The Sufferings and Escape of Capt. Chas. H. Brown From an Awful Imprisonment by Chilian Convicts — John Shaqi
The Sufferings and Escape of Capt. Chas. H. Brown From an Awful Imprisonment by Chilian ConvictsBrown, Charles H., captain of the bark Florida
History
The Sufferings and Escape of Capt. Chas. H. Brown From an Awful Imprisonment by Chilian Convicts
Brown, Charles H., captain of the bark Florida
Brown, Charles H., captain of the bark Florida; Florida (Ship); Punta Arenas (Chile) -- History
His story was, that after the boat in which they had left the shore
on the night the Florida arrived, had drifted past our vessel, and
they had found it impossible to make us understand what they wanted,
they drifted on through the night, paddling as well as they could till
they reached the Terra del Fuego shore, soon after daylight. There
they attempted to land, but were prevented by a party of Indians, who
fired on them, and wounded one of the soldiers. The weather then being
calm, they paddled to the westward, and crossed the Straits again to
Port Famine, the former site of the colony. There they had concealed
themselves in the bushes, and for the last week had been living on
nothing but roots, and were now in a state of starvation.
All this I gathered from my guards and visitors, after I returned to
my room from my walk, in company with the mate, although we had never
expected to see it again.
CHAPTER IV.
Capture of the Governor--His execution--I am led out of my
prison--The burning of the bodies--Governor Gamero’s character--His
intercourse with the native tribes--The Priest Acuna--Arrival of H.
B. M. war steamer Virago--Mr. Dunn, the Secretary--Cambiaso plans
the capture of the steamer--He fears her force and discipline--The
officers invited on shore--No suspicions aroused--The Virago sets
sail.
On the afternoon of the day of these executions, Cambiaso sent out
two or three parties of soldiers, well armed, under one of the chief
officers, and all on horseback, with directions to take the governor
and his party, and bring them in, dead or alive. They had accurate
information of their hiding place from the traitor, and by surrounding
the bushes, and gradually beating in, they succeeded in capturing them,
and about sunset brought them in, and they were soon heavily ironed.
I heard that they were terribly emaciated, and scarcely able to stand,
from weakness, having lived for nearly a week on nothing but roots
and berries. Cambiaso ordered them to be served with a good dinner,
saying that they should go with a belly-full, and then thrust them
into the calaboose, where captain Avalos and the other prisoners were
confined. Captain Avalos told me afterwards that neither the governor
or the priest showed any signs of fear, but when he asked them if they
knew their fate, they answered coolly, “Oh, yes!” Cambiaso seemed to
intend to surround this execution with all the pomp and solemnity that
he could command. About nine, in the evening, there was a general
rush through the camp. The bugles sounded the death march, the drums
beat, the soldiers were all ordered under arms, and governor Gamero and
the priest Acuna were led out of the barracks. All was still in the
yard after they left, and in a short time I heard the report of their
death shots. They were shot under the same trees to which Mr. Shaw and
captain Talbot had been tied.
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