Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-07-12
SELKIRK,S HOME.
The Lovely Island Where Robinson
CrusOe Dwell,
Letter to Rochester Democrat.

CFusOe dwell.
Letter to Rochester Democrat
The sun was bathing the beautiful
island with food of golden light as we
neared its picturesque harbor. In lit
tie boats we went ashore and landed in
the primitive manner of running the
boat aground and pulling the boat up
on the shore. It was difficult to realize
that we were indeed on this historical
mysterious island that imagination had
pictured from childhood's early hours
In so many fanciful forms.
The books tell you it was on this
lovely island that, in 1904, the celebrat-
ed English navigator, Dampier, landed
his coxswain, Alexander Selkirk, with
whom he had quarreled, and left him
alone on this uninhabited spot with 8
small quantity of provisions and tools.
Here he lived four years, till he was
picked up by g. passing ship and
brought back to Europe. 1t was from
the notes he made during his soil tary
residence that Daniel Defoe composed
his incompatible work of Robinsonon
Crusoe. No book, doubtless, ever held
the childish interest with greater fas-
cination than that which describes his
wanderings on this mysterious and en-
chanted island. That which had always
seemed as dreamy romance was now
before you. The scenes where all the
wild and WOnderou5 experiences were
described are Just at hand, and you
wander on as it were, but just aroused
from fanciful dream. Perchance it
was on this sandy beach along which
YOU wander that Crusoe first discover
ed the footprints of his good man Fri
day.
The island is about seven Spanish
leagues in circumference, Or trife
over twenty English miles. It belongs
to Chill, and for number of years the
Government used it IS place for trans
porting convicts; till one night all the
prisoners arose in their power, killed
their keepers, and, taking the only
boats on the island, sailed away and
were never heard of again. Of late
years the Government has leased the
island to one man, who pays something
like 81 600 q year for It's use. This
man has 3 small colony of workmen
whom he employees In cuttir timber,
drying fish and skins and sending them
every few months in large quantities
to the markets in Valparaiso. There
are to be found in the waters about the
island Holsters of 81 peculiar kind and
enormoCs In size. Some Of these meas
ure from two to four feet In length.
Every variety of fish in the greatest
abundance seem to swarm about this
lone island. It is a, great resort for
whalers, who put In here for few DAYS
to supply themselves with fresh water
and with fish, poultry and game, which
they obtain at marvelously low prices
from the sovereign ruler of the island.
Many years ago two lone, lorn goats
were brought to the island, and their
families and children have increased so
rapidly that thousands and tens of thou
sands OF these now are to be found In
every part of the island. Large num-
bers of them are shot each wear, and
their dried skins sold 10 Valparaiso are
source of large income to the lessee
of the land.
1t was necessary to live on board the
ship but each day there were excur-
sions to distant parts, where new beau.
ties, new surprises and new wonders
revealed themselves. The whole island
is fertile, with wooded hills and valleys
wherein are streams of pure and livin g
waters. One day, I rem ember well, when
the sun had all its hampers open and
was pouring out a furious heat, SO in
tense that our collars lost all their dig
ty, and the ladies' bangs looked as
straight as an Indian maiden's tawny
locks, we came within wooded glen
where suddenly q spring of living water
burst from out the NOISY rock. It was
pure, clear as crystal, and of icy cold
ness; think never knew water of so
fine brand. 1t was more refreshing
than the choicest wine. There are no
roads, no paths; but you pick your
way along by natures courses. Now
you turn sharply, and you will find
yourself again within a deep glen,
where it would be no surprise to see a
nymph or giant issue forth. Here a
stately tree filled with ripening fruit
spreads its broad branches over the
smaller trees, and close beneath it ferns
of wonderful beauty spring up; for
where the land is musical with running
streams, and great trees fling their
shadows and hang darby over brooks
whose sparkling waters give birth to
soft vapOrs, these ferns love to spring
forth-perchance to doubly reflect their
beauty In some mirroring pool. 1t was
3 pretty spot, which sets you thinking
of Childe Harold's temple on the bank
of Clitinnus-''A mirror and q bath for
beauty's youngest daughter"
r--~ss