A MODERN ROBINSON CRUSOE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 109, 8 June 1909, Page 4

A MODERN ROBINSON CRUSOE

London, April 23. Something akin to a Robinson Crusoe romance may be .behind an advertisement recently published in.a number of newspapers connected with shipping, it ran:— • Wanted, a respectable sailor who

has sailed with Captain John Benjamin Warren, late of the four-

* master barque Sitberhorn, who i&* supposed to be lost, to go to Valparaiso to identify the above-named

man. Tor particulars apply, etc. Tlii' story behind this announcement is as follows: —The Liverpool "barque "Silljerliorn," .belonging to Messrs C. D. Wolfe and Co., sailed from Newcastle, Xew South Wales,, for Jijuiijne with a cargo of coal in .lime. )!M7. She was reported subsequently oil July 10, l!) 0 7? in 405.. MOW.. since when .she has never been heard of. She was commanded by John Benjamin Warren, a Lancashire man. and had a crew of twenty-three seamen and four apprentices.

I'rom time to time rumors have come to hand a* to the .vessel having been seen at sea. At one time she was supposed to be on lire oil' the Si raits of Magellan. Al another j,he hud been sighted oil' the island of Juan Fernandez t.lie home of Uobinson Crusoe, (ireat interest was kindled hi her disappearance. The British (iovernment despatched a cruiser to search for the Silberhorn along the coast s and islands whence the reports originated, but no trace of the barque was 'found. At the end of twelve months compensation was paid to the surviving relatives of the crew under the Merchant Shipping Act. the mate's widow receiving ,11301).

By the authority of the Probate Court Captain-Warren's brother was appointed administrator of Captain John Warren's estate, which amounted to n considerable sum. It is now reported that (aptain Warren i< not dead. Relatives have, it is stated, received information which lias led them to publicly invite sailors who -have been with Captain to go to Valparaiso, and there identify him. The theory U that Captain \Vam-n was east away at sea. took to some interior locality in the wilds of Uolivia, lived there a nomadic or mining life, that he' amassed a considerable fortune, and ultimately made his way ty Valparaiso..