word "Croatoan" (modern spelling is usually "Croatan") is the name of a friendly Native American tribe. It's a possibility they mosied off this tribe during of time of little food. The Croatan tribe have had English names, suspiciously enough, so that reinforces this theory. So I guess it's possible they might've gotten tired of hanging around waiting, so they got together with the natives.
Native American attacks could've been the fate of the islanders as well. This one's pretty self-explanatory - they attack, possibly provoked, burn the houses, and kill and bury the people - end of story.
Well one humorous joke some of my friends and I have come up with relates to the "CRO" insription.
Something, whatever it was, scared the heck out of the Roanokians (?), and one was in the process of carving "crap" into a tree, but was killed before he could finish it. He never got to the stick (attached to the "o") or the "p". Ha, ha... I know - a real knee-slapper...
Anyways (on a more sober note), there is recent evidence that the colonists may have been on the island during the worst drought that America had seen for 800 years, according to the rings of of some nearby cypress trees. It just occurred to me that how is it possible to test the trees of Roanoke if they don't even know where the colony actually was today? Must've one great big drought to sweep over all the state! Although, where'd the bodies and houses go?
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