The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-12-08

States-Its Wild Cattle and MrIes
and Its Enormous Turtles. Rohir-
son Cruso's Island, Where Chile Is
Now Building a Model Convict
settlement: How Daniel Defot,
Wan Islands Which Have Produced
u Billion Dollars Worth of Fertili-
zcr-The GuanO Deposits and How |
the Peruvian Government viii
RenOvatc Them.
Copyrighted, 1914. by Frank G.
Carpenter.)
Valparaiso. Chile, Dec. CT d;ned
the other night on Holsters caught On
ander Selkirk, the real Robinson
Cruso, was cast away. They were
large, tender n juicy, and I doubt
if better can De found in the world
Robinson Crusoe's island is becoln-
ing a great fishing grounds. 1t has
tine cod in its waters, and it is noted
for its Holsters and other shellfsh.
1t has also a large Chilean fishing
colony, and the Japanese. who are or
ganizing a~fshing industry in north
ern Chile, are considering the exploit
tation Of hat territory.
RobinsOn Crusoe's Island is known
on the maps as Juan Fernandez. 1t
belongs to Chile, and it lies about 400
miles west Of this port Of Valparaiso
and $500 miles south of the Panama
Canal. 1t is reached by government
steamers, which go there to supply
the colony at certain times of the
year. and 1t is ruled by officers of the
Chilean government. During nay
stay here / have met men who know
the island well.
They describe it as a paradise. 1t
has plenty OF rain and is covered with
a luxuriant vegetation. 1t Is affected
by the antarctic current, which keeps
1t perpetually cool, and the northern
half on which the rains fall is cover
ed with green.
The island is only twelve miles long
by seven miles wide. 1t consists Of a
great mass Of rocks rising out Of the
ocean to q height of more than four
thousand feet. 1t is made up OF hills
and mountains with many avines and
short valleya The most Of h shores
are inaccessible, but At Cumberland
Bay there IL an excellent landing
place. Behind this is a settlement of
cottages, and huts made OF cane
waited with straw. Tho houses have
gardens about them. and at n time
there a. an attempt to start . stock
to have had AZ many as $4,000 cattle
and an equal number of sheep. In
time. however, his business fell of
and the cattle ran Wild. The island
now has wild sheep, Wild goats and
wild mules, and h animals thrive
without human care. The grass is
excellent and covers every open spot
on the northern side of the island
There are wild oats on some OF the
hills and also wild vegetables There
are wild fruits which have repro
duced themselves from the tree:
planted by Alexander Selkirk, ant
from the same source there are WIG
m hna0
Robinson Crusoe dried for raisins.
Alexander Selkirk was h hero o.
Defoe's story and the real Robinson
Crusoe. He was cast away on tnf
island more thar 200 years ago, an
there is q monument to him.. CONSIST
ing Of marble tablet set in the rock
on one of the higher parts Of the Is
land. The place is known as ROBIN
son Crusoe's Lookout, and 1t Is Wher'
he is supposed to have Kept Watcn
fires burning to attract h attention
OF any ship that might pass: IN
monument was erected IN lSIo =
photograph of it. The Inscription
reads as follows:
ALEXANDER SELKIRK. MARINE
A native Of Largo. in the County 0
Fyfe, Scotland, who lived on this is
idEu, HI SOlAtuOC, AOU 49,
n four months.
He was landed from the "C1nqn
Ports galley, So tons. Is guns. A. 1
1904, and was taken off in the Duke
privateer 18th. of February, 1iO9.
He died Lieutenant of H. M. :
Weymouth" A. d. 1928, aged :
years.
This tablet is erected near Selklrk'
Lookout by Commodore Powell
n the officers of H. M. S.
Topaz" A D.. 1858. f.
Alexander Selkirk was rescued I
1109. just a little more than ~
years ago. He went to London an
there met Defoe. who had many tall
with him and therefrom got the lae
and background Of his story. IN
work Robinson Crusoe" was publish
ed ten a later. 1t ran throug
four editions in as many months an
was the big seller Of it's time. IT
one OF the biggest sellers OF toda.
md - ~a-Hc 18th thu Pthto and Jon