REVOLT IN A CHILIAN PENAL SETTLEMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2006, 5 April 1878, Page 5 (Supplement)

REVOLT IN A CHILIAN PENAL SETTLEMENT.

■ (By a Correspondent of the Times, Jan. 18.) Sandy Point, Nov. 19, 1877. The settlement of Sandy Point, which has just been the scene of a fearful 1 tragedy, belongs to Chili. It is situated on the Peninsula of New Brunswick, m 1 the Strait of Magellan, towards the ' entrance of this national waterway. The place has risen rapidly m importance during the last ten years. It serves as a : coaling port for steamers passing from i ocean to ocean. The mines m the neighborhood produce a seam of coal of fair i quality, and the settlement also serves as . an entrepot for the produce of the chase . m Southern Patagonia, the Indians resorting periodically to Punta Arenas, as it is called here, to dispose of ostrich and other skins. The coast i 3 flat, and the ■ sides of the low hills are well wooded, except where the settler has burnt to i form 'a clearing. In 1875 the popula- : tion numbered over 1100, including some 180 Europeans, besides which there are 100 artillerymen stationed to guard the convicts transported from Chili. The town consisted of about 200 houses, including a Government house, barracks, , church, hospital, schools, and penitentiary. ; Scarcely a week ago this flourishing little Chilian colony was almost entirely destroyed. Happening to be on board the steamer Valparaiso, I observed with others, as we approached from the i Atlantic, that the town was apparently reduced to half its size. Captain Fowler i failed to find the lighthouse, which formed a conspicuous landmark, and as the i steamer gained har anchorage the partial destruction of the town became only too . evident. The Government houae, the hospital, and all the principal houses and traders' stores had disappeared. The captain of the port was m his boat waiting to receive the steamer. The moment our anchor went he gained the deck, and we learnt m a few words the cause ol this extraordinary scene of desolation. A mutiny had broken out among the artillerymen on the night of the llth instant ; they rose and set free the convicts, some 80 or 90 m number, and then together had pillaged and burnt the town. The Governor, Senor Duble* Almedia, came on board m a boat from the Chilian corvette Magallanes, and almost at the same time, another j boat from the United States corvette Adams brought alongside Mr Dunsmure, the English Acting Vice-Oonsul. The Governor had his head bound up and walked with difficulty, supporting himself on a stick. From him we had an interesting narrative of the course of the outbreak. During the account he gave, we were all struck with the gallantry with which he had conductedhimself, although he modestly laid Blight stress on the dangers he had confronted. He told us that he had made his rounds as usual on the night of the llth instant, and had retired to rest, when he was awakened by repeated explosions. Supposing the magazine was on fire, he dressed hurriedly and went to the alarm bell, the cord of which he pulled without effect. He then opened the door and saw m front a battery of field pieces served by the garrison. The troops had revolted. He returned to his wife and children, whom he placed m a cellar under the house. Then, disguising himself, he went out single-handed to quell the mutiny. It was remarkable that throughout the terrible scenes of violence of that night, tlie mutineers were mostly too drunk to recognise clearly what was passing ; and favored m this way, the Governor made his way across their fire towards the barracks of the National Guards, all of whom had orders to rally there at the sound of a cannon. He was too late ; the artillery had already taken possession of the place, and m answer to his challenge, refused admission to another civico, as they styled him. He learnt that the captain had been assassinated, and the other officers killed or dispersed. He tried m vain to discover who were the ringleaders, but before he could ascertain this, a glare from the square sbowed that the Government House was m flames. He rushed back and managed to extricate hia wife and seven ohildren from the

