Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-10-11
Lived Like
Robinson CruS0e
F0r2NedrS
WAY back in August, 1910. Bartolo Garcia Vegas
\ strappng 3o-year-old- Brazilian seaman, wa


washed overheard from hurricane-tossed British
the Caribbean and the storm made it impossible
to put the ship about to rescue HIM
Fellow members Of the gave him up for lost and
the captain reaching port reported that Vegas couldn't
possibly have survived in the raging shark infested sea
That was two years ago. Today Vegas is still alive
after adventure tiny and desoate island that makes
Robinson Crusoes experiences sound like Sunday School
picnic.
Il didn't think I stood chance after was swept
overheard" Vegas explained II knew we were
Honduran coast but enough to swim for it. For
awhile kept my head above water despite the tremendous
All could think Of sharks and the futily
struggle been in the water about ten minutes
when suddenly lifted higher and higher on wave
struck something solid For confused halsecond
I wondered what had hit But remembered nothing
more until awoke several hours later with the sun
streaming my face"
The lucky Vegas washed ashore tiny islet
hae been knocked out when the huge dropped
him like sack the coral beach.
When came to- the only thing / could think of
my incredible luck Bot ideas quickly changed when
stood up and looked around The islet wasn't large
city block. Not only was it deserted but IT was
virtual desert completely barren except for occasional
clusters samphre plants There nothing else but
coral and seashes and no other and IN sight knew
the regular lanes because tanker
had been blown way the hurricane
Vegas said he sat down again in utter despair. He
had been rescued mraculousy from the only 10 be
tossed upon island to slowly starve TO death.
After sat there hour or two broodng over my
fate suddenly realized the need to get out of the baking
There shelter anywhere so lay down in the
shallow At shutdown, l explored the island in ten
minutes. There nothing and returned 10 my original
spot the beach"
Vegas night. trying figure out just what
he could do He had no food and matches, although
plenty All that the Brazilian had
the clothes his back and stout seamans knife
this tough sailor managed to live the barren island
nearly years Robinson Crusoe at least had the
luck to land where he had plenty Of foodand even
ant, his Friday"
Next morning Vegas got his first break. He found
huge turtle In flash he turned the reptile its
back and plunged his knife into the eshy part under the
shell Hungrily he dug in eating the meat
Il half way through when realized had better
I didn't know when turtle might happen
the island again. Then the thought struck newly not
for fish bait? So spent the next several
trying fashion hook but with little
When my turtle practically gone
cry agan,-luck bore with and discovered that If
wedged a small piece of turtle a crevice
formation, fish would swim into the shallow water
get II. Then would spear them with my knife. At
first many got away but after few weeks I seldom
missed"
For the next two years Vegas lived entirely fish
and turtle meat He solved the fresh water problem by
using huge seashells rain catchbasins Although he
grew gaunt thin his badly balanced diet the Brazil
ian nevertheless managed to stay alive
After I had been the island about six months
wading shallow water day and found stones
like flint pieces Of my shirt-ta samphire plants
drift wood built first fire by hitting the stones
together
a sudden tropical rain doused the fire That taught
lesson. 1 shelter of shells, sand and seaweedin
which started another which kept burning for the rest
Of my stay the island"
Month after month went by. The castaway lost all
track of time matted beard grew to his chest His
gradually out His skim under the scorching
sun, turned black.
IT had given UP all hope rescue" ne related There
enough large pieces of drftwood to make
/ didn't how far away the mainland and
afraid to go out into shark-infested waters"
Then rescue came dramatically when Vegas least
pected It, An American patrol plane, hunt for
German U-boats spotted a wisp smoke coming from
the tiny The pilot, noting the pinpont island
radioed day later ship picked up the Brazilian
Crew members reported that Vegas nearly hysterc
with Joy at the sight OF the rescue vessel