The Savannah morning news., 1900-09-30

the passing Of Fernandez ana his Spanish
rolonists the island was seldom visited
save by some ship which was pressed for
water or fresh food Ia which case q
furnished both Ia ample quantities. the
goats supplying fresh meat, the fruit
trees set out BY Fernandez giving OF their
products. while several kinds OF wild
vegetables grew IN abundance on different
parts OF the island History, however, re-
cords but few OF these visits up 10 the
beginning of the eighteenth century From
a rough survey u tho island n was set
down as being about twelve miles long by
four miles IN It's widest portion. curving
Ia northwest ana southwest direction,
with IT, highest peak at the bend OF the
curve This peak was named by Fernan-
dez 'El Yunquo" CThe AnviD. from its
close resemblance 10 that mechanical im-
Dlement
For considerable over 100 years the soil
tude VI the island was broken only By the
coming and going o. few visitors. until
IN 100 galley. named the clnque Ports
called under command OF Captain Strad-
ding. This Eridish commander was I'M
popular with his men. forty OF whom de-
serted ana He'd to the Interior OF the ISL
and. All but i've returned 60 the shin.
which sailed away. but came back four
years later. BY that time only two OF
NAR*sAih 0tAnNAAAAN NtNtNAfIt Mttt ANFNtf
the others having been carried away by
French vessel which called In the mean
time.
Alone for -Four Years.
But this seeend visit Of the Cirque Ports
was to be productive Of the great event in
Fernandez history, for while In the bay
the commander OF the galley had an ar
gument with his sailing master. one Alex
ander Seikrk who demanded that he be
given an allowance OF stores and landed
on the island. HIS request was complied
with and the galley sailed without him.
For four years and four months did Sci
kirk maintain his lonely vigil at the top
u tho islands mountain range. scanning
the sea for a sail which might come 10
end hls drearyseXile In i7A he was taken
on by the Duke. an English privateer. on
board OF which he returned 20 England.
bringing with him an extensive notebook
covering his experience during these year,
or solitude. This notebook was presented
by him 10 the novelist DefOe and on Il
the writer founded what at once became
one Of the most popular hctional works
of that and each succeeding generation.
or course Defoe used an authors latitude
in les construction. but there exists today
upon Juan Fernandez every one OF the
principle landmarks described in the chap
tiers OF Robinson Crusoe.".
Thus did Juan Fernandez become known.
But IN years which have passed since
selkirk's release there have occurred
events which would 20 much further in
the construction Of narrowing tale than
the story OF the Narrowing sailing master
These occurred during the early days Of
Chilfs independence ana while she was
struggling for her release from the Span
ish yoke.
Once n Penal Colony.
At this time. Fernandez being a eonced-
ed portion OF Chill's territory. the island
was fortified and used as a penal col~=y.
Overlooking the waters Of Cumberland
bay there az this time stood the fort cal
led San Juan Bautista with lee attendant
settlement Here was stationed a garri-
son which looked out for several hundred
prisoners who were sent 10 the island.
And during this occupancy Fernando
became an isle Of horrors. RI Yunaue's
heights look down upon the suffering OF
a few hundred wretches who for the most
part came 20 the island on their last Jour
ney. save tho crossing OF the Styx. Most
~ prisoners OF a political class. Chill de-
sired their death more than she did their
confinement ana took this method OF
ending their careers. as being more quiet
than a public or even private execution
on the mainland.
Not alone were the poor wretchs forced
into confinement on Fernandez. but
they were compelled 20 construct their
own prisons. These were deep caverns
dug from the rocky mountain sides close
by the walls OF Juan Bautista. In such
miserable places OF confinement existence
became a burden. and from these dread
fui prison caverns there arose many
prayer for the coming OF that death which
the unformnates knew 10 be the only re-
lief from their sunerings These horrors
lasted for about twenty years. when either
the necessity for condemiug humans TO
living death passed away from Chill
or even the touch Of Spanish blood which
flows through the republic was impressed
by the terrors OF the prison caves on
Juan Fernandez. AZ least the island was
abandoned as a penal colony. but was
again reoccupied In the same way during
the early 30s.
Again left to its original condition the
isle has until recently been the home OF
a handful OF unfortunate Chilenos. who
certainly failed 70 possess the means OF
leaving the desolate spo; about which
there hang 80 many tales OF suffering and
death.