Patagonia Bookshelf

Tierra del Fuego: Of Sailors and Savages (1851—1900)
Contacts between ships and natives groups, as reported in the English-language press

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Introduction

Methodology

Conclusions

NONE [1887]

Article title	Stations at Tierra del Fuego for assisting distressed vessels	Ship	Ship, ,
Source	Grey River Argus (NZ), 12 January 1888	Date of event	1887
More info.	None	Location	Tierra del Fuego
Article	Transcript	Informant	Marine Prefecture, Argentine Republic

Abstract: The Argentine authorities issue a notification to ships' crews that they can obtain assistance at the port installation in Ushuaia, on the Beagle Channel, located close by the mission station. Additional facilities are available at Staten Island and (shortly) at Good Success Bay. The Yahgan natives in this area are helpful, and need not be feared: ships should not hesitate to seek their assistance.

Assessment: The announcement mentions that there has been a mission station at Ushuaia for 18 years (under Rev. Thomas Bridges, who resigned around this date). The reader may understand that the mission's presence has contributed to the natives' "civilisation", and to their knowledge of the English language. In prior years, the unwillingness of some captains to make contact with the natives led to unnecessary suffering and loss of life.