The sun., 1891-08-30
ROBINSON CRUSOE'S ISLE.
JUAN FERNANDEZ ASH rs.

ashore at Juan Fernandez, is to start for tho
famous Lookout from the top OF which-so
says the historian-poer Crusos used 10 watch
for sail. "and yet no sail from day 20 day"
But he is likely to be long on tho wav though
II is less than milo from the landing place.
because there are several points OF in teres' to
be viewed en- route. First. there are tho people
hundred hands to be shaken and thousand
engcr questions to be answered; for tho arrival
OF ship is by no means n m tier OF every day.
and when one does appear In the harbor. the
lonesome Islanders. old and young. troop down
TO meel her. Though voluntary OK lies in this
beautiful place whcr. nature has been lavish
sss"r 70 ssias
from tho distant world. who's. echoes como to
!hem IKE angels visits. few and far he-
prison. whose bolts ami bars are ocean bill
lows. and many modern Crusoe VOICES his
predecessors sentiments:
Oh. solitude Where are I, charms
rTha, sasrs have seen in thy tnc,'
Than rei.i in this horrible rinto, /"
There are about 100 residents on Juan Fer
men and amss ans r sons yeara rsnsn aso
the is,and was leased to rich cat company:
who have , now as many many as $1,000 head OF
foothills. Tho cottases Of the colonlsts are
mid.t OF orchards on tue side OF a hill sloping
down to the sen. and the Oppressive -il"nce Of
selklrks tims has given plnce to the blen;inG
shouts OF children AMI sounds OF human act, "
ity., The houses % ars extremely pictu es Ius;
ST hatcSnd % With M 'rsGa ,he sanc oanSGp TSsip
yon the walls and shS W as snadod nn
BY straw. matched riches. reminding one OF
Fronch .C.nadiGn cottnEes @ nr chale,s in the
clos d within a wall Of stones AMI brushwooh.
its rnslo gateway ovtrrun with luxnrnnt
and other outbuidings. all s"t up
on po"s to keep them out Of tho water, during
the heavy rains Of june, July; nnd August.
season. though short. is more trying than
no. othern ice and snow:
himsei Enthusiastically welcomed by every
soul on the island and receives lu-t as many
pressing invitations to lunch. t" dine. and 10
AS there are home. on III. island. aud |. he has
been SO thou htful as 70 bring along a Few old
ing gratitude. OF thu people, Besides ing for
their ii"cks. the settlers raise fruits anl vcGe-
tables TO Ssil to naassns vessels The soil Is
table matter md rich depo,i,s 81 burn
mount tains. Grass aud oats sp ing NJ sponta.
neously IN the oven space. and vegetables OF
s M1 an s % Tesa
bearing excellent fruit ioar, II on the slopes.
and thcre arc many natu al orchards grown
and other mar,ncrs. Besides re.chcs. anri-
cots. pears. uninces and other fruits common
"a " 'si speSIes Of palm Which pro"ces i delicious
berry-ani among an en- less variety OF in
digenou- trees are pimento lLepper. sandal-
1t npprars that L., Anson, an Englshman
has done mo, . for the Sc tlsmeut and cnltiva.
owns own it. He stopped hs.e S flrst % BY % ehnnce s' IN
the year 17il for the purpose OF recruiting his
ships after sYccsssinn e. OF disasters IN I, cir
ger he hal experience led him Establish q
sort OF recruiting station on Juan Fernando.
voted m onths to the product on he q of such
fruits and vegetables as sailors crave. aud
s4si ssSfd a. }ns1s' oss the Of s%a, sSss to that t s
iresnment. He also Isft ashore erea many
numerous. for The benefit OF vessels in distress
Tor provisions. cnstaWHys, and shipwrrcked
ns eSGr.n Ih9 oG tou
not expect to derive much personal advantage
from these benevo!snt acts; but how many
!,ath 4 hls Ga; ers ioll into the hanis Of 81:
compiled from them tho most, reliable iescrip:
ton and accurate Typographical survey OF
Jqnn Fernandez that has ever been made
here is 30 !ittlo Lowell ground 1t is asserted
that several Thousand re, pie nigh, suhsist
hanging their surplus productions wiz, pass
ns vessels for clothing aud grocer ties. The not
,hl'fy on Nah and goa: flesh. OF which, there is
IN exnaustless supply. Boat loads Of the finest
ic.. may be caught as last as they can be
,sulsd in anywh.re a1 arounh the shorrs. and
as W soat Soa and are rs
Attended BY numerou. volunteer guides
rom among the hospi able settlers. we again
way between the cir and tho lIndingt ey-
'lnr1 some remarkable looking caves in q hill
re- ali ophst st rean % Of thS onnTsi
olony established on the same spot n 1S!9.
10Th OF which were ,destroyeL the following
ear by u VIC snt earthuunke. They wers i'm.
nRabited when Gar,erSt rte ' vl-ite th. iei~nd f la
~. Ea"ihluases are frequent In th- archi-
elago, and seyernl within tho memory, OF the
amage. Nothin! remains Of the ancient fort
nut its foundation and n portion OF tho lnm-
arts q, Z emt6sdded in reddish clay and o'erGrown
The con sict colony was established as soon
3 Chill Sainet her !ndependence and -oms-
!ere. or course. after the manner Of Chlians
hey were subjected o The most barbarous
re dug into The brow Il III. bluii facing the
arbor; aud extend several hundred ieet under
II .as 9 snb
ne gates bv which the entrances wore sa-
nred Disappeared long ago. and the passages
hat have not fallen In are rre mpted BY wild
oRs. bats. toads. and csntlnsd We darei
got yenture inside. but ono who did described
hem In thes words:
Rank ferns hung upon ths sides: the walls
verheai drlpp.d with Ien,hike sweat. 81 my
dawn s sde5 the air
9ithin tho depths. penetrated by ~ o wande ring
lean from tho light OF day for hoaven never
miled upon these dreary ahrdes o sin and
orrrw. A few Of the inner dungeons for the
Torst criminals were dug Still deeuer undor
round. reached by rough stnirwa > OF eartn.
hut out. from the ,upper vauls by strong
oors. These lower dungeons were not more
han five feet long by fonr feet high. and from
heir size ono m az form some idea o! the suffer-
IONS crushed down BY impenetraols walls OF
arth. In utter darkness. s, s,arved and beaten by
hs cruel guards wit h no living soul to pity and
o hope OF rslaa.e but in death. BY tho MD OF
torch We saw dssu holes scratched In one OF
DO walls: bearing the impress of human fin:
, madness by such torturss OF mind and body
uried before the vital spark l. exiin"t
nd left tho marks Of his death aRones upon
1e walls. deep echoes breaking unon the heavy
ioan OF u maniac"
Al last. about thirty years after tho founding
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