Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-21


one + verv respectfully declined.
THE T,AsT PIG-CO1nNG GOAT.
We are to have our last pig to-day, and
exnact we viii have to have goat from
Juan Fernandez next Sunday.
IN PoRTzJtAN FERNANDEz.
JUAN FERNANpEZ, Feb. 25.-Weli, at
last we are once more al ahcIor: FRIDAY
morning, just fifteen days IRON honolulu,
we cot in here, and found what we least ex-
pected: an English man -oi-War, tire ''Scyl-
la" She had been here week and came
last from Valparaiso. we learned from
her that the world was still driving on and
that we were not at war with anybody.
We had rather boisterous week Of it
and ? GOOD deal Of rain. We saw what is
considered down here very rare sight: the
sea covered with a phosphoreseenee,a beau
tjful sight. We were going about eight or
nine knots, and as the huge waves were
dashed back. as we dashed through them,
they appeared as livid flames and our wake
for miles away was long, broad stream of
fire. This was a fOreruLner Of stormy
winds, which followed, and have since con-
tinued.
WHALING.
One morning we sighted two whalers,
one with his boats down, after whale.
The other had just caught whale and was
cutting it up.
THE ROCK OF AGES, PROBABLY.
In the same watch we sighted Masafuera,
an island lying ninety-two miles west of this.
We passed very close to it and came on. 1t
is not inhabited and stands perpendicular
precipice all around.
A COMPLIMENT.
In few minutes after we anchored here
a boat came alongside from the English
man 10 present his compliments, and to in
quire how we were and who we were.
Before we got to anchor they fired salute
which we returned. They also sent over
a goat and some fish.
JUAN FERNANDEZ.
There are only twelve people alive on the
island, some of whom are Spaniards. They
have few cattle and some sheep. There
is a large number of wild goats on the island
which can be hunted. But it is difficult to
get near them. Indeed, the island where
Crusoe held forth does not pre-
sent very inviting appearance. 1t is about
twelve miles long aud three or four wide
and over the whole of it you cannot find
fifty square feet that are level, and it is
steep. All precipice but in few
places. Lying where we are we can look
up for hundreds of feet.
sPoRTsMEE.
The fellows have been fishing and hunt
ing ever since we come. You can catch
the fish literallyIas fast as you can pull them
in. Some fellows went to point Of rocks
near by and got boat full of big fish in an
hour or two, so we furnished fish to all the
officers messes. Some OF the officers went
bunting and killed two goats, but only got
one because it was too steep and they
could not get up. The other kicked him
self over the pIecipice and fell about three
hundred feet into the water, and they pick
ed him up with the boat.
GOAT HUNTNG-ROBINsON CRUsOE'S
CAVE.
The best way to hunt them is to take a
boat and 90 around and shoot them off the
lodges.
unfortunately took a chill the day we
got in and although am pretty well again
Git has been raining most of the time since
we came) l could not 60 ashore with the
party that went to visit Robinson CruSoe's
cave. They brought me stones and sticks
from there and as we are going to leave to-
| will have 20 be satisfied with
them. The following inscription is on
brass tablet erected on Selkirk's lookout:
IN MEMORY
OF
ALEXANDER SELKIRH, Mariner,
Who was landed on this island by the
"Cinque Ports" galley, in 1904, and taken
away by the "Duke," privateer, in 1708,
having been four years and four months in
solitude. He was born at Largo,
county Fife, Scotland, and died a Lieuten-
ant IN II. 3. M. ship weymouth" in 1923,
AGED Al.
This tablet is erected by Commodore
Powell, of II. B. NJ, ship "Topaz," in 1868,
On the ledge known as
"Selkirk's Lookout"
Juan Fernandez.
HIGH-TONED.
1 was sent to the Englishman, on duty,
and was received in "big" style. They
manned the side and piped Inc over the
3ide and made such fuss, must confess
[ was a little surprised. 1t amused me to
ention to a representative Of the nation
not many years ago he did not think
much of.
RETROSPECTIVE.
Tomorrow is my birth day, and as
ook back over the whole OF twenty-four
years l feel l am growing old and anti
Iuated; and l am afraid have not made
.he best use of my time that l could.
MONDAY, Feb. 26.-I had morning watch
Today and have got to 90 ashore after all. We
let some men go ashore yesterday and one
Of them did not come back. We saw him
On the shore this morning and was sent
10 bring him off. When be saw me coming
be took to the hills. l landed and started
in pursuit, taking one of the men out of
the boat. l finally came on him hid in
bush. He ran, and | after him. The man
| bad sent around the other way headed
him off and we caught him. He declared
be would not go, so l had to drag him, for
the other man, being his friend, did not
help me much. The fellow was awfsl hard
to manage, but l got him into the boat
finally and held him down until l got out
into deep water, so he could not jump over
board aud get ashore.
TARGET PRACTICE-AT SEA AGAIN.
We had target practice nearly all day or
until about half past two, when we got I'M
derway. As soon as we got outside it came
on dead calm, and the prospect Of getting
into Valparaiso is slow.
VALPARAISO.
VALPARAISO, Feb. give safely an
chored here yesterday and at last are at rest,
and hope for few weeks. The first thing
we did was to salute and then send for the
mail. The next move will be a visit to the
Governor.
May be We were not ravenous to get
some fresh beef and vegetables when we
got in. We are just in time. All sorts of
vegetables are in the market, and peaches,
pears, watermelons, cantelOpes, etc. can
fancy what a delicacy they would be to
you all in what must now be the depth Of
winter.
We expect to stay here about three weeks
and then 90 to Callao. We did not go to
Talcanwanna because the ''Scylla" told US
it was not worth while doing so.
THOMAS s. PLUNKETT.
Real Estate Transfers.
The following transactions in real estate
were recorded at the office of the County
q IL