Insurrection at Magellan. Narrative of the Imprisonment and Escape of Cap. Chas. H. Brown, From the...

8/12/2019 Insurrection at Magellan. Narrative of the Imprisonment and Escape of Cap. Chas. H. Brown, From the Chilian Co

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1. Front gate. 2. House in which Cnmbinso and Garcia lived,8. Rooms where Mr. .Shnw and myself were first confined.4. The room I was afterwards removed to.5. Where Air. Dunn, Capt. Avalos, and others vrere confined.C. 'Where my crew were confined. 7. Gallows.8. Tree where the woman and others were shot.n. The platform. 10. riag-stafT. 11. Guns.

12. Officers' house. l.i. Cook and bake houses.14. Gate to the yard where the cattle were kept.1). Trees where Mr. Shnw, Capt. Talbot, and the passenger were ehctIG. AVherc they were burnt, with the governor.17. Where the vessels' papers were burnt.18 to 44. Houses or huts for the soldiers and prisoners.4.'i. Calaboose. 4


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BARK FLORIDA.


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INSURRECTION AT MAGELLAN.

N ARRATI YEOF THE

IMPRISONMENT AND ESCAPEOF

CAPT. CHAS. H. BROWN,FROM THE

CHI I^ I AN CONVICTSSECOND EDITION.

BOSTON:PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR,

BY GEO. C. RAND, 3 CORNHILL.MDCCCLIV.


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gElCO

PREFACE.The preface to a book is very often nothingQ more than a respectable cloak, allowed by the

conventionalities of literature, in -which an authormay wrap his excuses and apologies for troubling

l}i the public Avith his lucubrations. This dressingup of excuses in order to introduce them intonotice under another name, is a thing so temptingto poor human nature, such a pleasant little oll-erin - to self esteem and vanity, that it would bevery hard if authors were to be debarred froma luxury in which all their fellow mortals indulge.Yet, if it be true that a good wine needs nobush, it is eijually true that a good book needsno excuse ; and in this age of ready writers, itis very certain that no excuse or apology canjustify the publisliing a bad one. To apologisefor poor or careless writing, because there hasnot been time or opportunity to make it better,provokes the question, What necessity was therefor writing at all? a question not always easilyanswered.

L5ut tiiis is not an apology for my own book;it is simply a preface to the narrative of another

'v^ person, in which I can claim no part except that

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8 PREFACE.of collecting the facts from difTerent sources, ofarranging and compiling them. If in performingthis task, I have in any way come tardy olf,my excuses are due to both captain Brown andhis readers.

In writing out this account, I have labored un-der the disadvantage of being able to hold nocommunication with captain Brown, except byletters. His legal papers connected with his claimfor salvage, and his own concise narrative of hissufferings and escape, drawn up for Mr. AVebster'sinformation at the time the claim for salvage wasfirst made, were put into my hands; and hisletters from time to time have supplied me withthe details. I have, in every case where it waspossible, retained his own spirited language; butI feel that had it been possible for me to haveseen and heard him, the narrative as taken downfrom his lips might have been, not, I believe,more correct as to facts, but perhaps more graphicand life-like as to detail.

Still, I am convinced that the simple accountof his adventures, his sufferings, his unquenchablespirit, and the manner in which he sustained anddid honor to the reputation of our Americanseamen, amid dangers before which the bravestmi


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PKEFACE. 9fused almost with contumely. Had captain Brown'sdemand for salvage on the treasure rescued byhim been backed by the presence of an Americanfrigate, commanded by such a man as captainLun-aham, we should not have seen the Britishadmiral allowed to carry it off from under theeyes of the Chilian authorities, while they fearedto serve the process of detainer issued accordingto the law of the country ; nor should we haveseen an American citizen brow-beaten by an Eng-lish odicer, while in the discharge of his duty tohis owners and to the government in whose em-ploy he was sailing. An American frigate wouldhave taught captain Stewart that no orders fromthe Chilian government could give him power toseize a vessel sailing under the American flag,commanded by an American citizen.

Such outrages and such injustice to our citizenswill never occur when that can be said of theAmerican navy, which one of our own authorshas lately said so well of the British. An Eng-lish man-of-war seems to be always within oneday's sail of every where. Let political agitationbreak out in any port on the globe, if there beeven a roll of English broadcloth or a pound ofEnglish tea, to be endangered thereby, withinforty-eight hours an English steamer or frigate ispretty sure to drop anchor in the harbor with anair which seems to say, ' here I am ; does anybody want any thing of me ? ' *

* Six months in Italy. By George S. Hillard.


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10 PREFACE.Our country should be the guardian of her

children, wherever the rights of civilized societyare respected, that our citizens may be in dangerof outrage and injustice only among savages andoutlaws ; and we may be assured that in suchextremities, they will, for the most part, like cap-tain Brown, be found fully able to protect them-selves.To return to my preface or apology : in offering

this narrative to the public, let me repeat myassurance, that captain Brown is answerable onlyfor the facts ; for whatever literary defects theremay be, I alone am responsible.

E. H. APPLETON.Cincinnati,


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CONTENTS.CHAPTER I.

Valparaiso The barque Florida Chartered by the Chiliangovernment

Prisoners for convict colony put on boardCaptain Avalos and soldiers sent for protection We setsail Arrangement of the vessel 'Mi: Shaw's sicknessAttempted insurrection among the prisoners Promptconduct of Captain Avalos All quiet again We reachthe Straits of Magellan Williwaws We anchor inSandy Bay 15

CHAPTER II.Sandy Bay Colony Governor Benjamin Munoz Gamero

Insurrection of Cambiaso Forged Slessage from the Gov-ernor Landing of Captain Avalos Escape of GovernorGamero Boat sent on shore Return of the boat Cap-ture of the Florida Sir. Shaw and mj-self seized Takenon shore Our imprisonment at the barracks Privations Mr. Shaw removed 30


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12 CONTENTS.

