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of privateers and bucaneers... The Juan Fernandez Archipelago has always been sorrounded by much history. It was discovered in 1574 by the Portuguese pilot Joao Fernandez, who was looking for a shorter route between the ports of Callao, Peru and Valparaiso, Chile. The seaman changed his course and accidentally sighted the islands for the first time, naming them Santa Cecilia and Santa Clara. |
Between Centuries XVI and XVIII, the islands were quite visited by different explorers, pirates and privateers. These seamen would arrive to Robinson Crusoe and resupply with fresh food and pure water, and recover from the scurvy that the crew would be bearing with after cruising from one Ocean to another. Outstanding seamen that docked at Juan Fernandez include: Dutchmen Le Maire, Schouten and Roggeveen, the English Bartholomew Sharp, William Dampier, James Cook, Edward Davis, Woodes Rogers, Shelvocke, Clipperton and Lord George Anson, Admiral of the Royal British Navy. Amongst them, Alexander Selkirk stands out as the most famous, being abandoned in complete solitude in Robinsn Crusoe Island in the year 1704 and later rescued in 1709. His incredible story inspired the chronicler Daniel Defoe to write his famous novel "Robinson Crusoe" in 1719.
The islands became a perfect shelter for seamen that later set sail for Chilean coasts in search of wealth for their Crowns.
Only in 1750 did the Spanish Crown decide to colonize them. 171 colonists arrive. Construction of Santa Barbara Fort is commenced. Its first governor, Juan Navarro Santaella baptizes the settlement as "San Juan Bautista" (Saint John the Baptist). In 1779 the island was made up of 40 houses.
In those days, the shores were crowded with large colonies of the only sea mammal of the island: the Two-Haired fur seal (Arctocephalus Philippi). Since the existence of this island was revealed, seamen began to exploit their skins, fat and oils. Between 1788 and 1809, the industrial hunt for the fur seal begun. Around 74 United States, French and British hunting ships took an estimated 2,741,600 skins. It is estimated that during this time 5 million Fur seals were exterminated.
On the 2nd of October the "Disaster of Rancagua " took place. Chilean Patriots are defeated and control is once again in the hands of Spanish Royalists. A group of Patriot Noblemen are expatriated to "Másatierra" Island (Robinson Crusoe) and are obliged to live in volcanic caves. Chile declares its Independence the 12th of February of 1818 and the expatriots return to the Continent. In 1822 the Island is once again completely abandoned and solitary. Later on they would be reopened as penal colonies.
During 1893, industrial exploitation of Juan Fernandez lobster is commenced under Carlos Fonck and Co.
1915. First World War; naval combat in Cumberland Bay. The German battleship Dresden is pursued by battleships Kent, Glasgow and Orama, of the Royal British Navy. The Dresden is sunk by its own Commander Ludecke.
The 115 meter long ship now lies 70 metres deep underwater.
According to the Supreme Decree of 1935; Juan Fernandez Archipelago is declared a National Park, together with its 9,290 hectares. CONAF (National Forest Corporation) arrives to the Island in 1972 and five years later, in 1977, the Archipelago is declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
1998. North American historian, Bernard Keiser, begins to carry out archeological excavations in Puerto Ingles, his goal to discover the treasure buried in 1715 by the Spanish seaman and nobleman Juan Esteban Ubilla y Echeverría. Bernard Keiser does not desist and his search still goes on.
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Photo:
Gabriel Pérez
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