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.

Here is Mr. Dobbs' letter:

CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
VALPARAISO, CHILE, May 7, 1897.

EDITOR "GREAT ROUND WORLD":

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