The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-10-20
sfEESCELL.f.e.EOyS.
ADVENTURES OF TWO sEAMEN.
~

ID ADN EN bRES Or TWO SEAMEN.
,s Every one has read the story Of Robin
., son Crusos. The following is the ,rut
{ story which served as the foundation for thai
: romance.
!, Durng the war for the succession o.
e Span, man named Woods Rogers was or
9 dered by the British government, TO take
The command Of two vessels, and make a
c cruise tor the purpose of plllnse upon The
If nigh seas. Rogers left Bristol the ID oil
l. August, l10S. lie doubled Cape Horn and
: touched al no land until bis arrival a, Juan
: Fernandez, whence the boat brought Off To
nim quantity OF holsters, and man cloth
; ed m goaiskIo, VINO seemed more savage
than even tho Wild beasts themselves.
iae Climate in the island Of JOAN Fer.
aanjez is so mid, that The trees retain their
verdure during the whole year. There are
but TWO winter months, June and July, and
even then The frosts are but slight, but there
are often heavy rains. The summe. heat
IS equabe and moderate, and there are very
lev storms. Juan Fernandez. whose name
the island bears, left some goats there, and
Inc island 10 now filed with these animals.
This man, the only one found on the Isl
ADD, had forgotten how 10 talk, from long
dIsuse. They offered him brandy, which
he refused, having been so long accustomed
10 drink only pure water; and 1t was long
lime before he could be prevailed upon TO
Taste cooked food.
/ Wnen he yas able once more 10 speak be 4
relofed his history as follows -
Ny name is Alexander Selkrk; was
born al Largo, IN the province Of Fife, 10
Scotland. | vas bred 10 the sea, and was
once left on this island. IN consequence OF
a dispute on board, which occurred between
the and the captain.
C@1'aIn Stradling was well acquainted
with the nature Of The island he had left
two sailors there once before, who remain.
ed iFere six months, Until the return Of the
vessel.
As the ship pushed of, leaving me alone,
made various signs and signals, hoping
that the captain would repent Of his cru.
city, but in vain.
l considered myself then as a hundred
times more unfortunate than those who a.
b1ndo1ed me; but was mistaken; for not
long afterwards, the vessel was oyertaken
oy'a tempest, 10 Which nearly oil on board
persisted.
During my stay in Juan Fernandez, |
have often seen ships pass but none ever
stopped except two.s With what Joy did ,
behold once more some OF my own species ,
bot how mseFably was | mistaken in nv
hopes These men were Spaniards, with ,
whom we were at war; upon hearing nv 4,
history they refused TO take me on board
their ship, aud fired at me, obllging me to /
retreat INTO the woods, where | climbed up
tree and awaited their departure az anx i
Iously as had before looked for their arm. n
val.
Captain SlradIing bad allowed me 10th n
ng bu! my clothes. my bed, my gun, a -
pound 0! powder, some tobacco, Ratchet,
knife, and kettle. During the first few f
lays could not rouse myself from the deep |,
81 melancholy, from Which was only ava.
tened at last by the necessity of providing 4,
Or my susieBance. a
began by constructing two little buts y
stakes and twigs covered With goat skins, al
oDe Of which | proposed to sleep, and te
be other was 10 be my kitchen.
vas fortunate enough 10 strike light, II
'h'ch vas useful 10 cook my food. | was
want OF something with which to catch h,
ONE hsh, ot which there was great album. 70
ance; but was able 10 ob,aln m their
tead great numbers of crabs. A,
But these would not do forever. was 81
{! loss bow TO procure any other food gl
ny powder was all gone, and had no dog "a
toiios the goats; but necessity is The
mother OF invention; | Chased the goats Of,
lysel', and 5000 became so agile and swift a,
foot as 10 be sble 10 catch enough for all d
~ wants. | have killed as many as 500,
nc marked as many inore on the ear. ID
Tbs account has since been verified.
dtniral Anson's feet. 80 years afterwards, az
'und ~ Juan Fernandez, an old goat, whose le
~ was marked as Alexander Selkirk de.
:fbed. .o
sly agility had once very nearly cost ar
e my life. | was pursuing a goat With.
u heedsng whittier | directed my steps. hi
heo FELL over rock, and remained m th
lnsibie Tor some hours. When recover.
myself found the goat dead under me ; We
dragged myself with some difficulty back an
my cabin, where was obliged to remain .h
e ten days.
Custom taught me to live wiihou. bread bu