The Settlement of Juan Fernandez.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 8, 29 December 1869, Page 7

The Settlement of Juan Fernandez.

The following hit of information will he of interest all the world over :—-At a distance of less than a three days' voyage from Valparaiso, in Chili, and nearly in the same latitude as this important port, on the western coast of South America, is the island of Juan Fernandez, where once upon a time Alexander Selkirk gathered the material for Defoe’s “ Robinson Onn soo” during a solitary banishment of four years. This island, little thought of by the inhabitants of the Chilian coastland, has lately become of some interest by the fact that in December 18GS, it was ceded to a society of Germans, under the guidance of Robert Wchrhan, an engineer from Saxony, Germany, for the purpose of colonization. Wehrh.in left Germany eleven years since, passed several years in England, served as a major in the war of the republic against secession, and was subsequently engaged as an engineer with the Ceropaseo Rail, in South America. Ho and his society (about sixty or seventy individuals) have taken possession of the island, which is described as being a most fertile and lovely spot. They found there countless herds of goats, some thirty halfwild horses, and sixty donkeys—the latter animals proving to be exceedingly shy. They brought with them cows, swine, numerous fowls, and all the various kinds of agricultural implements, with boats and Jisbing apparatus, to engage in different pursuits and occupations. The grotto, made famous as Robinson’s abode, situated in a spacious valley covered with wild turnips (a very desirable food for swine), has been assigned to the hopeful young Chilian gentleman to whom the care qf the porcine part of the society’s stock, has been entrusted, and he and ids prol&jei are doll i]g very well ip their new quarter "