Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-15
BattlsshIp Fleet 10 Look In GaIape.
gas Islands for Him.
cAsTAHAY FOR SEVERAL YEARS
Task of Finding the Lost Sailor
WIN be Full of serIIs as Navigation
Around the Islands is Extremely
Dangerous.

WASHINGTON. d. c.. Feb. AZ
rear Admiral Evans will be asked by
inc navy department to send Il vol
nnteer expedition from the fleet to the
unhBerollS channels OF the Galapagos
Islands 10 rescue shipwrecked
American citizen who IL reported cast
away on one OF the groups. A des-
patch from Robert b. Jones, American
Vice Consul Mt Guayaquil. Ecuador,
says that an American named Fred
erick Jens has been for come time
shipwrecked. unable 10 get in COM
inunication with the outer world. His
existence and some of the clrcum-
stances OF his case have reached the
ears OF the vice consul from some
Ecuadorenn fishermen.
The misfortunes of Jeffs and the
story OF his plight have been confirm
! I'd by despatch from a Norwegian
/ vessel to Jeffs sister. in Norwalk,
Conn. saying TINT Jeffs was on a
Norwegian vessel wrecked last fall.
All others on the vessel were saved
ny a relief expedition sent out FROM
'mnyaquil. but .Iefrs. being on the
other end of tho island, could not I'D
located and the expedition left with
'ht hiI.
After receipt OF the message today
the navy department said 1t would
arrange with Rear Admiral Evans to
| send Il relief expedition to the Gala
pages. which Is almost In n direct
line with tho route of the feet from
Cailao to Magdalena Bay. as soon as
The department could get In touch
with him.
The plan suggested by naval off,
GERS as the best one to be followed by
ADMIRAL Evans Is TO send one OF the
! supply ships of the fleet to some Mace
OF landing In the group OF islands and
then by means of small boats and
volunteers attempt to locate Jeffs.
That the attempt ut rescue Will be
perilous Ia admitted by all officers
who are familiar with these waters
rs the currents are strong and the
waters dangerous and unsurveyed.
Throughout the entire region of
more than four thousand miles only
one small lighthouse has been erect
ed, which lights for only radius of
four miles. This Is on the island of
san Crlstobal and does not light the
most perilous passages. The largest
OF the islands Is Albermarie, next in
size coming Indefatigable. Chatham.
James. Charles. Marlborough Hood.
harrington and Barlos Jeffs Is said
to be located on Indafatigable. which
Is practically uninhnbited as more
than half OF the four hundred inhabl-
tants of the group live on Charles Ia
land. where n small colony OF Euro
pean fishermen has been established
AT the navy department the chart
OF the Galapagos shows little except
Ing the names OF the islands and such
notes as current strong" current
very strong and numerous black
crosses. each indicating the wreck Of
some seagoing craft which attempted
| to pass through the channels or was
blown up against the reefs by the
heavy seas.
There Is no expectation that the
fleet Will be delayed. The supply
ship sent will be able to attend to
the matter. although the hattleship
Kentucky might remain in the vicln-
ity until the man Is rescued.
The navy department expects to re-
ceive some message from Rear Ad-
miral Evans tomorrow. II Is expected