CHAPTER III.My prison My guards An English hj-mn book A fellow

prisoner Capture of the Eliza Cornish Fears of theEnglish mate Death of Mr. Shaw Of Captain Talbotand boj' Barbarity of their execution The Chilian pris-oners sympathize with us Cambiaso's bravado CaptainAvalos and others led out to view the dead bodiesTreacherous betrayal of Governor Gamero Executionof the traitorMy walk 51

CHAPTER IV.Capture of the Governor His execution I am led out ofmy prison The burning of the bodies Governor Ga-mero's character His intercourse with the native tribes The Priest Acuna Arrival of H. B. M. war steamerVirago Mr. Dunn, the Secretary Cambiaso plans thecapture of the steamer He fears her force and discipline The officers invited on shore No suspicions aroused The Virago sets sail 71

CHAPTER V.We are better treated Captain Avalos again His priva-tions The sergeant shot Sir. Buela Cambiaso's dis-

cipline His code of laws Personal appearance HisvanityThreats of poison Improved fare The coffee


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CONTENTS. 1'8

The mato secures the E. Cornish Cambiaso andGarcia visit me I go on board tlie Florida My stew-ard 94

CHAPTER YI.Comparative comfort The American ensign Christmasday My visit to the barracks The Indian boys Cam-biaso's rage Execution of the Indian woman Thecattle slaughtered Escape of the Indians Fears of therebels Preparations for leaving The Florida re-christ-ened Interview with Cambiaso The embarking of thecoloiiists Prisoners sent to the Florida 123

CHAPTEH YII.Cambiaso's orders We set sail Wood's Bay The oldFrench ship A drunken riot The officer condemnedGarcia's interference Men deserted at Wood's Bay TheEliza Cornish left behind Storniy weather Sandy Bayagain The Lulians Cape Gregory Interview withCambiaso His promises Conversation with Mr. Dunn My determination 1 15

CHAPTER VIII.The re-taking of the vessel planned Mr. Dunn CaptainAvalos Preito The corporal Thi-ee bells The strug-

2


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14 CONTENTS.gle Cambiaso oveq^O'wered Garcia Cheers for victory The crew swear fidelity to me Our course Cambiasoput in irons His cowardice The prisoners from thehold River Gallegos Voyage round Cape Horn At-tempted outbreaks Our danger We reach San Car-los 169

CHAPTER IX.Reports of the revolt reach San Carlos American Ministeisends assistance Chilian Government despatches forcesto the Sti-aits The Virago Fears of the inhabitants ofSan Carlos I deliver the Florida to the Chilian authorities Arrival of the E. Cornish The Virago takes the pris-oners and treasure Passage to Valparaiso Protest andclaim of salvage Mr. Ducr Don Antonio Varas Injustice done me by the Chilian government The BritishAdmiral claims the treasure I protest again Compromise Don Antonio denies all claimMy claims put intcthe hands of the United States Authorities 19/

CHAPTER X.Cambiaso's trial His execution His character Garcit My interview with him The officer saved by GarciaHis wife's gi-atitude Mr. Duer's kindness Mr. Dunn Captain Avalos Conclusion 220


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INSURRECTION AT MAGELLAN.

CHAPTER I.Valparaiso The barque Florida Chartered by the Chiliangovernment Prisoners for convict colony put on boardCaptain Avalos and soldiers sent for protection We setsail An-angement of the vessel Mr. Shaw's sicknessAttempted insun-ection among tho prisoners Promptconduct of Captain Avalos All quiet again We reachthe Straits of Magellan WilliwawsWe anchor inSandy Bay.

In the latter part of October, 1851,I was at the port of Valparaiso, Chili,having command of the barque Florida,of New Orleans, of about two hundredtons burden. My orders from my own-ers were to take the Florida throughthe Straits of Magellan to Rio Janeiro,where we were to take in freight for


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16 IMPEISOXMENT AND ESCAPE OFthe United States ; and my first businesswas to secure my officers and crew.One of my owners was now at Valpa-raiso, and would accompany me on thevoyage.To a sea-faring man like myself, sucha voyage was no new thing, and Ilooked forward with some interest, hutwith no excitement, to the prospect ofmany days' tiresome battling with thewind and waves, to the annoyances ofclearing, and to the perils and laborsof a tedious navigation through theStraits. Had I known what perils andsufferings awaited me, wath what differentfeelings should I have left the beautifulcity where I had received much kind-ness and hospitality, and trusted myselfto the treacherous elements, and to menfar more treacherous than they But,happily. Providence has given to us only


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CAPT. CHARLES H, BROWN. 17

a knowledge of the present, and theblessing of hope for the future, withoutany foreshadowing of coming evil.The barque Florida was a long, low,

straight-built vessel, and a fast sailer.She had been employed formerly in sail-ing between Panama and San Francisco,conveying passengers to and fro, andwas well fitted up for that purpose, witha large cabin, extending as far forwardas her mainmast, and fourteen well fur-nished state rooms. She was alsofurnished with four brass cannon, fourpounders, and one iron swivel mountedforward. Her owners were Capt. JohnLovett, of Beverly, Mass., and his brother-in-law, Mr. Berjamin G. Shaw ; Mr.Shaw being the principal owner. Onboard of her were Mr. Shaw, the owner,and one cabin passenger, Mr. RamonBucla, belonging to New Orleans.2*^


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18 IMPRISONMENT AND ESCAPE OPThe vessel having at that time no

cargo, we were applied to by the gov-ernment of Chili, to convey certainState prisoners, charged with politicaloffences, to the penal colony establishedby that government at Sandy Bay, Straitsof Magellan. This was at the time whenthe Chilians, disaffected to the govern-ment at Santiago, had risen, underGeneral Cruz, and had seized the Prov-ince of Conception ; and the politicaloffenders whom we were to convey toSandy Bay, were, some of them, impli-cated in that rebellion.

After some consideration, Mr. Shawdetermined to accept the offer of thegovernment, and to allow it to charterthe Florida for the conveyance of theprisoners to Sandy Bay, where we wereto leave them, and proceed on ourvoyage. The authorities were to send


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CAPT. CHARLES H. BROWN. 19

with the prisoners a sufficient number oftroops to secure us against any dis-turbance during the voyage, and accor-dingly, Captain Pedro Avalos, witli acorporal and twelve soldiers were draftedon that service.On the morning of October 30, I took

command of the vessel, with the in-tention of getting her ready for sea thesame evening, that I might bo preparedto receive the prisoners, who were to bescut on board of her the same night.By hard work on my part, and plentyof pushing up my men, we were allready by night, and at eleven o'clock,P. M., the prisoners began to come onboard.Hard featured, desperate looking men,

some of them were, with the downcast,heavy look of criminals. Men wereamong them who had set law at defiance,


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20 IMPRISONMENT AND ESCAPE OFwhose hands had been against everyman, and in whose hearts the kindlyaffections had long been deadened; andI felt as I looked at their countenances,made, perhaps, more repulsive to me bythe dark, foreign cast of features whichmy early education and prejudices hadtauQ^ht me to associate with men ofdesperate fortunes, that there was noeasy task before mc. There were, how-ever, among them men of high rank,who, for having joined in one of thosepolitical struggles which so constantlyshake the South American Republics,were now condemned to a long impris-onment on the savage shores of Pata-gonia, in the society of convicts andfelons of the worst kind ; some sen-tenced for a tedious term of three years,some doomed to a life-long imprisonment.On the evening of Sunday, November


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3(1, I received a notice from CommodoreR. Simpson, acting Intendente of Val-paraiso, by the captain of the port, thatall the prisoners were now on board,the notice being accompanied by anorder for me to proceed to sea at once,without any further communication withthe shore. The Intendente evidentlyfeared the escape of some of our pris-oners, or perhaps some communication be-tween them and their political associates,The evening being calm, the sea breeze

having died away, and no appearance ofthe land breeze springing up, I askedthe captain of the port, to whom theregulation of all the shipping in theharbor belongs, for the assistance of twoboats from the Chilian man-of-war whichwas lying in the harbor at the time, totow my vessel out to sea. They w^eresent, and assisted us till midnight, when


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22 IMPRISONMENT AND ESCAPE OFa land breeze springing up, they leftus, and returned to the harbor.

