Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-17
ROBINSON CRUsOE's HOME.
How II Looks To Day Where Defoe Got
the Material for His Story.

the Material for His story.
VALPARAISO. CHILL, May 9.-Across
the harbor of Valparaiso is an island
which possesses an interest for every one
who has been boy. Occasionally an eX-
cursion goes over from this city, and the
Englishmen, who constitute a large trac.
ton Of the population, with what few
Americans there are, 20 over to spend
day or two, and renew their youth.
1t IS the island of Juan Fernandez,
where Robinson CrusOe and bis man
Friday, who kept things tidy" had the
experience that has given the world Of
boys as much enjoyment as any that was
ever written In q book There was
Robinson CTusOc-there isn't "a doubt Of
it, and there was man Friday, too, and
tho island stands to-day exactly as it is
described in the book; but the surprising
adventures Of Mr.. Crusoe as therein re-
lated do not correspond exactly with the
local traditions of the story. As the yarn
goes here, a man Of the name OF Alexander
Selcraig, who afterward called himself
Selkrk, was put ashore by the commander
of the Spanish ship Cirque Ports as a
punishment for mutiny.
This island was n favori.e stopping
place for vessels in the South seas. as it
has good ship timber. plenty of excellent
water, abounds In fruits, goats, rabbits,
and other flesh for food. and the rocks on
the coast are covered with Holsters,
shrimps, and craytish. 1t WAS popular
resort for buccaneers also, who ran into a
well-prOtected harbOr to repair damages
and get provisions. Juan Fernandez, a
famous Spanish navigator, discovered it
in 1868, and the King of Spain gave him a
patent to the island; but as he never Oc-
cupied 1t his title lapsed. In 1909 the
ScOtchman, Selkirk or Selcraig, became
mutinous on board the Cirque Ports, and
had to choose between being hung at
the yard-arm or put ashore at Juan Fer
nandez alone. He took the latter alterna-
tive, and was left on the rocks with his
sailors kit and small supply OF provis.
ions. To his surprise, after he had been
on the island few DAYS, he found a CON-
panion in an Indian from the Mosquito
coast Of Central America, who some years
before had come down on the ship OF the
pirate Damphier, and, going ashore on a
hunting expedition, had become lost and
was abandoned by his companions. This
was the man Friday. Some years after
Selkirk and the Indian were rescued by
Capt. Rogers OF an English merchant ship
and taken TO southampton, where the
ScotchmRn told his story to Daniel DefOe,
and II got into print, with some romantic
eXaggeratiOns.
Inc Island Is accurately described, and
the visitor who is familiar with Robinson
Crusoe" can find the cave, the mountain
paths, and other haunts Of the hero with
out difficulty; but DefOe has located il in
the wrong geographical position, having
placed IL on the other side of the continent
and mixed up Monteyideo with Nalpa-
ralso. IL is about % miles long and l0miles
wide in the broadcast part, aud is covered
with beautiful hills and lovely valleys,
the highest peak reaching an elevation
OF nearly 5000 feet. hundred
years ago the Spauiards introduced
bloodhOunds 10 kill of the goats and rab-
bits and to keep the pirates away, but the
scheme didn't work. After her indepeud-
ence, in 1921, Chilli made Juan Fernan-
DEE penal colony, but 30 years after the
prisoners mutinied, slaughtered the
guards, and escaped. Then il was leased
TO a cattle company, which has now 30, 900
head of horned cattle and as many sheep
grazing upon the hills. There are 80 or 60
inhabitants, mostly ranchmen and their
families, who tend the herds and raise
vegetables Tor the Valparaiso market.
Great care has been taken TO preserve
the relics OF Alexander Selkirk's stay
upon the island, and his cave and huts
remain just as he left them. In 1868 the
officers Of the British mRn-Of-war Topaz
erected a marble tablet 10 mark the
famous lookout from which MIR. Crusoe.
like the Ancient Mariner, used to watch
FOR sail, land yet no sail from dSy 10
day" The inscription rends: