New buildings will be put up as soon as possible; the work on them will be begun without delay. This time, however, they will be built of brick or stone, and not of wood.
Many of our friends have asked us whether Robinson's Crusoe's Island had really been swallowed up by the sea, according to the report which was given out, and which we mentioned on pages 243 and 290 of THE GREAT ROUND WORLD.
To make absolutely sure of the matter, we wrote to Mr. James Dobbs, United States Consul at Valparaiso, Chile.
He has sent us a very kind letter, which we copy for you here, and with the letter a picture of one of the ports of the island (see frontispiece).
You will be glad to know that the report was not true, and that Crusoe's Island still rises out of the sea, just as it did in Crusoe's day.
CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, VALPARAISO, CHILE, May 7, 1897.
Your letter of March 17th was received by last mail, and I take pleasure in replying that there is not the slightest foundation for the report that the Island of Juan Fernandez has been swallowed up by the sea. During the month of April President Errázuriz and his staff made a trip of inspection on one of the Chilean men-of-war to the island, and spent several days there. A passenger steamer also made regular trips back and forth from this city during the past summer (our winter), and the excursionists, upon returning, have invariably expressed their enjoyment of the trip. You may depend Robinson Crusoe's old home remains intact, and still inhabited by goats. I enclose you a copy of the English paper here, containing a cut of one of the little ports of the island, photographed by Spencer & Co., of this city. Thanking you for the two copies of THE GREAT ROUND WORLD, I am,
Very truly yours, JAMES M. DOBBS, United States Consul.
The latest news from Miles City tells us that the two hundred Indians are still off the Reservation, and that those who remain under Government control are unruly and hard to manage.
Settlers continue to bring their families into the city for protection. The Indians are reported to be riding all over the country in small parties, destroying everything in their line of march.
So far there has been no bloodshed, but the settlers fear that there will be if they attempt to check the work of destruction.