I had made every preparation to in-sure order and security during thevoyage, had mounted two of the fourpounders upon the poop deck, pointingforward so as to rake the whole deck,and kept them constantly loaded. Theprisoners, about eighty in number, wereput into the hold of the vessel, andwere only allowed to come on deck forair and refreshment, in small detach-ments. A sentinel was stationed at thegangwa}', and the deck was constantlyguarded by seven soldiers and half mycrew. The crew consisted of eight menbefore the mast, part Americans andpart foreigners, first and second mate,cook, and cabin boy. Mr. Shaw, CaptainAvalos, Mr. Buela, the first and secondmates, and myself shared the cabin.


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CAPT. CHARLES H. BROWN. 23The wind continued light until the

afternoon of Monday, the 4th, when afresh breeze sprung up from the south-west, right ahead : which head windand rough sea continued through thefirst part of our voyage. Our littlevessel was a fast sailer, but with theseobstacles in our way, we made but slowprogress, and our passengers began tofeel the tcdiousncss of a sea voyage.For my part, my responsibility was tooheavy, and my avocations somewhat toonumerous, for time to hang heavily uponmy hands, for my officers were neithervery efficient or entirely to be dependedupon.My anxieties and responsibilities were

increased when we were somedays out,by the sickness of Mr. Shaw, wiio was

seized with a relapse of the Panamafever. My relation to Mr. Shaw was


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CAPT. CHARLES H. BROWN, 25

were sitting in tlie cabin, vrc werestartled by word being brought from tliesentinel at the gangway, tliat one ofthe prisoners had informed him thatthere had been a proposition among theprisoners to rise and take the vessel.

I sprang upon the deck and called upall hands, while Captain Avalos orderedup the soldiers who were not on duty.The soldiers were all under arms, andthe captain proved himself soldier-likeand efficient in any emergency ; for hisfirst order was, that in case of anydisturbance among the prisoners, the firstman that made his appearance was tobe shot down. We waited in someanxiety, but all was quiet ; then, or-derina: the soldiers and the crew toremain on their guard. Captain Avalosand myself went to the gangway andinquired into the cause of the alarm.


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26 IMPRISONMENT ANT) ESCAPE OF

It seems that the proposition to taketlic Tcssel had been made by one ofthe prisoners, one of those confined forpolitical offences. Ilis plan had prob-ably been to run the vessel into land,and join General Cruz and the revolu-tionary party in the province of Con-ception ; but few of the prisoners wereready to join him, and one of them hadfound an opportunity to communicate thedesign to the sentinel at the gangway.We had no further difficulty, and Iwas glad that this little disturbance hadoccurred, as it gave me confidence inthe promptitude and courage of my owncrew, and in the presence of mind andsoldier-like character of Captain Avalos.On the morning of November 24th, the

weather was thick and foggy, and therunning became difficult. I run tillabout eleven o'clock, and then, judging


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CAPT. CHARLES II. BROWN. 27

myself near the -western entrance of theStraits, I hove the main-top-sail aback,waiting for clear weather, so that Icould see land. At twelve, the suncame out, clear and glorious, and Ifound myself within ten miles of theentrance. Cape Pillar bearing east fromus. Mr. Shaw and myself congratulatedeach other on being near the end ofthe disagreeable part of our voyage, forthere was something repugnant to us, inthe idea of standing jailors, as it were,to men for some of whom our sym-pathies were enlisted ; for the freedomof our political institutions makes theidea of imprisonment for political offencesrepulsive to an American ; and, indeed,no free man likes to stand jailor toanother, be his offences what they may.We were, however, not so near ourdestination as we supposed, for the


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28 IMPRISONMENT AND ESCAPE OF

vrcatLcr continued very mucli againstus. I put the Tcsscl before the wind,intending that afternoon to anchor inthe harbor of Mercy, but on account ofthe thick, squally weather, I was unableto make the harbor, and ran past theentrance, which is so small that it mayeasily be overlooked. I was thereforeobliged to run all night, and as thewind was blowing fresh, and the weatherthick, I took in sail, and put her underdouble-reefed top-sails. At daylight onthe morning of the 25th, I set allsail, and during the day we had afine, pleasant breeze from the westward.In the evening, not being able to makea harbor, we hove-to, for the night, ashort distance from Cape Froward, ahigh point of land within the Straits.These high lands I had learned to dread,as from off them, and out of the valley,


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come fresh, fitful winds, called by theIndians williwaws, blowing sometimeswith such violence as to take the mastsout of vessels. These williwaws giveyou no warning, when your vessel isnear shore, and require constant watch-fulness.The morning of the 26th broke, how-

ever, with a light breeze from thewest, under favor of which I run alongthe shore until noon, when the windsuddenly canted to the northward, andblew so fresh and hard that at 3, P.M., the main-top-sail split, and wc wereobliged to reef it. At six in the af-ternoon we were glad to drop anchorin Sandy Bay, and to give notice ofour arrival by a salute of two guns,which was answered from the shore.


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CHAPTER II.Sandy Bay Colony Governor Benjamin Nnmoz Gamero

Insurrection of Cambiaso Forged Message from the Gov-ernor Landing of Captain Avalos Escape of GoveraorGamero Boat sent on shore Return of the boat Cap-ture of the Florida Mr. Shaw and myself seized Takenon shore Our imprisonment at the barracks Privations Jlr. Shaw removed.Sandy Bay Colony lies on tlie Pata-

gonian side of the Straits of Magellan,on a level spot of ground wliicli slopesdown gently towards the water on thesouth-east. The settlement bad formerlybeen made at Port Famine, at a shortdistance to the south-west of the presentcolony ; bat that situation was found tobe very bleak, the site of the buildingsbeing on a hill somewhat higher thanthe surrounding country, and exposed to


