Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-12-28
CRUSOE'S ISLAND.
Captain Slocum Stops at Juan Fernan-
DEE on His Way Around the World.

In the November instalment of his
Century articles on his "single-handed'
voyage around the world in his sloop
the Spray, Capt Joshua Slocum de-
scribes visit to the island where Alex
ander Selkirk passed five solitary
years-an island which several times,
of late years, has been reported as
sunk
The Spray being secured, the island
ers returned to the coffee and dough-
nuts, and 1 was more than flattered
when they did not slight my buns, as
the professor had done in the Strait Of
Magellan. Between buns and dough-
nuts there was little difference except
in name. Both had been fried in tai
low, which was the strong point in
both, for there was nothing on the
island fatter than a goat, and goat is
but lean beast, to make the best of
it. So with a view to business | hooked
my steelyards to the boom at once.
ready to weigh out tallow, there being
no customs officer to say, "Why do you
do sou and before the sun went down
the islanders had learned the art of
making buns and doughnuts / did not
charge high price for what sold, but
the ancient and curious coins l got in
payment, some Of them from the wreck
OF galleon sunk in the bay no one
knows when, l sold afterward to anti
quarians for more than face-value.
T 10dn II
brought away money of all denomina-
lions from the island, and nearly all
there was, so far as I could find out
Juan Fernandez, as a place of call. is
a lovely spot. The hills are we'll
wooded, the valleys fertile, and pour
ing down through many ravines are
streams of pure water. There are no
serpents on the island, and no wild
beasts other than pigs and goats, of
which | saw number, with possibly
dog or two. The people live without
the use of rum or beer of any sort
There was not police officer or a law
yer among them. The domestic econ
omy of the island was simplicity it4elf
The fashions of Paris did not affeft the
inhabitants; each dressed according to
his own taste. Although there was no
doctor, the people were all healthy
and the children were all beautiful
There were about forty-five souls on
the island all told. The adults were
mostly from the mainland of South
America. One lady there, from Chile
who made flying-jib for the Spray
4 it fa1
called a belle at Newport. Blessed
island of Juan Fernandez, Why Alex
ander Selkirk ever left you was more
than l could make out
A large ship which had arrived some
time before, on fire. had been stranded
at the head of the bay, and as the sea
smashed her to pieces on the rocks.
after the fire was drowned, the island
ers picked up the timbers and utilized
them in the construction of houses.
which naturally presented a ship-ljke
appearance. The house of the king Of
Juan Fernandez, Manuel Carroza nv
name, besides resembling the ark, wore
polished brass knocker on its only
door. which was painted green. In
front of this gorgeous entrance was a
nag mast all ataunto, and near it a
smart whale boat painted red and blue
the delight of the kings old age.
l of course made pilgrimage to the
old lookout place at the ton of the
mountain, where Selkirk spent many
days peering into the distance for the
ship which came at last. The
cave in which Selkirk dwelt while on
the island is at the head of the bav
now called Robinson Crusoe bay. 1t is
around bold headland west of the
present anchorage and landing. Ships
nave anchored there. but it affords a
very different berth. Uuan
fernandez was once a convict station.
~ number of caves in which the pris-
oners were kept damp, unwholesome
uens' are no Logger in use, and no more
prisoners are sent to the island.