The Washington times., 1908-02-16

Rear Admiral Robley D, Evah9, com
handing the largest fleet OF var ships
that ever put to sea in a grorp under
one nag, when he reaches Callao, Peru,
will receive orders from Washington
to detach a vessel from his command
and send II in search of Frederick
Jeffs. a castaway American sailor, who
is believed TO be leading the life OF
modern Robinson Crusoe on an un-
inhabited island in TIE Galapagos group
of the coast OF Ecuador.
Ia Nav last Jeffs was left on the
island beach by his shipmatesS who had
10 lded there after abandoning the Nor
ygegian bark Alexandra not far from
tho Galapagos. The sufferings Of the
entire crew had been so acute from
hunger and privations for long time
that 1t was a case of each man Tor
himself and as Jeffs was TOO weak
then to continue the journey to the
interior. he was left TO his fate, what
ever that may have BEEN
An the other members of the ship
company were found and subsequently
landed in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where
ne story OF the unfortunate cruise OF
the Alexandra was told; but never since
the unhappy day when Jeffs was aban-
doned on the desolate beach Of the far
of isle has any word been received OF
HIM.
Whether his bones are bleaching on
the tropical sands, or whe her he -
living a life of solitary luxury amid
bananas and palms and goats. as did
De Foe's famous creation, is Of course
altogether a matter of speculation.
However. the United States officials
have gufhcIent confidence in the latter
theory TO order the expedition TO de-
termine the question
Frederick Jeffs is the son OF cloth
ing merchant in Tacoma Wash. he
has a sister, Mrs. Henry G. Claridge.
living in South Norwaiks Conn
Bark Becalmed for Months.
The young sailors troubles, which
eventually led TO his present isolation,
began when he joined the 1,6Oo-ton bark
Alexandra. flying the colors Of Norway.
| The vessel sailed on her last voyage
from Newcastle. New South wales. on
| November %, 1906, for Panama with a
! crew Of twenty-one men, all told. She
was commanded by Captain Petersen
/ a Norwegian navigator OF SIKH and
| courage She carried cargo or L4o
tons of coal in her iron hull.
For nearly six months the staneh yes
| sci dragged her course, experiencing
/ long Gains in the tropics. with only
| occasional breezes that would till her
/ great spread of canvas and drive her
ahead until she was in the neighDor-
hood CT the Galapagos. which lie near
the equator, between the parallels OF
So and % west longitude.
| Provisions had run extremely and
dangerously low, and the supply CT
water had become so bracktsh that the
burning thirst Of the men could only
] be assuaged during the tropical rains,
/ when a sufficient quantity fell TO last
/ few days
on deck were three ships pets a dog
and two cats. What fowl had been
/ taken on p ard at sailing time had long
since BEEN devoured. To make three
/ less mouths TO feed the trio of ship s
mascots were thrown overheard.
Crew Takes to Boats.
on May S, the 1s3d day cut from New
castle, when twenty-five miles on Alber-
marie Island, on the western edge OF
/ the Galapagos group. the Alexandra
/ was abandoned
There were two boats. Eleven men
embarked in one and ten in the other
after dividing the remnant OF the de-
pIeted stock OF provisions Captain
! Petersen knew il was useless to, OF
worse than fatal, 10 wait for the wave
rusted bark to drift to the islands. al
though he had hoped she would get into
the Humboldt current and take the
shore Of the Galapagos thing that
afterward came 10 pass.
The captain told the mate they would
try to make AIbemarle Island, which,
hF said. teemed with wild cattle. orig1-
lralIy left there by the Government OF
! Ecuador; also with wild dOnkeys, sheep
and turtles. But the whimsical eddies
and the capricious off-shore breezes
from the isles bothered them. The boats
became separated, and only the mates
boat. with eleven men, landed on Abe
marie Island.
After ~the shippers failure to fetch
AIbemarle he decided to drift, if posi-
Bile, upon Charles Island. one OF he
southernnost of the cluster. In Post
Office Bay, on this island, is The mos,