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32 IMPRISONMENT AND ESCAPE OFthe vessel, as the sun went clown, onthe evening of the 26th, there was allaround the quiet and peace of earlysummer, and the barracks shone out withthe neatness that belongs to all buildingsfor military purposes. How little didI guess the violence and mutiny thatwere going on within There had been an insurrection in the

colony about five days before, headed byone Cambiaso, second lieutenant of thetroops stationed there; who, as I learnedafterwards, had committed some offenceand been imprisoned a short time before,by the order of the governor. At hisliberation, he had declared that he wouldhave his revenge, and I have somereason to suppose that he was instigatedto seize the place by some of the po-litical oflFenders confined there, who wereadherents of General Cruz, and who still


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CAPT. CHARLES H. BEOWN. 33

held some conimunication with the revo-lutionists ill the province of Conception.Cambiaso had been joined by most ofthe convicts and prisoners. This attackon the troops had been successful, butthe governor, priest, some soldiers, andone woman, a wife of one of the sol-diers, had escaped outside of the fort,and were then hiding in the woods.Cambiaso was in i)osscssion of tlie fortwhen we anchored in the bay, but ofthis, of course, I knew nothing.Early in the evening, indeed as soon

as it was dark, a boat put off fromshore and came alongside, with five menin her. bearing a letter purporting tobe from the governor of the colony,and signed Numoz Gamero, desiring meto keep the prisoners on board untilthe next day, when I should receiveassistance from the shore, in lauding them.


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34 IMPRISONMENT AND ESCAPE OFI showed the letter to captain Avalos,who, tired of his confinement on shipboard, determined to go on shore forthe night, taking with him some twelveprisoners in the boat which had beensent from the land, and leaving the re-mainder of the prisoners and the troopsunder my charge.About twelve at night, I was aroused

by the firing of cannon from the shore,and I sprung upon deck, but I foundall quiet in the vessel. In a few mo-ments, however, the watch gave thealarm that a boat was coming near us,and crying for assistance. The windblew so very fresh that it was impos-sible to hear what was said from theboat, ( the voices being blown away fromus, ) but I conjectured that the prisonerswho were landed the evening before,and about whose security I had some


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doubts, had made their escape fromcaptain Avalos, and had probably stolena boat and were trying to get on board,where, with the assistance of the otherprisoners, they could seize the vesseland make their escape. I immediatelyordered a gun to be fired in answer to

4

those from the shore, to show that wewere on the lookout, and then had thelarboard quarter boat lowered away andsent her out with five men, armed withcutlasses, with orders to seize the shoreboat.

After being gone for a whole hour,they returned, saying that they had notbeen able to find her. Soon after, thenoise of firing from the shore ceased.In the boat were the governor, priest,some soldiers, and a woman, who hadescaped from the barracks, and, seizinga T3oat, had put off, in hopes to reach


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36 IMPRISONMENT AND ESCAPE OFme and warn me of the insurrection onshore. Having but one oar, however,and the wind blowing very fresh, theywere unable to make the vessel, butdrifted across the Straits and attemptedto land on the Terra del Fucgo side.As soon as captain Avalos reached

the barracks, he was seized, his paperstaken from him, the prisoners who landedwith him set at liberty, and himself putinto double irons and thrust into acalaboose, as the buildings for confiningthe soldiers are called. During theevening, he could hear the prisonerswhom he had brought on shore, in thefull enjoyment of a drunken frolic. Hetold me afterwards that no answer wasmade to his inquiries as to the reasonof his seizure, but that he obtainedsome idea of what was the real stateof the colony, by overhearing the con-


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inquiring somewhat too curiously of weakliuman nature, to ask if tlie prisonersfelt any thing but joy at hearing ofour fatal security. Captain Avalos andMr. Dunn ( the secretary ) told me after-wards, that during the night their guardswere cursing their tiresome watch, andwondering why Cambiaso did not shootthem at once, or burn them, withoutwaiting to know the result of the gov-ernor's escape. But Cambiaso was notso daring a villain as not always toremember the possibility of the re-takingof the fort.Early in the morning of the 27 th, I

sent ray boat on shore, with the firstmate, Mr. Buela, the passenger, (he un-derstanding Spanish, ) three seamen, andone soldier, with orders to bring oflcaptain Avalos, and to obtain from thegovernor orders with regard to the laud-


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CAPT. CHARLES U. BROWN. 39

ing of the rest of the prisoners. Thesealso were seized the moment they arrivedat the barracks, and thrust into a littlebuilding about six feet square.The firing and disturbance during the

night had roused some sense of uneasi-ness in my mind, lest all should not beright on shore ; and early in the morn-ing I had gone into tlie cabin to consultwith Mr. Shaw. He was then quiteunwell, and most anxious to reach theshore, where he supposed he would beable to obtain medical advice ; while Ihoped to laud all the prisoners duringthe day, and be able to proceed thatafternoon on our way to Rio Janeiro.We waited very anxiously, therefore,for the return of the boat, and at aboutnine o'clock she came alongside, but toray surprise, manned with six or sevenmen dressed as officers, who handed mo


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40 IMPRISONMENT AND ESCAPE OPa letter purporting to be from governorGamero, stating that my men were drunk,and not able to row the boat back tothe ship. The letter also requested meto commence landing the prisoners. Allthis seemed to me very singular. I hadnever seen any disposition to drunken-ness among my crew, and even if theseamen had been incapable of returningin the boat, the first mate and captainAvalos would have been on board ofher. I went into the cabin, and, holdingout the letter to Mr. Shaw, said De-pend upon it, there is sometliing wronghere. My men are not drunk, and ifthey are, where are Mr. P n andcaptain Avalos? While I was speaking,a voice was heard on deck, the cabindoor was burst open, and four, of theofficers rushed in, two of them withdrawn swords. Mr. Shaw, who was


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sitting down, Avas seized at once. Oneof the officers struck at me with hissword, but his arm was caught by oneof the prisoners, who rushed betweenus. In a few minutes I was secured,in spite of my struggles, and we weretold that we were prisoners. I asked towhom, and by Avhose authority we weretaken, but to this I received no answer.We were carried on deck, and I foundthat the prisoners had been freed. Thestruggle with the troops and the crewwas still going on, but as the prisonersrushed up from the hold, it becameevery moment more unequal. The pris-oners being unarmed, wrested the gunsfrom the hands of the soldiers, andoverpowered them by force of numbers.As I came on deck, the corporal calledout that he would not give up his gununless I ordered him to, for it seems

4*


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42 IMPRISONMENT AND ESCAPE OFthe guns had at first been demanded ofthe soldiers by the officers who camefrom the shore, and in the confusionsome of tlicm had given them up. Asthe corporal called to me, three of theofficers threw themselves upon him, andafter a long struggle he was disarmed,and put in irons. The whole attackwas so unexpected, the rush of theprisoners from the hold so overwhelming,and the confusion so great, that I donot wonder that the soldiers and crewwere overpowered.

