Ocracokers have been accused of talking about events from fifty or one hundred years ago as if they happened yesterday. This morning I want to share some history that occurred 422 years ago.
On this date in 1585 the first recorded shipwreck along the Outer Banks happened on Ocracoke Island. Sir Walter Raleigh's second expedition to the New World was under the command of Sir Richard Grenville, with Simon Fernando, chief pilot, and Ralph Lane, lieutenant. Their flagship, the Tiger, ran aground in the inlet, and lay in the pounding surf for two hours before she was refloated. After being recaulked, and otherwise repaired, the Tiger rejoined the rest of the expedition.
On his return to England Ralph Lane denounced Wokokon (Ocracoke) Inlet for its treacherous waters and lack of reliable harbors.
Take a journey back in time with our latest Ocracoke Newsletter. You can capture some of the thrill of riding on the old mailboat Aleta by clicking here.
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The English Flagship Tiger, when she ran aground, was carrying all the seed that the New World colonists would plant. During the heavy pounding of the waves on the Tiger, the wooden chests that contained these valuable seeds became waterlogged with saltwater. Unable to use these seeds, the Roanoke Colonists began their reliance on the Native Americans.
ReplyDeleteJim Goodwin