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

The Wikipedia article tells a slightly different story:<p>&gt; 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.<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.m.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Alexander_Selkirk" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.m.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Alexander_Selkirk</a>

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.

It&#x27;s strange, but being marooned wasn&#x27;t as unusual as one might think.<p>William Dampier (who Selkirk served with some years before being marooned)[1] had himself been marooned in the Nicobar Islands:<p><i>Later that year, by agreement, Dampier and two shipmates were marooned on one of the Nicobar Islands.</i>[2]<p>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.<p>It does seem an odd thing to modern thinking though.<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.m.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Alexander_Selkirk" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.m.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Alexander_Selkirk</a><p>[2] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.m.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;William_Dampier" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.m.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;William_Dampier</a>

Reminds me of the LOT 5055 &#x2F; Il-62 &#x2F; 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.

I don&#x27;t want to be that guy, but I can count at least two spelling mistakes: It&#x27;s spelled &quot;Colombia&quot;, not Columbia. Also, it&#x27;s Daniel Defoe, not Defor.

This is such an incredible story. This dude was a BA buccaneer and accomplished sailor.<p>He had one book with him: The Bible.<p>If you were allowed one book on a deserted island what book would you bring and why?<p>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.

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

This looks like the island where he was marooned? <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;goo.gl&#x2F;maps&#x2F;1TUQqWZPHsaLJmQw9" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;goo.gl&#x2F;maps&#x2F;1TUQqWZPHsaLJmQw9</a>

Also remembering William Cooper&#x27;s famous poem, &#x27;The Solitude of Alexander Selkirk&#x27;.

It&#x27;s almost a &quot;frozen o-rings&quot; moment.