Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-08-26
"V6le OF Paradise" Shaken

Through this section runs the svenida
Brasil. the main thoroughfare, which is
split by a middle band of cemented bou-
levard. ornameuted by fountains and
statuary.
The portion Of the city on either side
of the avenue. popularity known as the
Aimendral district, contains the finest
mansions OF the wealthy people, the thea
tiers and the cathedrals. On feast days
and Sundays the beautiful Victoria plaza
located In the center OF the Almendral, Is
always thronged with promenaders. The
fine residence OF Sonora Juana Ross de
Edwards, one OF the philanthropic women
Of Valparaiso, overlooks this plaza on the
right
Here also are located the Victoria thea
ter and the church OF Esplritu Santo. Near
the Bella Vista railroad station, at the
end OF the Almendral, stood the old cathe-
oral De la MERGED. the parochiai church
of the Twelve Apostles. the odeon theater
and the Museum OF Natural History.
The cerros. OF cliffs behind the lower
city. made accessible by the inclined rail-
roads. had lately been made the sites of
many beautiful residences and summer
villas. The Cerro Conception and Cerro
Allegro were particularly the chosen spots
OF the elite.
Vlna del Mar. suburb FIVE miles from
Valparaiso, was the Trouville OF all Chile
Situated in tho midst Of the mountains in
a natural garden spot. this little town was
made the gathering place for all the elect
OF Chilean society every summer Here
the legation people from Santiago made
their summer homes. and here the wealthy
folk OF Valparaiso came TO take the wat
he M h.
summer with promenade concerts dances
and gaming.
Il Crusoe's Island Destroyed
One report from the stricken region is
that the historic island OF Juan Fernandez
better known as Robinson Crusoe's
island" was destroyed by the earthquake.
Juan Fernandez is, or was 400 miles on
the Chilean coast. The island belonged
Chile. But once Alexander selkirk. a
Scotch seaman was its sole inhabitant.
II was Alexander seIlkirk's story that
formed the basis Of De Foes immortal
romance. Robinson Crusoe"
De Foe. as everybody knows, picked UP
the island OF Juan Fernandez, carried Il
across the Andes and plunl1ed Il down into
the Caribbean sea, OF the coast of Guinea.
But Selkirl lived on the island just where
IL was when last Thursdays earthquake
found IT,
1t was in 17o4 that Alexander selkirk, the
Scotch seaman, was cast away here and re-
manned four years before he was picked up
by British ship and taken back to his
own country. Many are the experiences
which the island has undergone since then.
In the early part Of this century II was
used for time as q convict settlement
and in the walls of the cliff are to be
fosind hundreds OF dungeons hewn by the
prisoners themselves in the heart Of the
rock. But the distance from the mainland
as well as the dificulty OF keeping the gar.
rison provisioned and recruited led to sew.
eral outbreaks q the prisoners, in which
they massacred the warden and troops
The Chilean government decided to aban.
don Juan Fernandez as a convict settle
ment.
1t was not until 1878 that the island was
again Inhabited. Then It was leased for a
term Of years by q Swiss partrician named
Baron Won Rodt. He had served in the