7 ms·

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

96 points by the_matrix 7y ago

thewarpaint 7y ago
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, bedding and some clothes. Selkirk immediately regretted his rashness, but Stradling refused to let him back on board. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Selkirk https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Selkirk
- londons_explore 7y ago
  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.
  - Gibbon1 7y ago
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinque_Ports_(1703_ship) 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.
  - acqq 7y ago
    > 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 https://books.google.at/books?id=IY2UnI4L6g8C&pg=PA168
celeritascelery 7y ago
It crazy that he was so confident the ship would sink he was willing to stranded, and he was right. I can hardly think of anything I am that confident in.
- ISL 7y ago
  Depends on the ship. Some ships, absent a miraculous bilge pump, are definitely going to sink.
- anonsivalley652 7y ago
  Well, if you're sure it's going to sink compared to resources and your survival skills, it's logical to choose the lesser of two weevils.
  - lostlogin 7y ago
    Is that a typo? I like it either way.
    - gumby 7y ago
      It's a joke from "Master and Commander"
      - galangalalgol 7y ago
        A man who would pun, would pick a man's pockets.
- momirlan 7y ago
  this is the story of the survivor, anyway
  - monoideism 7y ago
    Well, it's a historical fact that the ship sank soon afterwards.
anonsivalley652 7y ago
Reminds me of the LOT 5055 / Il-62 / Soloviev D-30 that AgentJayZ talked about that ended up killing 183 people because the engine manufacturer was low on supply of LP main roller bearings, and so used half as many and sometimes the wrong sizes of bearings. He took apart 5 of them and they were missing these critical components, and some of the engines even wobbled by having a couple of millimeters of play when they should be solid perpendicular to the the shaft.
- jcims 7y ago
  Will have to dig that one up. One of my favorite channels on YouTube.
dboreham 7y ago
Small world. He was born 16 miles from where I grew up.
adaisadais 7y ago
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.
- catalogia 7y ago
  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.
  - mod 7y ago
    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.
    - xxs 7y ago
      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.
      - iamthirsty 7y ago
        Doesn't really seem like ice would be abundant on a desert island.
- mod 7y ago
  I'd probably bring some kind of field manual with instructions on survival. Military, boy scout, etc. I have a decent outdoor skillset but there are many skills which I'm only aware exist, but I have never done myself (like smoking meat). I would want the advice of the manual, even if I could eventually figure it out.
pg_is_a_butt 7y ago
Did he come original?
Findeton 7y ago
I don't want to be that guy, but I can count at least two spelling mistakes: It's spelled "Colombia", not Columbia. Also, it's Daniel Defoe, not Defor.
- the_matrix 7y ago
  Thanks dude, I've fixed it.
billfruit 7y ago
Also remembering William Cooper's famous poem, 'The Solitude of Alexander Selkirk'.
nl 7y ago
It's strange, but being marooned wasn't as unusual as one might think. William Dampier (who Selkirk served with some years before being marooned)[1] had himself been marooned in the Nicobar Islands: Later that year, by agreement, Dampier and two shipmates were marooned on one of the Nicobar Islands.[2] I believe this was mostly about disagreements at sea with commanders. Many empty islands had been stocked with animals such as goats and rabbits in case of shipwreck, and would have ships call at them a few times a year for water and resupply. It does seem an odd thing to modern thinking though. [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Selkirk https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Selkirk [2] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Dampier https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Dampier
vmh1928 7y ago
It's almost a "frozen o-rings" moment.
1024core 7y ago
This looks like the island where he was marooned? https://goo.gl/maps/1TUQqWZPHsaLJmQw9 https://goo.gl/maps/1TUQqWZPHsaLJmQw9

96 points by the_matrix 7y ago

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, bedding and some clothes. Selkirk immediately regretted his rashness, but Stradling refused to let him back on board. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Selkirk https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Selkirk

londons_explore 7y ago
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.
- Gibbon1 7y ago
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinque_Ports_(1703_ship) 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.
- acqq 7y ago
  > 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 https://books.google.at/books?id=IY2UnI4L6g8C&pg=PA168

celeritascelery 7y ago

It crazy that he was so confident the ship would sink he was willing to stranded, and he was right. I can hardly think of anything I am that confident in.

ISL 7y ago
Depends on the ship. Some ships, absent a miraculous bilge pump, are definitely going to sink.
anonsivalley652 7y ago
Well, if you're sure it's going to sink compared to resources and your survival skills, it's logical to choose the lesser of two weevils.
- lostlogin 7y ago
  Is that a typo? I like it either way.
  - gumby 7y ago
    It's a joke from "Master and Commander"
    - galangalalgol 7y ago
      A man who would pun, would pick a man's pockets.
momirlan 7y ago
this is the story of the survivor, anyway
- monoideism 7y ago
  Well, it's a historical fact that the ship sank soon afterwards.

anonsivalley652 7y ago

Reminds me of the LOT 5055 / Il-62 / Soloviev D-30 that AgentJayZ talked about that ended up killing 183 people because the engine manufacturer was low on supply of LP main roller bearings, and so used half as many and sometimes the wrong sizes of bearings. He took apart 5 of them and they were missing these critical components, and some of the engines even wobbled by having a couple of millimeters of play when they should be solid perpendicular to the the shaft.

jcims 7y ago
Will have to dig that one up. One of my favorite channels on YouTube.

dboreham 7y ago

Small world. He was born 16 miles from where I grew up.

adaisadais 7y ago

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.

catalogia 7y ago
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.
- mod 7y ago
  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.
  - xxs 7y ago
    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.
    - iamthirsty 7y ago
      Doesn't really seem like ice would be abundant on a desert island.
mod 7y ago
I'd probably bring some kind of field manual with instructions on survival. Military, boy scout, etc. I have a decent outdoor skillset but there are many skills which I'm only aware exist, but I have never done myself (like smoking meat). I would want the advice of the manual, even if I could eventually figure it out.

pg_is_a_butt 7y ago

Did he come original?

Findeton 7y ago

I don't want to be that guy, but I can count at least two spelling mistakes: It's spelled "Colombia", not Columbia. Also, it's Daniel Defoe, not Defor.

the_matrix 7y ago
Thanks dude, I've fixed it.

billfruit 7y ago

Also remembering William Cooper's famous poem, 'The Solitude of Alexander Selkirk'.

nl 7y ago

It's strange, but being marooned wasn't as unusual as one might think. William Dampier (who Selkirk served with some years before being marooned)[1] had himself been marooned in the Nicobar Islands: Later that year, by agreement, Dampier and two shipmates were marooned on one of the Nicobar Islands.[2] I believe this was mostly about disagreements at sea with commanders. Many empty islands had been stocked with animals such as goats and rabbits in case of shipwreck, and would have ships call at them a few times a year for water and resupply. It does seem an odd thing to modern thinking though. [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Selkirk https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Selkirk [2] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Dampier https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Dampier

vmh1928 7y ago

It's almost a "frozen o-rings" moment.

1024core 7y ago

This looks like the island where he was marooned? https://goo.gl/maps/1TUQqWZPHsaLJmQw9 https://goo.gl/maps/1TUQqWZPHsaLJmQw9