Preparations were soon made for send-ing Mr. Shaw and myself on shore, anda sufficient guard was detached to ac-company us in the boat. While rowingto the shore, our captors were contin-ually firing off their muskets, with shoutsof Viva la Cruz These cries gaveme the first clear idea of what had


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CAPT. CITAIILES H. BROWN. 43

happened in the colony, for tliey werethe same which had met my ear duringthe insurrection, (previous to my leavingValparaiso, ) of which struggle I hadbeen a witness. On leaving, we weremet by several soldiers on foot andhorseback, one of whom seemed to beof some authority. This was Garcia,one of the officers in the service of thegovernor, Gamero, who had joined Cam-biaso in his revolt, being compelled todo so, as he afterwards pleaded, byfear of his life. However that may be,I certainly found him much more gentleand humane in his actions and ex-pressions than Cambiaso, and was in-debted to him for several kindnesses.From him I gained the first idea ofwhat had occurred in the colony.As we left the l)oat, I noticed Mr.

Shaw's extreme weakness, and feared


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screams of tlie women which struck myear, gave mc a tolerably correct ideaof the sort of people into whose handswe had fallen. Conspicuous among themall, was their leader, Cambiaso, who castcontemptuous glances upon us as wepassed, and who might be heard givinghis orders, mixed with oaths and threatsof punishment and death to those whodid not obey him implicitly. He let uspass on, however, without addressing us,and it was only from his officer's dressand authoritative manner that we wereable to guess at his rank.Very little time, however, was given

us for observation ; for we were hurriedacross the open space, and thrust intoone of the largest buildings used asbarracks. My crew, the remainder ofwhom were brought away from the vesselat the same time with Mr. Shaw and


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46 IMPKISONMEKT AND ESCAPE OF

myself, were put into one of the smallestof the barracks, wliere they, witli Mr.Buela, were confined in a room aboutsix feet square, which was so crowdedthat they were obliged to take turns inlying down to rest. Mr. Shaw andmyself were at first put into the sameapartment, but we were not allowed tospeak to each other ; several soldiersstanding guard over us the whole time.In about two hours, however, I wastaken from this room, and put into asmaller one adjoining it. The apartmentinto which both Mr. Shaw's room andmine opened, was occupied by our guard,who ate and slept there, and who for-bade all intercourse between us.

I looked around the room, which Ifelt would be my prison until I was ledout to death, for I knew now into whathands we had fallen ; and, on my way


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up from the shore to the barracks, hadbeen threatened with death if I did notat once inform them what treasure Ihad on board the Florida ; and on mysaying there was none, one of theofficers said he would soon find a wayto make me find some.The room was without a floor, with

a board nailed to the wall, looking likea shelf, but serving for a seat ; thetable was a board, supported by sticksdriven into the ground ; and these, withmy mattrass, formed the furniture. Ihad with me a small pocket lookingglass about the size of my hand, andthe miniatures of my wife and children,which I managed to hide within myshirt bosom. I had also in my pocketa pencil and a small piece of paper,which I used for the purpose of keepingmy dates. My guards, however, always


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48 IMPRISONMENT AND ESCAPE OPcame and watched me when they sawme writing, and at last told me I mustdesist, as some harm might come of it.After this, I put down my dates whenI was unobserved. This was not often.For tlie next two days I was nearstarving, nothing being given me to cat,except two ship biscuit, or hard bread,as we sailors call them ; and my onlydrink was the water which I helpedmyself to from the guard room.On the morning of the 29th, two days

after our capture, I was taken out bymy guard, for a walk around the yardand on the platform which ran alongthe west side of the fort, and on whichthe cannon were mounted. I made thebest use of my eyes and ears duringmy walk, and managed to speak to oneor two of the prisoners who had beenon the Florida ' with me, and whom I


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had made some acquaintance with duringthe voyage. It was by these prisonersthat I was afterwards kept informed ofwhat occurred outside of my prison.They would talk to me during my walks,and sometimes would come to my win-dow and tell me what had occurred ;sometimes in bravado, and with greatexultation, and sometimes with expressionsof sympathy.On returning from my walk, I met

Mr. Shaw, leaving his room with hisguard by his side ; taken out, I sup-posed, for a similar purpose. I saw hewas not looking well, and spoke to him,saying, how do you feel this morning ? His answer was, pretty miserable ; and he seemed about to say somethingmore, but my guard pushed between us,saying, with an oath, We can't haveany talking, captain ; we have the gen-

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CHAPTER III.My prison My guards An English hymn book A fellow

prisoner Capture of the Kliza Cornish Fears of theEnglish mate Death of Mr. Shaw Of Captain Talbotand boy Barbarity of their execution The Chilian pris-oners sympathize with us

Cambiaso's bravado CaptainAvalos and others led out to view the dead bodiesTreacherous betrayal of Governor Gamero Executionof the traitor My walk.I now began to feel for a few days,

some of the monotony of a prisoner'slife. Shut up alone, without occupation,within hearing of the riotous conver-sation of my guard, but forbidden tospeak to them, with hard fare, and noarrangements for my personal comfort oreven cleanliness, except when 1 couldtake water enough frofli the guard room


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52 IMPRISONMENT AND ESCAPE OFto wash my face, using my pocket hand-kerchief for a towel.Three or four days had passed, and

I had lost the fear of immediate death,but my suspense and anxiety to kno wwhat Cambiaso's intentions with regardto us were, were very great. Thereseemed to me no motive that he couldhave for keeping us prisoners, after hehad satisfied himself that we had notreasure on board the Florida, exceptthe fear that wo would carry the newsof his revolt back to Valparaiso ; andthat danger to himself, it seemed to me,could be obviated only by putting us todeath. It was in vain that I appliedto my guards ; they were evidentlyunder orders to hold no communicationwith me, and the prisoners who visitedme from time to time, knew nothing ofCambiaso's plans. To my entreaties to


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be allowed to sec Mr. Shaw, no answerwas given, except tliat it could not beallowed, that he had been sick, and wasnow very unwell.A few days after my imprisonment,an English book, containing prayers and

hymns, was handed me by one of myguard, a man named Preito, who prob-ably could make no use of it himself.The hymns had little poetical merit, andprobably at another time would scarcelyhave aroused my attention ; but now thepromises and consolations of religionwhich breathed through them, the spiritof Christian resignation and faith ofwhich I was then so much in need, andwhich to me shone out in every partof them, were an unspeakable comfort.The first hymn to which I opened, seemedso very applicable to my situation, thatit impressed itself upon my memory ;

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54 IMPRISONMENT AND ESCAPE OFand I insert it here, thinking that itmay be interesting to my readers to seeho w the promises of Christianity arethe truest consolation in all trials.

