The Washington times., 1922-04-02

W. Inc ~evo ana StoSAAoe "nSsS
Crusos Lived.
KToRE than three hundred miles OF
M the South American coast in the
Pacific Ocean is the lone little
island where Robinson Crusoe was cast
away. On this lonesome island Of Juan
Fernandez Alexander Selkirk lived for
four years and four months, and 1t was
the narrative Of his experiences which the
great novelist, De Foe, made into his en-
during masterpiece, Robinson Crusoe."
When the Pacific Steam Navigation
Company's ship Ebro steamed into New
York Harbor the other day the civilized
world received the first news which has
come from Crusoe's island In many years.
The Ebro had visited the island of Juan
Fernandez and the passengers had had an
opportunity to see Robinson Crusoe's
cave and "The Lookout" on the hill where
Crusoe, through his spy-glass, watched the
cannibals, and the passengers strolled
along the same beach where Robinson
Crusoe discovered the footprint on the
sand and. later on, single-handed, broke
up cannibal feast and rescued his faith
full man Friday.
The Ebro had broken the forty years
silence that brooded over Robinson Cru
soes island.
1--WE have been to the land of boyhood
enchantment," said the captain Of the
Ebro. I'VE have lived over a day with
Robinson Crusoe. 1t has been the feature
of my life as a mariner" .."
This was the first news from Robinson
Ebro carried an excursion Of 240 people
from Valparaiso to Juan Fernandez, and
they remained on the island for five days.
Many passengers crossed South America
to make the trip 20 the island. The Ebro
was the first steamship to reach that
isolated spot since 1879.
Wireless heralded its approach and
every native was on the beach. No In
dian ever looked with widereyed surprise
on the caravals of Columbus than did the
natives of Juan Fernandez on the good
ship Ebro. They had never seen an
ocean-going steamer before. and never
dreamed to glimpse a vessel so large
outside the pages Of picture book.
The Ebro made the island in the even
ing Soon she was a blaze of light from
stem to stern. And the ships band
charmed the people with tunes they had
never heard. Excited natives raced the
beach In their midst was an official fig
ure Of man who appeared to be calming
them. Night shut down and Captain Dun
can waited for the dawn, but in the dark
ness ftful blazes could be seen on the
beach, indicating that some Of the natives
we're camped there for the night-like the
cannibal bonfires Of old Crusoe's day.
The channel of Cumberland Bay,
which the Ebro intended to enter, is not
safe to attempt at night. But at day
break boat was sent ahead to make
soundings and discover IL the Ebro had
sufficient sea room to negotiate the chan
mel. Captain Duncan had no chart. He
had to rely for his knowledge Of the har-
Dor on local fishermen. Even they could
not insure the safety Of so large a craft.
but finally a safe anchorage was made.
The Poo Bah" Of the island-for there
was a real POO Bah" "there-welcomed the
officers Of the Ebro and the excursionists
in his official capacity OF Captain Of the
Port, Customs Inspector and Health Oni-
Ger. Nobody thought of work that day.
The entlre pOpulauOn, men, WOMEN anu
children, attired in festal garb, crowded
the shore. To many Of these simple peo-
pie living on the shore Of the sea, and
sustained by 1t, the coming OF the Ebro
was the greatest event In their lives.
A loudthroated shout rent the air. In
the distance on the hillside lonely figure
could be defined. He was dressed in the
skin Of goats and carried an umbrella Of
the same material. An old-fashioned mus
ket rested on his shoulder; two pistols
hung at his belt and a great broadsword
without scabbard swung from his side.
Then another figure appeared and another
"a dog and q colored man.
Robinson Crusoe, his faithful man Fri
day and his good dog had come back to
life!
In a clap-trap boat these motley natives
impersonating Robinson Crusoe and his
man Friday made their way to the Ebro
and welcomed all on shore, where the
passengers were promised the sight Of the
very places that De Foe described.
At the landing Senator Henrique Eau
nitu Prieto, of Chile, made a speech. and
Mr.. Vaughn. British Minister to Chile, and
Mr.. McCloud, the British Consul General,
also addressed the natives.