The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-07
A LITTLE PARADISE.
The Island Where Robinson Crusoe Was
Monarch of All He Surveyed.

Monarch of All He Surveyed.
Correspondence Rochester Democrat.
The sun was bathing the beautiful island
with flood of golden light as we neared its
picturesque harbor. In little boats we went
ashore and landed in primitive manner of
running the boat aground and pulling it up
on the shore. 1t was difficult to realize that
we were, indeed, on this historical mysteri-
GUS island that imagination had pictured
from childhood early hours in so many fam
ciful forms. The books tell you that 1t was
on this lovely island that, in 1904, the cele-
brated English navigator Dampier, landed
his boatswain, Alexander Selkirk, with
whom he had quarreled, and left him
alone on this uninhabited spot with a small
quantity of provisions and TOOLS Here he
lived four years till he was picked up by a
passing ship and brought back to Europe 1t
was from the notes he made during his
solitary residence that Daniel Defoe composd
his incompatible work of Robinson Cru
Soc" No book doubtless ever held the
childish interest with a greater fascination
than that which describes his wanderings
on this mysterious and enchanted island.
That which had always seemed but a dreamy
romance was now before you. The scenes
where all the wild and wondrous experien-
ces were described are just at hand, and you
wander on as it were but lust aroused from
fanciful dream. Perchance it was on this
sandy beach among which you wander that
Crusoe first discovered the footprints of his
good man Friday
The island is about seven Spanish leagues
in circumference, or a trihe over twenty En-
glish miles. 1t belongs to Chill, and for a
number of years the government used it as a
place for transporting convicts, till one night
all the prisoners rose in their power, killed
their keepers, and, taking the only boats on
the island, sailed away, and were never heard
OF more. OF late years the government has
leased the island to one man, who pays some
l, f,,, 10
has small colony of workmen drying fish
and goatskins, and sending them every few
months in large quantities to the market in
Valparaiso There are to be found in the
waters about the island Holsters OF Il peculiar
kind and enormous in size Some OF these
measure from two to four feet in length.
Every variety OF fish in the great
est abundance seem to swarm
about this lone island. 1t is q
great resort for whaers, who put in here for
few days TO supply themselves with fresh
water and with fish, poultry and game, which
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 to-day thou
sands and tens of thousands OF these now are
to be found in every part of the island. Large
numbers of them are shot each year, and
their dried SKINS sold in Valparaiso, are a
source OF large income to the lessee OF the
land.
1t was necessary to I've on board the ship
but each day there were excursions to dis
tant parts, where new beauties, new sur
prses and new wonders revealed themselves.
The whole island is fertile with wooded hills
and valleys, wherein are springs of pure and
living water. One day, | remember we'll.
when the sun had all its hampers open and
was pouring out furious heat, so intense
that our collars had lost all their
dignity, and the ladies' bangs looked
as straight as an Indian maiden's tawny
locks we came within a wooded glen where
suddenly spring of living water burst from
out the messy rock. 1t was pure, clear as
crystal, and of icy GOODNESS. l 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 find yourself again
within a deep glen, where it would be no
surprise to see nymph or giant issue forth.
Here stately tree filed with ripening fruit
spreads its good branches over the smaller
trees, and close beneath it ferns of wonder
full beauty spring up; for where the land is
musical with running streams, and great
trees fling their shadows and hang darkly
birth to soft vapors, these ferns love to spring
forth-perchance to doubly reflect their
beauty in some mirroring pool. 1t was a
pretty spot, which sets you thinking of
Childe Harold's temple on the bank of CHI
tinnus-'A mirror and a bath for beauty's
youngest daughter"