The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-13


ing darkness impelled US to make, we became sep
arated in our ascent, and had gone or to the ieit
direct route Of my companions A small stream
tumbled down the rocks hidden by vines and bushes,
through which pressed my way into sort
long, deep draught from the cool rlvuet. l had lain
down on my breast to drink with greater ease, and
was just putting down my head to take last ting al
the water, when the heavy shaking OF bushy limb
startled mel and, rising silently TO stopping posture,
i trie1 e penetrate Ile gloom OF the overhanglng
OF the party coming that way, but received no re-
spouse. Then suspectng it might be some stray
ak en
tree about twenty PAGES distant, intentiy watch
ing me. Its tail was slowly moving to and
green light; and as / made out the outlines OF the
creature forgot my gun and all the world in an
! am sure that my cap raised at least two inches.
In a moment began to realize my situation more
ooiy, and reaching Tor my gun NJ betnoagnt myself
had but one Ely cartridge lett and that was In the
right barrel the other being loaded with heavy shot.
iuxuHous growth OF ferns, | slipped into the left
barrel a. patent lead pencil cutter and
to trust to 'o short up1 range n and give the
animal the contents OF both barrels While was
dong TINS called repeatedly to Cassei whose breech.
loader would have cheered me wonderfully; but not
q sound IN reply could be heard felt that it was
time to do something fully realized the danger OF
my position and knew had no chance but to COM
mence the attack before the increasing darkness put
me wholly in the power OF the wildcat which still
ndlstlnct win not undertake to ten what thoughts
OF home, OF friends on board and those who
might not welcome my return again, Mashed
to bear and vainly strived to distinguish tire
sights in the gloom. With strange sense OF
the eyes Of the animal and pulled both triggers. The
thrilling scream that followed the discharge shall
its reco and sprnging up seized the piece by the
muzzle, expecting an attack, but could only see "a
confused mass rolling and franticaliy tearing the
the steep slope Of the bank II my life mad depended
upon it could not have got out OF the way for weak
ceased its violent struggles and about twenty
feet distant slowly raised on its launches, evi
IDENTIFY blinded by my shot, but stin full OF
betraying my position, and was nervously thrust
ing charge OF shot into my gun when my ear was
greeted by the sound OF approaching footsteps and
The hurried breath OF some one coming to my help.
The thought flashed through my mind, is it
to my inexpressble relief heard the lieutenant
cautiously calling myname. With my hand to my
quick" and my friend leaped down the bank.
caught him as he was passing me and pointed TO the
wildcat, whose attention seemed fixed on our move
ments, when the lieutenant drought his rile up a
sent an ounce ball into the wounded brute. Even this
did not finish him, and clubbing his weapon, Cassel
crushed in the head Of the cat at blow. The ami
NAL measured i've feet inches from tip 10 tail,
and with our goats, which we found in the darkness
with some difficulty, made abig load TO carry down
the mountain. The boat was called in, ana. laden
with fish am. our game, we pulled loyfuliy back 10
the ship The length Of time in which poised a.
healthy flask OF lively Old Martei above my vlsage
would Have astonished temperance missionary,
but the end justified the means and resulted in a
glorious supper and night of gorgeous sunber.
ANOTHER HUNTING EXPEDITION.