To my complaint, Lord, my God,Thy gracious ear incline ;

Hear me, distressed and destituteOf all relief but thine.

Do thou, God, preserve my soulThat does thy name adore ;

Thy servant keep, and him whose trustEelies on thee, restore.

To me, who daily thee invoke,Thy mercy, Lord, extend ;

Refresh thy servant's soul, whose hopesOn thee alone depend.

To my repeated, humble prayer,Lord, attentive be ;

When troubled, I on thee will call,For thou wilt answer me.

Some few days after Mr. Shaw's re-moval from the barracks, one evening,the exact date of which has escaped me


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entirely, I was aroused by a great con-fusion in the fort, a noise of shouting,and, apparently, of rejoicing. While Iwas standing at my window, trying todiscover the meaning of the uproar, myprison door was opened, and a man putin. He was in sailor's dress, was ap-parently an American, and looked ter-rified and bewildered.

I accosted him immediately, in English asked who he was, saying that hewas probably a prisoner, like myself.The guards in the next room were insuch a state of excitement that theyallowed us to converse unchecked.He told me that he was the mate of

an Englisli brig, the Eliza Cornish, ofLiverpool, bound from Valparaiso toLiverpool ; that the vessel had anchoredin Sandy Bay, intending to lay over forthe night ; that the captain, Capt. Talbot,


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of Liverpool, had landed in the brig'sboat, with a boy, a son of his owner,who was passenger on board, and oneor two seamen ; that they had beenseized and put in irons the momentthey were out of sight of the brig.The boat was then sent back to theTessel, with five or six men in her, whocame on board and told the mate thatthe captain wanted him to come onshore ; but that while he was hesitatingwhat to do, they, seeing the small num-ber of the crew, attacked and over-powered them, and took possession ofthe brig. They then demanded of himwhatever money was on board, threat-ening him with instant death if he didnot give it up at once. The brig hadon board about ninety or one hundredthousand dollars, in bars of gold andsilver, which they seized and brought


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on shore, together with the mate andcrew. Some of the bars of gold werecut up before his eyes, and distributedaround among the soldiers ; and theirexultation at the sight of their booty-had raised the general shout which Ihad heard. This man was kept in myroom during all the rest of our impris-onment, lie was a well meaning fellow,'but evidently not much accustomed todepend upon himself, and very muchintimidated by the dread of approachingdeath, by these rebels. I constantlyfound it necessary to encourage him,and prevail upon him to show a boldface before our captors, were it only tocommand their respect. ,ror myself, Iwas not really much afraid of them. Iwas afraid of dying, for my dangermade me realize how unfit I was foranother world ; and my dread of death


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was sucli as a man might have duringa dangerous illness.At midnight, on December 2d, I was

aroused from my sleep by the report ofmuskets, of which they seemed to me tonumber about ten or twelve. A shorttime afterwards there was another report,and our guards began to run out ofthe next room. The whole encampmentseemed in great confusion, and I becamealarmed, thinking some of our compan-ions had been shot, and that our tur^was coming next. I dared not askany questions of the guard, some ofwhom I saw looking through the doorof our room, which always stood openat night. The mate of the E. Cornishspoke to me, and said, That is foulplay, captain Brown ; something desperateis going on. I am afraid my captainand Mr. Shaw are gone for it. Then,


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throwing himself upon his face, he beganto cry.His manner gave me a feeling of impa-

tience, and I answered him pretty quicklythat I did not doubt he was right, andthat I supposed our turn would comenext, but I did not want to hear thething talked about ; and at any rate, hemight as well show as bold a face aspossible, for the guard were watchingus, and listening to our conversation.This roused him, and he sat up, andduring the rest of the night we re-mained in anxious suspense. I believeI was too proud to ask any questionsof my guard, nor would I allow themate to ask any.Soon after sunrise, some of the men

who had come down with me as pris-oners, came into our room and whis-pered to me in Spanish, Your poor


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owner poor English captain poorEnglish boy I questioned them closely,and learned that Mr. Shaw and captainTalbot, with the young passenger, hadbeen taken from their beds just beforemidnight, put in irons, both hands andfeet, led out to a short distance fromthe barracks, and there tied to a tree,and shot. I afterwards gathered someparticulars of their execution, which, forthe sake of clearness, I will inserthere.Mr. Shaw had been very sick ever

since we were seperated; and I was toldthat on the 2d December he sent toCambiaso, to ask if he might have somemedical advice. Cambiaso's brutal replywas, Pass him out and shoot him, forwe have no time to attend to the sick 1 When they were led out, captain Talbotentreated most earnestly that the boy's


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life might bo spared, saying tliat lie hadbeen put under his care by his parents,that he was a mere boy, and could dono harm ; but his prayers were not evenlistened to. He never asked once forhis own life. The boy was abouteighteen years old, a son of one of theowners of the E. Cornish, and hadmade the voyage as a pleasure excursion.The first volley killed captain Talbot

and the young man, leaving Mr. Shawstanding unharmed, not a shot havingtouched him. Then a whole volley wasfired into him, killing him instantly.One of the soldiers was attracted bythe glitter of a diamond ring on Mr.Shaw's finger, and as soon as he was'shot, the soldier went up to him, tryingto remove it ; but finding that difficult,he cut off the finger with his cutlass.This ring I afterwards heard of, as


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being seen on tlic finger of one of thewomen about the fort, and on my returnto Valparaiso, I offered twenty-five dollarsto recover it, thinking it would be agratification to Mr. Shaw's friends toobtain even so slight a remembrance ofbim, but I was not able to procure it.The bodies were afterwards taken downand hung by the neck to a tree, ex-posed to all the passers by.

I never knew why Mr. Shaw was shot,but I have every reason to suppose thatwhat I was told of Cambiaso's reply tobis request for medical advice was thetruth. It would have been too muchtrouble to take care of a sick man.The same fear of trouble probably de-cided the poor boy's fate. Why captainTalbot was executed, while I was reserved,is also a mystery to me. I never sawcaptain Talbot, but frpm his mate's re-


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CAPT. CHARLES II. BROWN. G3

marks about him, I felt that he was aman of some spirit and character. Per-haps his high spirit led him to saythings that exasperated Cambiaso. Hegave some expression of this spirit atthe time he was seized. Two officers( Chilians, ) were handling him ratherroughly, when he indignantly told themthey need not look so surly, and at thesame time drew a dirk knife from thewaist of his pantaloons. But it wasimmediately taken from him.

Mr. Shaw's death was a great shockto me, and is still a matter of deepgrief. We had been friends for sometime, and I had the highest respect forhim. lie was indeed a young man ofgreat promise, and his loss to his fam-ily and friends is one which cannoteasily be replaced. I grieved for them,even there in my prison, while I ex-


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pected each day to be my last, andwhile I remembered the agony of myown family, when the news of our sadfate should reach them ; and now thata kind Providence has restored me tothem, I grieve to remember him whomet so cruel a death from such bar-barous hands, on a desert and far dis-tant shore.

