Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-10-13
A Self=Isolated CruSoe.

an CEDROS ISLAND, $50 miles south
" of San Diego, off the coast of Lower
California, a man Is living the life OF
Robinson Crusoe and he likes it SO much
that he won't come home. He Is DR..
F. @. Powers, of San Diego. He was
sent down to the island to retain pos
session of it in the name of mining
company claiming a concession upon
il. The life was pleasant to him, and
after some months spent there he con-
sented to remain. His mother dsslr-
ing to go down to the island, the lonely
man consented to have her do SO, and
they have been there ever since, ap-
parently without desire to see civ
ilization. They are heard from occa-
sionally through the visits Of passing
schooners, and the report from the
island invariably is that "Dr. Powers
and his mother are well and happy
and don't care to leave the island"
It is now almost four years since the
couple chose that lonely spot for a
home. The lonesomeness, they say,
soon passed away. DR.. Powers, 1t must
be confessed, has a streak of laziness
in his make up.
IL take it easy" he told the skipper
Of the schooner Alta. II have plenty
of time on my hands, but am not idle
as much as you would think. There is
wood to get for mother, helping her
with the housework, the killing of
goat occasionally, the catching of fish,
the repairs to our house, and SO on. /
ramble over the island and get speci-
mems of plants and flowers and trees
and pick up mineral specimens, too.
We have books to read and nature to
contemplate. 1t is the ideal Life"
Judging from this 1t may be con-
icctured that DIR. Powers is somewhat
of philosopher, as well as well-edu-
Gated man. The chances are that he is
a natural philosopher-every lazy man
is said to be. Perhaps he is right. At
any rate, he declines every offer to
transport him back to civilization, and
his mother says that she, too, Is per-
fectly contented.
Some months ago schooner was
wrecked on the mainland opposite
Ccdros island, and three of the crew,
jumping into small boat, rowed and
sailed to Cedros, where they were
cared for by DR.. Powers and his moth
er. The men were more dead than
alive when they staggered from the
boat upon the beach. They had been
without water for two days and with
out food for four days. One of the men
was i'll for six weeks. The others,
hardy Swedes, rapidly recovered. A
schooner going up from the guano
islands TO San Diego stopped for water,
and one of the Swedes and the sick man
eagerly took passage for home. The
third man, known as Suffering Pete.
refused to leave the island. In the
few weeks he had been there q spell
had been woven around him by DIR.
Powers that was too strong to break.
While the sight of said in the offing
brought thrill of happiness to his
heart, the chains of Robinson CruSoe's
life pleased him still better. He saw
the sail fade away on the horizon with
out much regret. From that day to
this Suffering Pete. from all that can
be learned. Is as happy n castnway an
was ever seen. He and DR.. Powers are
companions and enjoy their long walks
over the island. They hunt goats on
the PERCEPTIONS sides of the mountains
and seek out the strange growths to
be found in the mossy canons and on
the higher hills.
DR.. Powers Is more fortunate than
Crusoe in one respect, and that is, hc
has communication with the main
land, infrequent though II be. A coast
ing steamer calls at the island about
every six weeks and leaves provisions
for the islanders, A store of illustrat-
ed papers and magazines, books and
other reading matter ia also left, Thus
the trio live In comfort.
when we were there last week"
said the purser of this steamer. "Dr.
Powers rowed out to see US. He rarely
visits our vessel. prefering to remain
on the island. He has O fierce black
beard. and his hair IL very long. but
otherwise his appearance is civilized.
He has none of the wild light that is
seen In the eyes of men who have been
| east away or marooned to starve. such
re in the crew of the Minna o
when we picked them up at Black War
rior lagoon. DIR. Powers Is very quiet,
| however, and seems to grow more re-
firing and taciturn every time we 60
10 the island. He replies to questions
| pleasantly enough, but volunteers NO
| Information.
81 was curious to know il he kept a
garden to supply himself and his moth
er with fresh vegetables. No. he said.
he didn't bother with keeping gar
den, They had canned vegetables. and
| when cooked nicely they were just as
| good ns fresh. Now the fact IL that
DR.. Powers is too lazy to hoe In q
garden. He might have very nice
patch Of green things growing. There
Is plenty Of water that could be d.
verted for irrigation, and the warm
climate would make vegetables grow
amazingly. But he prefers TO climb
the hills with Suffering Pete, killing
| goats. When our steamer was sailing
away we saw DR.. Powers and Pete
| start out for walk along the beach
hunting for mussels.
| "I have not seen Mrs. Powers for
| some months. The last time | saw her
was when ! went ashore to see the
| home of the couple. 1t was a little
| cabin that had been built by the min
4 ip~ cnptnauy for fbe ri N o nd nj