On our return found that another hunting party,
consisting or Lieutenant Commanders White and
Barton, Chief Engineer KiInball, paymaster Hamil-
ton and LieutenantS Livingston and Davis. had been
r On an e eSPeason AFTER pseons up the valley leading
confined to the vicinity Of the settlement ther for
tune was not as good as was hoped for. They
bag0ed, however, handsome lot of birds including
about two dozen plump wild pigeons ana q few
snipe. lhis morning the messroom possessed fra
GRANGE at breakfast lime that would nave gadGened
the soul OF the NioSt lastlOus efcufe ana after
sumptuoas feast everyk body prepared TO 20 ashore
squalls SCI ia when lasted until afternoon The
weather finally cleared up ara hour gwen for
q rambie On shore before gong 10 sea;
the SKY threatening nortner and il having
been decided 70 get good oaing wttrout unneces-
saiy delay. The brle period allowed Tor our last
meat, san atwood ana curious mcmentoes OF the
Island. Iic present colony Of nineteen persons was
founded a few years since by six men and four
women who Went over from valparaiso. They sub
slst principally upon goats meat and FISH, and are
AZ miserable set OF beings generally meets
with in rambling about the world. Ihey had no
bread oI any kinu and were too indolsn emit to raise
even ~ that fertile SOIL the few vegetables Which
might nave adued greatly 70 their cOnor. Whalers
occasionally stop lor- fresh water and wood,
anu two or three times year
schooncg runs over from Valparaiso 10 trade
lor sh, Holsters seal skins &c. send for the ma
rne news columns a list OF American wlalers which
have touched at the island since the irs of January
The list is incomplete detail owing to the care
lessness Of the person having The record ia charge
rus group Oh ISLANDS rs go miles west OF Vapa-
raiso, anu consists o! two chief islands AZ a con-
siderable distance apart with smaller ones attached
to each. Their name Is derived from Juan Fernandez
SpaniaTu, who discovered them in 1868 ia his vog-
aye from Lima to Vadvia. lie designed to settle
here, and applied for patent but failed to obtain
one lAe Island was much visited by the buccaneers
ia their expeditions against the Spauiards and DAM
pier describes his visit here. In 1861 MOSQUITO
Indian was left here by the ship which Damper was
In and was taken OF by him in March, 1854, having
lived three years solitarlly upon the island subs ST
ing upon the goats first introduced there by Fernan.
dez In February 1909 Captain Woods Rogers
touched here and found Alexander Selkirk who had
been left here by the ship Cinque Ports Captain
From seisirk,s NARRATION Deroe uns PREVIOUSLY;
Robinson Crusoe. In the visits above mentioned a
great number OF goats were found, but these were
reduced by the Spantards VINO introduced dogs for
the purpose OF destroying OF the prnci-
pal means OF subsistence OF the buccaneers
Of the island In 174l, when Lord Anaon with
the small remnant OF his crews OF the Centurion
dryal anu gloucester, touched here. Inc men, sur,
iering from s;"fvy aud other maladies, recovered
their health here so speedily mat ON their return
home they gave eloquent accounts OF the place
when, iensihg 10 the supposition that the English
woulC COLOMBO both Juan Fernandez and nchin In
the Chonos Archipelago. the spansrus sent out a
after almost totally destroyed by an earthquake. in
1919 chile established apenal colony here which re.
matned Until 1885, when the island was again .sart
ed The ruins Of the cells where the cnnvcs were con-
fined still remain, but are rapidly disappearing un Ter
The influence OF storms which sweep oYel the island
~ 1887 one OF the present occupants came from
Valparaiso, and he was afterwards joined by the
men anu women previously reietred to-
Tue principal islands are Juan Fernandez, COM
monty called, for distinction, ''Masa-Tierrar ana
".ias-a-Fuera." witch hes some ninety niles to the
westward. The fms IS about twelve miles LONG and
SIN broad. The higaCst parts OF tie island are in
general tnlcHiy wooded but in some places have
grassy plains u considerable extent whose lively
color contrasts agrceably with the dark foliage of
the myrtle trees which abound. The "Anyilr
is wooded nearly from its summit to
It's base from whence fertile valley exteuds to the
shore, and Is irrigated by two suealss OF excellent
water The remains OF o fort called san Juan Eau
tista YET IN tOierahle slate OF preservation ON
the rising ground about one hundred and thirty feet
above the sea az the southwest part OF the bay
looking the settlement IN the middle of the beach
are some remains OF five gun battery, and at the
northwest extremity OF the island are also remains
OF batteries, with few rusty twenty -four Founders,
half buried IN the EARTH AT the east point OF