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In 1587, after a failed first attempt, the English again tried to colonize Roanoke Island. Received peacefully by the Croatoan tribe, the English established a healthy settlement.
Satisfied with a perceived peace, colonist leader John White returned to England for supplies. Upon return in 1590, White found the Roanoke colony completely abandoned with a single, cryptic clue: the word CROATOAN carved into a post. Unable to explore further due to foul weather, White labeled Roanoke “The Lost Colony.”
Were the colonists killed by rival tribes? The Spanish? Or perhaps they fled for England and perished at sea? The mystery continues.
– Chris Butsch, The 100 Companies