I was told by one of the men whocame into my cell that morning, thatthe bodies were to be left hanging untilwe had all seen them. Accordingly,about one o'clock that afternoon, threeof the prisoners ( I think they werecaptain Avalos, with the captain of theregular troops, and Mr. Dunn, ) weretaken from their prison, their ironsknocked off, and, when they were un-shackled, Cambiaso walked up to them,and with much mock politeness asked


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them to accompany him for a walk.They wore in no situation to refuse,but accompanied him in silence, followedby a file of soldiers as guard. He ledthem out of the barracks, toward thevessels. As they passed under the treeson which hung the bodies of Mr. Shaw,captain Talbot, and the young lad,Cambiaso pointed to them, and laugh-ing, said, You see what happens tosuch villains when they fall into myhands ; it will be your turn next.After compelling them to pass roundthe tree, so as to view the bodies fromevery side, he conducted them back tothe barracks and to their crowded prison.The mate of the E. Cornish and my-

self spent that morning in a state ofanxiety, expecting every moment to becalled for perhaps to be led out todeath, perhaps to be shown the dead

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66 IMPRISONMENT AND ESCAPE OPbodies of our friends, and to be consciousthat any emotion we might show wouldbe watched by eyes that would interpretit into an expression of unmanly fear.My feeling was a sort of indignantpride ; my own honor and the honorof my country seemed to me to dependupon my bearing before these piratesand desperate men ; and I repeatedlyrequested the mate, whose power of selfcontrol I began to doubt, to bo bold,whatever might happen to him. I re-member thinking that if he did not, allaround him would attribute it to acowardly disposition. Towards threeo'clock we heard the report of fire-arms,and a general hurry and bustle in theyard. At the report, the mate sprungto his feet, saying, Good God, captain \who has gone now ? We listenedanxiously, but all was quiet again, and


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CAPT. CHARLES H. BROWN. C7

I ventured to ask our guard what thedisturbance was. They answered, care-lessly, it is only a soldier who wasshot ; he is a traitor. In about twohours my guard called me out, sayingtliat the mate and I were to walk inthe yard. I refused, at first, tellingthem that I did not need a walk, Iwas well enough as 1 was, and soforth ; but one of the soldiers, with anoath, exclaimed that they had the gen-eral's orders, and that 1 had bettercome, or worse might happen to me. Irose, and walked out quietly with themate. The first thing that struck myeyes, as I reached the door of theguard room, was a temporary gallows,on which was suspended the body of apoor soldier. Near it was a tree, thebark of which was torn witli bullet-holes, and the ground below, which was


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C8 IMPRISONMENT AND ESCAPE OFsoaked with blood. I turned sick atthe sight ; but, summoning up all myresolution, I walked quietly up to thebody, and asked who it was. One ofmy acquaintances, a Chilian prisonerwho came with us, and who was saun-tering around, walked up to my side,and said, You need not feel pity forhim, captain Brown ; he was a traitor,not worth caring for. Our general hasserved him right.

I questioned the man further, andfound that this was the body of one ofthe soldiers who had escaped from thebarracks with the governor, and who,worn out by suffering and the fear ofstarvation, had appeared at the gatethat morning, and delivered himself up,offering to give Cambiaso information ofthe governor's hiding place, if he wouldpromise him safety, and the sum of five


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70 IMPRISONMENT AND ESCAPE, ETC.

diers. The weather then being calm,they paddled to the westward, andcrossed the Straits again to Port Famine,the former site of the colony. Therethey had concealed themselves in thebushes, and for the last week had beenliving on nothing but roots, and werenow in a state of starvation.

All this I gathered from my guardsand visitors, after I returned to myroom from my walk, in company withthe mate, although we had never ex-pected to see it again.


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CHAPTER IV.Capture of the Governor His execution I am led out ofmy prison Tlie burning of the bodies Governor Ga-mero's character His intercourse with the native tribes The Priest Acuna Arrival of H. B. M. war steamerVirago Mr. Dunn, the Secretary Cambiaso plans thecapture 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 tlie day of

tliese executions, Cambiaso sent out twoor three parties of soldiers, well armed,under one of the chief officers, andall on horseback, with directions totake the governor and his party, andbring them in, dead or alive. Theyhad accurate information of their hid--ing place from the traitor, and by


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72 IMPRISOXMENT AND ESCAPE OP

surroundinj^ tlie buslics, and graduallybeating in, tlicy succeeded in capturingtliem, and about sunset brought them in,and they were soon heavily ironed.

I heard that they were terribly ema-ciated, and scarcely able to stand, fromweakness, having lived for nearly a weekon nothing but roots and berries. Cam-biaso ordered them to be served witha good dinner, saying that they shouldgo with a belly-full, and then thrustthem into the calaboose, where captainAvalos and the other prisoners wereconfined. Captain Avalos told me after-wards that neither the governor or thepriest showed any signs of fear, butwhen he asked them if they knew theirfate, they answered coolly, Oh, yesCambiaso seemed to intend to surroundthis execution with all the pomp andsolemnity that he could command. About


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CAPT, CHARLES H. BROWN. 73

nine, in the evening, there was a generalrush through the camp. The buglessounded the death march, the drumsbeat, the soldiers were all ordered underarms, and governor Gamero and thepriest Acuna were led out of the bar-racks. All was still in the yard afterthey left, and in a short time I heardthe report of their death shots- Theywere shot under the same trees to whichMr. Shaw and captain Talbot had beentied.

In about an hour I was called out of

my room, and told that I was wantedin the yard. I went out doggedly, forthis day of excitement had worn medown into a sort of indiflcrcnce as tomy fate ; but the scene that lay beforeme when I reached the platform, which,raised above the rest of the yard, com-manded a view of the land beyond the

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fortification, roused mo at once from myindiiference. lu the field nortli of thebarracks, was dug a deep hole, in whicha large fire was kindled, which threwits red light on all around. On thetrees, to the right, hung the dead bodiesof Mr. Shaw, captain Talbot, and theboy, and beneath them were dimly seenthe bleeding corpses of the governorand priest. The rebels were busiedaround the fire and the bodies, andCambiaso, with some mounted officers,were to be seen giving directions. SoonI saw a cart driven up to the fire, and adead body thrown from it into the flames,with as little ceremony as one wouldtreat a dog. One of my guard standingby me, said, There goes the governor.The bodies of Mr. Shaw, captain Talbot,and the poor English boy were one byone cut down, and thrust into the fire.


