Biblioteca Patagónica

(Note: Text dealing with natives is displayed with a contrasting background colour.)

CANNIBALISM.
MASSACRE ON THE COAST OF PATAGONIA.
BRITISH SAILORS SLAIN AND ONE OF THE NUMBER EATEN.

The London papers print the dispatch appended, which has been received at the Admiralty:

H.M.S. Charybdis, Sandy Point
Straits of Magellan, May 20, 1871

SIR: I do myself the honor of reporting that previous to my leaving Valparaiso in her Majesty's ship under my command, the following melancholy occurrence came to my knowledge:

The British brigantine Propontis, on her passage from Bremen to Iquique, in passing through the Straits of Magellan, touched at Port Gallant, on the Patagonian coast, on the morning of 4th of March last. On the afternoon of the same day, the master, JAMES BARNES, with three of the crew, landed for the purpose of cutting wood. Two days elapsed, and none of the party having returned to the vessel, a second boat was sent on shore to try and discover what had become of the missing men. After a short search the lifeless body of the master was found in the bush, with a large gash across the head and both legs cut off. The men were frustrated in their attempt to bring the corpse down to the boat by the threatening appearance of a party of Indians who now approached. They therefore got back to the boat and returned to their vessel. Shortly after they got on board, a boat with a number of Indians in it was seen making for the brigantine. The cable was consequently slipped and sail made for the Chilian settlement of Sandy Point, where the vessel arrived on the 9th inst. Passing through the Straits of Magellan in this ship, I thought it right to call in at Port Gallant, and therefore anchored there on the 19th inst. I shortly afterward sent an armed party on shore in the hope of getting some intelligence as to the fate of the missing men of the Propontis, but no human being was seen. Shortly after dark the same night there were heard cries from the shore. I consequently dispatched an armed force, with instructions to the Lieutenant in charge to bring on board any Indians he might meet. On the party landing, several natives were seen, but they quickly retreated into the thick bush. After a considerable chase one man was captured. In the expectation that he might throw some light on the subject of the horrible catastrophe I took the man to Sandy Point, and handed him over to the Governor, but nothing was elicited from him. His Excellency, who is fully impressed with the gravity of the case, informed me that he had already been in communication with his Government on the matter, and that he had made arrangements to send a detachment of troops from the force under his command to the neighborhood of Port Gallant, with the view of punishing the Indians. I fear there is but little doubt that the three men who accompanied Capt. BARNES shared his miserable fate. I have, &c.,
ALGERNON LYONS, Captain.

Rear-Admiral A. FARQUHAR.

P.S.— Since writing the above I have been informed by the Governor of this settlement that the Indian (a Fuegian) whom I brought with me from Port Gallant has made a statement to the following effect: Capt. BARNES and the three men belonging to the Propontis, who had landed with him, while employed in cutting wood, were set upon by a party of Fuegians, and with the hatchets with which they were armed they slaughtered all the four Europeans. A part of the body of the Captain was eaten, and the corpses of the rest of the victims thrown into the sea. The plea for the attack is that the Captain had first fired and wounded one of the Indians.