The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-27

VI MlG u Juan Fernan nue.
v--.-.~ Beaugencey offered piiI .e
20 the graduate who wouiu VIZ" ~
the best description Of the isianu' Ans s
competition was among ten inehiDeIS u
The graduating class, but after eXamin-
ing the merits OF the compositions the
captain awarded the prize 70 Cadet victor
Vergara. n son OF Senior Juan de mos
Vereara. n prominent lawyer or Naipa-
raise. .n.oo
On the evening OF July 1st the Abtao
left the harb0r Of Valparaiso the COURSE
being set for the famous isiand OF juan
Fernando. TO the children OF al ma
,,ore tbrouoh the medium Of Defoe's
Immortal history OF the marooned sea
man. Alexander Selkirk, called in the
work Of Robinson Crusoe, the ISLANDS are
known wherever a civilized tongue IS
spoken. The trials and trlbulations OF
Defoes imaginary hero form suoJecVs
for long discussions among the chiidteh
The world over, and the perusal or the
vivid and pleasing narrative has an at
traction for persons OF mature age
The island Of Juan Fernandez, the scene
where the imaginary story Of Crusoe Is
laid. is known by the name OF MaS-a-
Tierra nearest TO the land from It's
proximity TO the coast Of Chill. ms
name Is given 10 the island to distinguish
Il from another small island known as
I'll
one hundred miles in a westerly dlrecuOn'
10 the Spanish navigator Juan Fernan-
dez the two islands owe their nomen-
clature.
Nas-a-Terra is the only island in
habited at the present time. Situated AZ
q distance Of $50 miles west from Nalpa-
raise, Mas-a-Tierra rises from the ocean
In the guise Of an advanced sentry or
the continent. The discovery Of these
Al. .fffA IN n torres
trial phenomena that aids the navigator
In his voyages across the oceans-the
trade winds Juan Fernandez i'm dis
covering these islands beCt me aware OF
the utility Of these winds that up to
the period Of his voyage along the coast
OF the southern continent had been
ignored.
1t was I'm the middle Of the sixteenth
century that the discovery Of the Incas'
empire had attracted southwark a horde
OF Spanish adventures. some Of war
Ike and fiery character. others more in
Clned 20 win over the people Of the
strange countries by religious persuasion.
Almagro's expedition toward the ter
ritories now known as the Republic Of
Chilli was conducted by both land and sea.
J}ut the Indians. or rather Araucanians.
who lived i'm Chill were warlike and
hardy race and much Spanish blood was
was effected
1t became a serious question TO the
Niceroy Of Peru as to the manner in
which communication could be maintain
ed between his northern government and
the newly acquired territory. For two
reasons this communication had 10 be
maintained. Chilli, then as now, produced
food stuns required in the north, while
the natives, restless and turbulent, were
constantly raiding the properties Of the
Spanish settlers and making frantic and
heroic efforts TO regain their liberty
Their hefoism and warlike character
served as the theme for the epic
poem written by the eminent Spanish
writer. Ercilla. in his composition known
as La Araucania."
Obstacles to the maintenance Of land
route were varied. The desert lands Of
Atacama, the hostile bands OF natives,
and the almost insurmountable Cordil-
leras Of the Andes. all combined to make
q land passage impossible. Navigation
on the other hand was fraught with
many disasters The directions OF the
currents and winds were barely known,
ships dare not venture out of sight Of
the coast. and a voyage from Callao.
the port Of Lima. I'm Peru. toward Out
riquina Bay or Talcahuano occupied about
six months Supplies by vessel some
times arrived safely, but until the ships
returned in sight of the beach at Callao.
no one INDUCED in the belief that they
would ever reach their destination. Other
and certain means to reach the require
ments of the case and In more practi-
cable manner were urgently needed.
Among the companions Of Pizarro
there came 10 Peru Spanish pilot named
Juan Fernandez Born in Andalusia
Fernandez possessed the clear and pene-
tratlng character and lively disposition
that distinguishes the people Of the old
Spanish province but withal his his
torian states, his career was marked by
exhibitions Of a cruel and malicious
temper. George, John and Anthony de
Uiloa were companions OF Fernandez
IN his sea voyages and the quartet had
agreed 10 stand by each other in such
good or bad luck as might fall to their
lot In the new lands. Fernandez was
among the first who navigated the coasts
or Chill and Peru, and with the observing
powers of sailor he soon discovered
py the heavy westerly swells that their
origin could only be accounted for by
the presence Of winds in the same quarter.
Taking advantage of these observations,
leaving the port Of Talcahuano for Callao
on his nrSt return voyage, he made the
passage in fourteen days from port to
port. Incredulous and unbelieving mari
herS doubted the statements OF Fer
pdhueS ana ne was openly denounced aS
n sorcerer in league with the devil, but
many followed his advice relative to
the route to be sailed and made passages
In rapid time. Fernandez on his second
voyage from Callao discovered In 1853 the
Islands that now bear his name. and His
Most Catholic Majesty of Spain granted
by royal decree the new found lands to
the mariner and his heirs forever
Returning 10 Callao Fernandez took his
family. a number OF cattle and several
persons to his grant planting the new
colony on Mas-a-Tierra, and after a
while on Mas-a-FueTa. He remained on
the islands until 1852. and then abandon
cd them, after ceding his rights TO one
Juan Fernandez Rebolledo. The new oc-
cupant handed the title 10 the islands to
the Jesuits, who gave the control TO
their provincial head at Santiago de
Chill. Father Rosales, noted as being
the historian Of Chill at the time Of the
conquest Fathers OF the mission work.
cd and cultivated the islands until the
year 1864, but owing 10 the uncertain COM
munication maintained between the
Islands and the main land they abandoned
their settlements to the tender mercies OF
pirates.
In 1915 lie Marie and Schonten. two
commanders OF piraucal craft sailed
IRON the Texel for the South Seas. In
the La Ninta Horne, lie Marie discov-
ered the straits now bearing his lame
ana cape Horn, so-called from the YES.
sells name, was also discovered.
westerly winds brought the vessels to