Cellar, and conveyed them to a shed near the water's edge, carrying the little ones m a blanket. Returning again to tbe square, he now learnt that a Sergeant Pozo and a Corporal Riquelme were among the leaders. The greatest confusion reigned ; the drunken mutineers i killed one another, and fired indiscriminately on men, women and children, who were trying to find safety m flight to the woods. Some were sacking the warehouses. Near the church a field-piece was being fired into the square. Senor Duble went towards it, and recognised by the light of the discharge Sergeant Pozo. Approaching the cannon he demanded to know who was m charge, to which one of the figures replied, "I am." Poiuting his revolver to his breast the Governor shot the man dead, receiving immediately a blow on the head with a ramrod, which knocked liim senseless to the ground. He was brought to by the pain caused by the cannon passing over his legs as it recoiled, and he managed to crawl round to the back of the church. While laying there he overheard a plan to seize the British steamer, due m a day or two from the Pacific, by which the mutineers were to effect their escape, carrying with them the results of the pillage. The Governor immediately determined at all hazards to attempt to reach the Magallanes, a Chilian steam corvette then engaged m surveying Skyring Water, a place some 90 miles from Punta Arenas. He set out for Cabo Negro, and managed to reach it on foot. He got horses there, and completed his journey m 23 hours, reaching the vessel at 4 a.m. on the 13th instant. The vessel had just got steam up to proceed with the surveying, when the Governor atracted attention, and was taken on board. The vessel at once steamed to Punta Arenas. In a few hours they came up with a boat containing MrDnnsmure, the English Vice-consul, and some three or four other persons. Mr Dunsmure informed them that he had seen the German steamer Memphis the day before, and had warned tlie captain, and that he was then on the look-out for the English steamer then due. As the Magallanes appeared m sight of the colony, tho mutineers decamped. The anchor was dropped at 11 a.m. on the 14th, and a few hours afterwards the Adams arrived from the east. The captain of the American vessel immediately placed a volunteer force at the disposal of the Governor, and seconded by them, the crew of the Magallanes succeeded m restoring order iv the town. Both vessels became a refuge for the poor fugitives, who had escaped so hurriedly that they had no clothes. The Memphis arrived on the 12th, but, warned on the way, her ladder was raised immediately the captain of the port stepped on it, leaving the armed men below m the boat. The latter were then made to send up their anus, and afterwards made to come on board, where they were severally pinioned. Among them was Sergeant Pozo. The artillerymen on shore fired twice on the steamer. As the Memphis stood out eastward on her way to Montevideo she sighted the Adams near Sarmiento Island, and the American corvette took the prisoners on board and steamed back with them to Punta Arenas. The Memphis continued her course, bearing a telegram to be forwarded by the consul m Montevideo to Santiago. It is said that the chief cause of the discontent was the strict discipline maintained by the captain, on whom the mutineers first wreaked their vengeance. After killing him, they mutilated his body m a most horrible manner. They intended next to kill the Governor, but, strangely, they did not recognise him beneath his disguise. The captain of the port was taken three timos into the square to be shot, but each time they spared his life, as they required his assistance to capture the steamers. There are now about fifty prisoners on board the Magallanes. The dead are said to number forty-two, and the wounded thirteen. Among the dead are several of the artillerymen. Riquelme and about ninety men, with all the plunder they could take, set out for the Pampas as soon as the Magallanes appeared m sight. Their intention was to reach Santa Cruz, but they are likely to be molested by the Indians and to be m danger of starvation. The sufferings of those who failed to effect their escape during the night when the outbreak commenced were terrible. Round the piano of one house five corpses were found, and it is said the brutal soldiery shot those who did not dance to their liking. Some of the women were carried off by the troops under Riquelme. Every sort of violence and brutality was practised by these savages. The wife of the Governor remained concealed m the woods with her children for two days, without clothing. She was found some two miles from the town. The English steamer due here from the west has not yet arrived. This fortunate delay was occasioned, we heard m Montevideo, through her machinery being out of repair. I shall therefore take my letter on to Valparaiso, where I shall learn what measures the Chilian authorities have taken so secure order and relieve distress. All the respectable inhabitants have lost heavily, and nearly all the Europeans are left houseless and destitute of food or clothing. Valpabaiso, Nov. 30. On receipt of the telegram sent via Montevideo, the Chilian authorities despatched the corvette O'Higgins, with a force of 150 picked men, provisions for 200 men for four months, and a commission to try tbe mutineers and award capital sentences without,right of appeal. The Pacific Steam Navigation Company, whose steamers call fortnightly on their way home, will also take down provisions, and will give Mr Dunsmure any Btores he requires to relieve English subjects who are starving. With the presence of the two other men-of-war now at Punta Arenas the security of life and property ia sufficiently assured. The Chilian Government ha 3 announced its intention of . discontinuing the deportation of convicts t to the settlement.