The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-10-14

ITS HISTORY AND PRESENT SETTLEMENT BY
A PATTY OF GERMANS.


If there is ore spot on earth in which all
who speak the English tongue may be said
to take a common interest it is the Island of
Juan Fernandez. The favorite tale of near
ly every childhood is by most of US remem-
bered through life with grateful affection ,
and the scene of its marvellous incidents
shares in onr regard. 1t may be true that
/ the proper Robinson CTusoe's Island was not
off the coast of Chill at all. but in the mouth
of the Orinoco and it may also be true that
the continent should be called Columbia,
and not America but habit has endeared
( in both cases the existing usage so that i'm
agination takes precedence of what is or
ought to be fact, and the continent will be
/ America and Juan Fernandez Robinson Cru
soe's Island until the enc of the chapter.
As most readers are aware, this classic
corner of the earth is in latitude 80 degrees
30 minutes s.. about 400 miles off the coast
/ of Chill, and is about the size of Staten Is
land. 1t is, however, far more ruggedly
/ picturesque than that beautiful suburb. and
! boasts one mountain, Yungue, that towers
1000 feet above the sea. Around it grow
/ in luxuriant 1undance various graiuS, peach
/ eS, figs. and other fruits, together with the
sandai-wood tree and the cork and among
! these disport then seves-or did few years
| ago-many wild goats, and not few wild
horses. Excellent fish are abundant there,
! and, with the sweetest Of water and de-
licious climate, a more inviting spot can
| hardly be imagined So thought the early
buccaneers who made it resort for many
day, and so thought afterward American and
English whalers who touched there for sup
plies.
For some years the Gillian Government
disturbed the solitude of the place by making
it penal colony but the convicts rose in
revolt. there was some oloodshed, village
that had been built at Port Cumberland, the
barber, was burned, and the authorities.
after ierretting cut and putting to death the
wretches who, on completing their work of
obstruction, had fed 10 the woods, abandon
ed the Island to the goats and horses. Sub
scquently two or three wandering Chilians
found shelter there aud eked out a livelihood
that the generous soil for the most part east
ly Supplied, bv selling the passing ships
vegetables and water. In l649, when the
memorable rush was made for the gold fields
OF California, some Of the ships bound thither
round CAPE Horn touched at Juan Fernan-
dez.
They found there. besides some half score
OF Chilians, including women and children,
the mate Of an American wi aler, who, like
Shelkirk, had left lis vessel from choice to
dwell upon the Island, and who had fam
lily by one of the Chiliau women. This man
looked lot unlike the pictures Of Robinson
C:usCe"-having garments of goat skins,
long beard, and that expression Of profound
yet melancholy calm which people who live
10 htude are prone to have. lie seemed,
Notwithstanding, to be contented, and spoke
not Of leaving the place or any wish to
Jp A m ba
shore he pointed out as Robinson Crusoe's
Cave, and showed other spots identifying
them with localities spoken Of in D,foe's
story. He appeared to regard himself as
Selkirk's representative, and to take pride
IN being SO accepted.
Twenty years seem to have passed after
this without any other or more definite use
being made Of Juan Fernandez but last
winter it was ceded by the Chilian govern
ment to a company of Germans, who are led
by one Robert Wehrhan, Saxon engineer. /
He and his Society have now taken posses
sion Of the Island and purpose to make it
their home, They number some sixty or
seventy individuals, aud have taken with
them cows and other cattle, swine, fowls all
kinds of agricultural implements, with boats
and fishing apparatus, aud tools for the va
rious mechanical trades
1t is said that Wehrhan left Germany
eleven years ago, aud after passing some
time in Lngand, was engaged on railways
in South America. While there he conceived
the idea that he has now carried into effect
This is a repetition on larger scale Of the ex-
pertinent of Pitcairn's Island. without. of
course. the criminal preface that stained the
history of the crew of the Bounty. The
world will watch the career Of this little col
ony with deeply interested eyes for, apart
from the curiosity and sympathy naturally
attracted by the experiment ITSELF no more
engaging spot could have been chosen in
which to make it than that which is cher
ished in so mauy hearts as Robinson Crusoe's |
Island.-N. Y. Times, Oct. Z.