The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-09-19
Robinson Crusoe.

Juan Fernandez is about ten miles long,
three or four in width, and is $50 miles
from the mainland It's history has been
most popular one. Discovered in 1903
by the Spaniard from whom it takes its
name, it presented sufficient attractions to
induce him to apply for patent and per-
mission 10 settle there. The request being
refused, it came to be employed as a rem
devious tor various lawiess characters
Smugglers sought refuge there, bucca-
neers and pirates made it their hiding
place and headquarters. and English ad-
Yenturers-not on Il much higher level of
morality-stopped there to rest and recruit
until favorable time arrived for sweep
ing down on the Western coast to pillage
and plumber. The principal means of sub
Sistance being the flesh of wild goats, the
Niceroy OF Peru caused a large number Of
dogs to be introduced on the island; the
majority of the goats were hunted down
and killed, and Il period OF peace seems to
have followed.
In 1851 a Mosquito Indian was left there
living solitary tor three years. and then
removed. In l1U4 Alexander Selkirk was
landed from Il Spani>h galley, and remain
ed there alone until he was succored in
100. 1t is to his story, rs told by himself
To Driuc. that we owe ''nebinson Crllsop. >
perhaps the most widely known of all the
works OF fiction in all ages. 1t does not it
il true, adhere to Selkirk's narrative and,
indeed, the story rs written by Deloe.
would place its hero ON an island in the
Atlantic, NOT far from the equator. Prob
ably Tobugo corresponds more closely
than any other TO the description eivcn
it WAS, however, from Sclkirk that Detoc
first received the stmulou5 to undertake,
and the ground work upon which tn base
the tale which has made them both inf
nllely more famous than they would have
been if Dctoc had simply transcribed and
published Selklrk' 5 account. In l1li Lord
Arson landed on Juan Fernandez with
the remnant ct the crews OF three vessels
The scnryy WAS making lrightul havoc
among them, hut the fresh food and mild
climate Of the island restored them all to
health, and they went away to sing its
praise. In 11Jl a Spanish settlement WAS
started there, bat was soon DESTROYED by
the great earthquake, and for Il number
"f years subsequently The island was only
transiently and irregularly inhabited In
1919 Il penal colony was established there
ny the Chilean government, but the pr's-
oners growing too numerous rose on the
troops and overpowered them. The cX-
pense of maintaining a military force
strong enough to quell such instructions
was found to be so great that the island
was again abandoned to solitude.
We had expected to find Il German set
Element there, but on going on shore we
were met by an Intelligent Chleno. who
% i,L rJ.o ;,,fo
ed us that the island is at present leased
from the Chilean government by a gentle
man residing in Valparaiso. There are
but twelve people in all now living there,
whose occupation is the cultivation of the
soil and the care Of the livestock, which
consists of some fine cattle and Il few
fowls.
The wild goats were said to be as nu-
merous rs ever, but the dogs had been
hunted and killed in their turn until there
was but one poor solitary individual left
on the island. Beef, vegetables, and fresh
milk are sold to vessels stopping for sup
plies, and especially to American whalers.
who are the chief customers During the
twenty-tonr hours of ur stay there, every
thing was done in the way of collecting
that was possble-fishes, crabs, shrimps
and Holsters of various genera being OBJ
tanned from the bay, few birds from the
hills, and variety of mollusca along the
shore. A shark of the family acanthias
was harpooned by one of the officers from
the stern OF the vessel and was dissected
and preserved. The whole island seemed
TO us distinctly volcanic, the rocks con-
sisting OF basaltic green stone and trap and
covered with scoriaceOus lava. the de-
composition of which has produced mod
erately fertile, but loose and crumbling
soil. The botany was found to be Of great
interest, and resembled that of Chill much
more than was thought probable from
prevailing winds and currents. We sub
sequently discovered, on more carefully
comparing specimens, that it was only
resemblance, and there were very few
cases of identity of the species. The dark
foliage of the myrtle predominatcs on the
hillside, but fig, peach. cherry. apple and
other fruit trees are found in abundance,
and palms flourish on the SUBMITS, though
they do not descend into the valleys. Wild
oats, wild radishes. strawberry Elants.
mint, tree-ferns, lichens, and moss were
also seen in great abundance, and parish
Tic vegetation seems to possess luxuri-
ance almost tropical. High up on one of
the hills bronze plate was found fasten-
ed in the rocky wall of mountain path,
and bearing the following inscription:
''In Memory of
ALEXANDER SELKIRK.
Mariner.
A native OF Laego, in the county of
Fife, Scotland, who lived on this island
in complete solitude for four years and
four months. lie was landed from the
Clinque Ports, galley of ninety-six tons
and sixteen guns, in 1901, and was taken