Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-21
ROBINSON CRUsOEs IsLAND.
How 1t Looks Now, and What 1t is Used
For by It's Lessee.


Letter to Rochester Democrat.
The sun was bathing the beautiful ISL
and with a flood of golden light as we
neared its picturesque harbor. In little
boats we went ashore, and landed in the
primitive manner of running the boat
aground and pulling it up on shore. 1t is
dlIhcult to realize that we were indeed on
this historical, mysterious island that i'm
aglnatiOn had pictured from childhOod's
early hours in so many fanciful forms.
The books tell you that it was on
this lovely island that, in 1704, the cele-
DRAFTED English navigator, Dampier, land
ed his cOXswain, 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 passing ship and brought
pack 10 Europe. 1t was from the notes
he made during his solitary residence that
Daniel Defoe composed his Incompatible
work of 'RObinson CrusOe." Probably no
book ever held the childish interest with
greater fascmatiOns than that which de-
scrlbes his Wanderings on that myste-
rlous and enchanted island. That which
has always seemed but dreamy rO
nance was now before YOU. The scenes
where all the wild and wondrous expe-
riences were described are lust at
hand, and you wander on, as it were, but
Just aroused from fanciful dream. Per-
chance 1t was on this sandy beach along
which you wander that CrusOe first dis
covered the footprints of his good man
Friday.
The island is about seven Spanish
leagues IN circumference, or n trife over
twenty English miles. 1t belongs to
Chilli, and for number of years the gov
eminent used ii as place for transport
ing conNcts, till one night all the prison
ers arose in their power, killed their
keepers, and taking the only boats on the
island sailed away and never were heard
of more. Of late years the government
has leased the island to one man, who
pays something like $4,000 Il year for
Its use. This man has a small COLONY of
WOrkmen, whom he employs in cutting
timber, drying fish and goat skins and
sending them every few months in large
quantities TO the markets i'm VALPARAISO
There are to be found in the waters about
the island Holsters of a peculiar kind and
enormous in size. Some of these measure
from two to four feet in length. Every
variety of fish in the greatest
abundance seem to swarm about this
lone island. 1t is a great resort for
Whalers, who put in here for a few days
to supply themselves with fresh water and
fish, poultry and game, which they obtain
at marelOuSly low prices from the SOW
ereign 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
thousands and tens of thousands of these
are now to be found in every part of the
island. Large numbers of them are snOt
each year, and their dried skins sold in
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 excursions
to distant parts, where new beauties. new
surprises 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 well, when the sun
had all its hampers open and was pouring
out a furious heat, so intense that cur
cOlarShad lost all their dignity, and the
ladies' bangs looked as straight as
an indian maiden's tawny locks,
we came within wooded
glen, where suddenly a spring Of liv-
ing water burst from out of the mOssy
rocks. 1t was pure, clear as crystal and
of icy GOODNESS. / think / never knew
water Of so fine brand. 1t was more re-
treshing than the choicest wine There
are no roads, no paths, but you can pick
your way along by natures courses. Now
you turn sharply and you find yourself
within deep glen, where it would be no
surprise to see nymph or giant issue forth.
Here 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 shad-
ows and hang darkly 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 a pretty spot,
which sets you thinking of Chide Harold's
rOr and a bath for beauty's youngest
daughter"