The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-02-18

Inc man VINO JnlukS ne OWLS WudJ
is probably the most widely read
about weapon in the world is in town,
says the New York Times. Thou {
sands of boys who have read of
Robinson Crusoe's gun will doubtless
be interested in him AS everybody
knows, the real Robinson Crusoe was
Alexander Selkirk, and the gun he is
supposed to have carried has that
name carved on one side of it's stock
as if done with large knife. On
the other side of the stock is similarly
carved Anna R. 1701."
The "R" stands for Queen, but
Queen Anne did not come to the
throne until 1902, so it has been
thought since the discovery of the gun
in section of the London slums that
it may not be genuine. The British
Museum made an investigation, and
finally decided that the gun was prob
ably that of the famous Scotch buc-
cancer. The owner of the gun is
positive it is the one Crusoe had with
him on his island. He is Randolph
Berens, of IA Princes Gardens, South
Kensington, London, who is here on
his way to Florida.
In his youth, Berens, like other boys
in England, longed fer Crusoe's treas
ure chest, drinking cup, gun and
desert island. He went to the British
Museum and there saw the drinking
cup, made of cocoanut, and the sea-
mans chest with which he was put
ashore from Captain Standings treas
ure hunting vessel. But the gun, he
was told by the museum authorities,
had been lost. Many years later the
gun came into Berenss hands, and re-
Fcently he read in the Sunday Times
about the uncrowned monarchs of lit
tie island kingdoms, who have furnish
ed inspiration to novelists ever since
Defoe created Robinson Crusoe. Mr..
Berens sent this telegram from the
Plaza to the Times:
Have just seen your interest
ing article on page 10 this morn
ings Times on Robinson Crusoe's
island of Juan Fernandez. / have
for ceveral years had his gun in
my London home, having acquired
it by lucky fluke. If you think
1t sufficiently interesting to care
to send a press man, l would tell
him all about it "
Mr.. Berens was found wrapped in q
dressing gown in his room.
"Ah, that fluke; yes, it was indeed
lucky for me-" he began. IF the mas
ter of the famous AshmoIean Museum
at Oxford knew about it l suppose he,
be astonished. But the fluke occur
red, and got the gun, and his poo
little porter gave it to me for 20 shil
ings and bit of a tip for himself.
1T all happened this way: l was a
Oxford one day and having an cd
half hour l took in the museum. Tn
master was away digging in Rome TO
vases, and the little porter showed
friend and myself about the rooms. A
we looked them over / complained tina
the curio stores in the town had moth
ing in them of interest. l asked hin
if there wasn't something in the tow
l could take away as a souvenir, as
was a bit of a collector on my ow
account.
Nothing, the boy answered; notf
ing; that is, unless you might be il
terested in an old gun man brough
in here recently, 1t isn't old enoug
for us
1--WE went on looking about tn
rooms, and at last got to the to
floor, Look here, my man. l said I
the porter, how about that old gu
you were speaking Off"
Here it is, he said, getting
dusty old fiintlock out of corner, an
also some knives and things that wei
with it. looked the gun over, al