Patagonia Bookshelf
Insurrection at Magallanes (1851)
A North-American sea-captain is captured by Chilean army mutineers at Punta Arenas.
CHAPTER X.
Cambiaso's trial — His execution — His character — García — My interview with him — The officer saved by García — His wife's gratitude — Mr. Duer's kindness — Mr. Dunn — Captain Ávalos — Conclusion.
During the time that I had been occupied in endeavoring to obtain a recognition of my claims from the Chilean government, the trial of Cambiaso, García, and the other ringleaders among the rebels, had been going on at Valparaíso.
Cambiaso's trial was not public, and I was not called in during its course; consequently I could know but little of it. I attended the execution myself, painful as the sight was to me, from a strange desire which I had to see the last of men who had caused me so much suffering, and from a wish to know how they would meet their fate. Cambiaso was led out heavily ironed, and therefore little could be judged of the state of his feelings from his bearing or appearance; but he certainly showed no positive cowardice.
I have sometimes thought, in reflecting on the intercourse I had with him, and the traits of character he manifested, that he had naturally fine abilities, which, under a different training and different circumstances, might have led him through a brilliant course. He had however, a fatal vanity, which was constantly a stronger temptation to him than his principles of right were able to withstand. Much of his cruelty seemed to me to arise from a sort of bravado, and a desire to impress his followers with a great idea of his power and his courage. I came to this conclusion from noticing that his words were always more cruel than his actions, and yet that his threats did not seem to be uttered under the influence of passion; on the contrary, they were delivered in a grandiloquent manner which sometimes would have made me feel inclined to laugh, if the subjects had not generally been too serious for a joke.
His personal vanity was also very great; and, indeed, he had some excuse for it, for he was certainly a very handsome man. His dress was always very gaudy — sometimes blue, with gilt trimmings, sometimes green — always with two epaulets, and he went constantly armed. I have called him cowardly, but perhaps in that I have done him injustice. It is possible that what seemed cowardice to me, was only the workings of a sensitive conscience; and that his shunning the eye of those with whom he talked was from a sense of guilt; his punishment may have already begun in his remorse. There were certainly two or three slight indications of this during our intercourse; for instance, he was constantly promising me reparation for the wrongs he had done me, "when we should reach port," or "when general Cruz should come into power;" and after each new crime he seemed to harden himself against the recollection of it by some drunken frolic with the men, or some unusual display. I cannot forget that my situation made it almost impossible for me to judge him with impartiality; and how difficult it is in any situation for one man to judge of the temptations of another, or of what may be urged in his excuse.
Cambiaso had a wife living near Ancud, but I was told that she was not a woman of good character, and that he had separated from her. I hope he had no children to inherit the disgrace attached to his name.
García was not acquitted by the court martial, on the ground of his being compelled to follow Cambiaso from fear of his life, and in consideration of various acts of humanity which he had performed, and which were repeated by the rebels themselves, but held for a second trial. After his first trial, I called upon him, and found his sister with him. She was evidently a lady, and I understood that his family were among the most respectable in Valparaíso. He received me very politely — even kindly and congratulated me on my escape; at the same time thanking me for some kindnesses which I had been able to show him during his imprisonment on the Florida.
While I was in Valparaíso, I saw (in his prison,) the officer whose life was spared through García's interference. He was obliged to have his second trial, and as his wife visited him daily, he asked me to come and see him again, saying that she wanted to thank me for my sympathy on the night that he was condemned by Cambiaso. These marks of gratitude for slight favors made me feel that no men are so far wrong that some good feeling does not often show itself, when occasion calls it out; and that the saying which I have heard somewhere, that "the difference between the best good man and the worst bad man in this world is not nearly so great in the eyes of God as it is in our eyes," is perhaps very true.
In this narrative, I have endeavored to speak impartially of every one whom I have had occasion to mention; and in cases where I have had occasion to record wrongs done to me, I have endeavored to give only a plain, straightforward narrative of facts, without allowing my own feelings to bias me more than must needs be.
In regard to the salvage question, I cannot but feel that I have been treated unjustly, both by the Chilean government and by the British officers at Valparaíso; but I have endeavored to state the facts as they occurred, leaving the judgment of the case with my countrymen. I am glad to take occasion here to thank Mr. Duer, not only for the assistance which he rendered me, in the way of his office, but for the kindness and sympathy which I received from him; for the ready interest which he showed in my affairs; and for the activity with which he followed up my claims.
There are those to whom the reading of this narrative will bring great pain, because it will bring vividly before their minds the sad fate of a dear relative. I refer to the friends of Mr. Shaw. To them I can only offer my deep sympathy, and the assurance that Mr. Shaw was to me not simply a companion, but a deeply valued friend, and that my grief for him was lasting and deep.
To Mr. Dunn and captain Ávalos I render my thanks for supporting me in maintaining my authority on the Florida, and for the kindness which they showed me after I reached Valparaíso.
Last of all, let me render thanks to that Providence which has rescued me from so many and such great dangers, and restored me to my family and friends, when I had so much reason to despair of ever meeting them again.
I have given this narrative to the public from the thought that my adventures and escapes would not be without their interest to my countrymen; and that the plain, unpretending narrative of a sea-faring man from their own shores, would show to landsmen what they sometimes suffer who "go down to the sea in ships."