However, before the Indians were forced off the island in the late 1500's and early 1600's they first encountered these strange explorers in the year 1493. It was Christopher Columbus. On his second voyage to the new world, Columbus attempted to land his ships in the Salt River Bay. This was the first known encounter with Carib Indians, and it was a hostile meeting with both sides inflicting death upon the other.
The tragic meeting in Salt River Bay recorded by the explorers was eventually reported back to the European rulers. Could this explain why the Caribs were removed from St. Croix over the next century? After all, it was the Spanish (Christian Monarch) who sent Columbus in 1493.
As I continued my research, I discovered the Knights of Malta were also associated with the Salt River Bay area. Oddly enough, all of St. Croix's historical websites acknowledged the Knights of Malta had come to the island around the 1650's and stayed for only a few years.
In fact, the government website also records the Knights as part of the island's history. However, not much is explained about why they came, what they did, or why they suddenly left. Could the Knights of Malta somehow be connected to that church-like ruin with the tower and faded red crosses?
Many years came to pass, the Secrati watched in amazement the rebirth of plant life on St. Croix, the time had come to leave the island. The Secrati began the relocation plan in 1667, but it wasn't to relocate off of St. Croix. Before they leave, they move their encampment a few miles to the east of Salt River Bay - establishing the town of Christiansted. Christiansteds' location is owed to the fortress the Knights started building in 1667. Their parting gift stands today, beautifully preserved at the east end of town and open to the public. The Secrati strategically rebuilt the entire settlement to avoid a future settlement in the Salt River Bay basin. The "Holy Cross" of St. Croix would remain untouched for centuries.