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311 years ago, Alexander Selkirk was rescued on a desert island

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Re: 311 years ago, Alexander Selkirk was rescued on a desert island

#21

Post by londons_explore »

thewarpaint wrote: post #6

The Wikipedia article tells a slightly different story: > Selkirk had grave concerns about the seaworthiness of their vessel, and wanted to make the necessary repairs before going any farther. He declared that he would rather stay on Juan Fernández than continue in a dangerously leaky ship. Stradling took him up on the offer and landed Selkirk on the island with a musket, a hatchet, a knife, a cooking pot, a Bible, b…

If the ship later sank, do we have any other source for this story?

For all we know, Selkirk was chucked off the ship for being a thief, the ship later sank, and Selkirk made up the story to not reveal he was a thief.

Re: 311 years ago, Alexander Selkirk was rescued on a desert island

#23

Post by alasdair_ »

adaisadais wrote: post #12

This is such an incredible story. This dude was a BA buccaneer and accomplished sailor. He had one book with him: The Bible. If you were allowed one book on a deserted island what book would you bring and why? I’m taking the ESV Study Bible. Massive book with loads of commentary. Regardless of one’s beliefs it would be a phenomenal thing to concur.

> If you were allowed one book on a deserted island what book would you bring and why?

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, of course.

Re: 311 years ago, Alexander Selkirk was rescued on a desert island

#24

Post by alasdair_ »

monoideism wrote: post #10
momirlan wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

this is the story of the survivor, anyway

Well, it's a historical fact that the ship sank soon afterwards.

After which, the “survivor” can claim anything he wishes without dispute.

Re: 311 years ago, Alexander Selkirk was rescued on a desert island

#25

Post by Gibbon1 »

londons_explore wrote: post #21
thewarpaint wrote: post #6

The Wikipedia article tells a slightly different story: > Selkirk had grave concerns about the seaworthiness of their vessel, and wanted to make the necessary repairs before going any farther. He declared that he would rather stay on Juan Fernández than continue in a dangerously leaky ship. Stradling took him up on the offer and landed Selkirk on the island with a musket, a hatchet, a knife, a cooking pot, a Bible, b…

If the ship later sank, do we have any other source for this story? For all we know, Selkirk was chucked off the ship for being a thief, the ship later sank, and Selkirk made up the story to not reveal he was a thief.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinque_Ports_(1703_ship)

Says at least some of the crew survived and Selkirk gave a deposition in the resulting lawsuit between the ships owners and the captain.

Re: 311 years ago, Alexander Selkirk was rescued on a desert island

#27

Post by acqq »

londons_explore wrote: post #21
thewarpaint wrote: post #6

The Wikipedia article tells a slightly different story: > Selkirk had grave concerns about the seaworthiness of their vessel, and wanted to make the necessary repairs before going any farther. He declared that he would rather stay on Juan Fernández than continue in a dangerously leaky ship. Stradling took him up on the offer and landed Selkirk on the island with a musket, a hatchet, a knife, a cooking pot, a Bible, b…

If the ship later sank, do we have any other source for this story? For all we know, Selkirk was chucked off the ship for being a thief, the ship later sank, and Selkirk made up the story to not reveal he was a thief.

> For all we know

No, much more is known than what is casually assumed in this sentence. Unfortunately the sentence turns out to be just "for all londons_explore knows" but surely not "for all it is known from the survived texts."

And what is known is written in the very Wikipedia article which thewarpaint linked and which "londons_explore" obviously didn't read:

"Cinque Ports did indeed later founder off the coast of what is now Colombia. Stradling and some of his crew survived the loss of their ship but were forced to surrender to the Spanish. The survivors were taken to Lima, Peru, where they endured a harsh imprisonment.[16]"

Wikipedia also cites the source, the article from 1713:

Steele, Richard (3 December 1713). "Alexander Selkirk, an Account of His Living Alone Above Four Years in a Desolate Island". The Englishman. 1 (26): 168–173.

Also the link to the online readable form of the article, as it was printed in 1714, more than 300 years ago:

https://books.google.at/books?id=IY2UnI4L6g8C&pg=PA168

Re: 311 years ago, Alexander Selkirk was rescued on a desert island

#28

Post by xxs »

mod wrote: post #20
catalogia wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd bring the thickest book I could get my hands on. The paper would make good tinder if I managed to keep it dry.

For what it's worth, tinder is easy to come by in most environments. Also in those days, you would likely try to never make another fire, and instead keep yours going. Somewhat true today as well, as firelighting tools are all consumables. Some may light thousands of fires, but still would fail to eventually.

All you need is a lens given a bright day. I used to ignite paper as a kid. It should be possible to use ice as well but it has to be properly shaped and the water to be clear.

Re: 311 years ago, Alexander Selkirk was rescued on a desert island

#29

Post by iamthirsty »

xxs wrote: post #28
mod wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For what it's worth, tinder is easy to come by in most environments. Also in those days, you would likely try to never make another fire, and instead keep yours going. Somewhat true today as well, as firelighting tools are all consumables. Some may light thousands of fires, but still would fail to eventually.

All you need is a lens given a bright day. I used to ignite paper as a kid. It should be possible to use ice as well but it has to be properly shaped and the water to be clear.

Doesn't really seem like ice would be abundant on a desert island.
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