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The women of the camp had pleadedwith Cambiaso to allow tlic body ofthe priest to be buried, and he, liav-ing perhaps some feelings of reverencefor his sacred office, had allowed itto be given into their hands. More 'fuel was now heaped on the flame?,and their lurid light showed me a scenewhich makes me shudder as I recall it.The soldiers danced round the fire,

singing the national hymn of Chili, andmingling Avith it shouts and curses, im-precations on the governor, and threatsof vengeance against the remaining pris-oners ; especially against captain Salas,the commander of the troops underGamero, and against captain Avalos,whose rank as an officer under thegovernment of Chili seemed to be hisonly crime. The darkness of the night,the lurid glare of the flames, the fan-


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munion with myself, strengthening mysoul to meet whatever might be beforeme, and rousing my energies to seizeevery opportunity to escape from thehands of such blood-thirsty fiends. TheLnorning found me calmer, and more fullof energy and determination, than anymoment since my captivity. If Cam-biaso ordered me to be brought out onthe platform in order to intimidate me,he did not know his man. The sight,instead of depressing me. roused in mea spirit of revenge, and determined meto retaliate the wrongs which I hadseen inflicted on my friend.

Governor Gamero was a post captainin the Chilian army ; his name, Ben-jamin Numoz Gamero. I afterwardsheard him spoken of as a man of finecharacter, and of excellent judgment.Under his directions, the colony had

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grcwn in prosperity and in discipline.He had built some very comfortablebarracks for the soldiers, and some goodhouses for the officers. The convictshad been employed in clearing and cul-tivating the ground, and intercourse andtrade with the Indians of the countryhad been encouraged.The native tribes around the colony

had always shown themselves friendly tothe settlement ; and, as I learnt, hadbeen in the habit of coming down tothe barracks about once a month, bring-ing with them game, and other articles,which they were anxious to exchangefor flour, bread, and so forth. Theygenerally formed themselves on a line,on the north side of the barracks, andthe governor would range his troopsupon the platform, above the fence, andput in their view the two cannon, the


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noise of which they had often heard,and of which they had a superstitiousdread. The chiefs would then comeforward and meet the governor outsidethe fence, and arrange their terms ofbarter.Of the clergyman, Acuna, I know but

little. The reverence of the Avomen ofthe colony for him, certainly speaks inhis favor.The morning of the 4th of December,

while the mate and myself were eatingour scanty allowance of hard bread,washed down by the water which wehad taken from the dirty buckets in theguard room, a shout rose in the yard, A steamer a war steamer, with theEnglish flag My heart leaped to mymouth, as I sprung to my feet, and themate seemed to gather courage from thevery sense of the vicinity of his country-


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men, and from his confidence in theprotection of his flag. One moment'sglance showed me that even amidst theirexcitement, some of the guards werewatching us from the other room ; andmanaging to caution the mate by aglance, I endeavored to assume as naturalan air as possible, listening and askingquestions as if from mere curiosity. Igathered from the guard and from theidlers round the camp who flocked in,that Cambiaso had expressed his deter-mination to attempt to capture thesteamer ; that the Chilian flag had beenrun up at the flag-staflF, and a gun firedto attract the attention of the steamer,and induce them to come into the har-bor and drop anchor. At last, she wasseen to make for the harbor, and to beevidently making preparations to anchor.Her name, they told me, was the Virago.


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During the last hour, the mate audmyself liad been forming a thousandplans by wliich we hoped to attract theattention of the officers or men of thesteamer, when they landed, and warnthem of their own danger, and of oursituation ; but our plans were quicklyfrustrated ; for no sooner had the steamercome to anchor, than tlie mate and my-self were hurriedly taken from our room,and led across the yard towards a smallerbuilding. In vain I questioned thosewho were leading me, as to where Iwas going ; my only answer was ahasty oath, and an order to be quiet.The door of tlie little calaboose wasopened, and we were pushed into a roomabout eight feet square, and the boltsdrawn behind us. Before me, sitting orlying on the floor, were six haggardlooking men, heavily ironed. I spoke


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82 IMPRISOXMENT AND ESCAPE OFto them in Spanish, but was answeredby one of them in good English, whosaid, You are the captain of the Amer-ican barque? I started with surprise,for I immediately thought him an Amer-ican ; and I saw that he was a gentle-man, or something beyond a commonsailor. And what American could beconfined there, not belonging to theFlorida ? Could there have been anothervessel captured by these pirates, of whichI had heard nothing ? Who are you ? I eagerly asked ; are you an American ?How came you in this wretched place ? He answered that his name was Dunn,and that he was a Brazilian, who hadbeen employed by governor Gamero ashis secretary. That he had been seizedby Cambiaso's orders, at the time ofhis insurrection, and confined in thatfilthy den ever since.


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While he was speaking, one of ourguard knocked on the door, and orderedsilence, saj-ing that he would shoot downthe first one of us who troubled himagain.The next three hours we spent inanxious listening to what was going onwithout ; Mr. Dunn and myself now andthen exchanging a word in a whisper.Every attempt that we made to lookfrom our little window was preventedby our guard, who stood closely gath-ered about both door and window, everynow and then looking in upon us. With-out, all was very still and orderly ; nonoisy rioting to be heard, nothing, saveevery now and then the tread of sol-diers, or the usual noises attending theregular military duty of a barrack yard.We expected every moment to hear thenoise of firing, or some shout of exulta-


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8-i IMPRISONMENT AND ESCAPE OP

tion, if the officers of tlie Yirago wereentrapped as we had been ; but all wasquiet.Towards the middle of the afternoon,

the English mate and myself were takenout, and conducted to our old prison.All was quiet in the yard, and as Iglanced around, I saw no new faces, nochange in the arrangement of the sol-diers, no building guarded but thosewhich I had been accustomed to recog-nize as prisons for my crew, the crewof the E. Cornish, and the room wherecaptain Avalos, and the prisoners withhim, were confined.

Arrived at our old home, the guardbecame more communicative, and toldme that our prison had been changedto keep us out of sight of the Englishofficers, who had come on shore, visitedthe barracks, and the Florida, and had


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left the liarl)or without having theirsuspicions excited. This chance of es-cape was lost to us then. I felt veryindignant at what seemed to me theunparalelled stupidity of the officers ofthe Virago, and yet it is very possiblethat had their suspicions been excited,we might all have fallen victims to therevengeful spirit of the rebels, beforeany thing could have been done forour rescue.During tliat evening and the next day,

I managed to extract from my guardand from one or two of my fellowvoyagers, the Chilian prisoners, who hadnow become almost regular visitors tomy room, an account of all that hadoccurred during the visit of the Viragoto the colony.On the steamer's casting anchor, Cam-

biaso had manifested a great desire to8


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capture licr ; probably expecting some-thing of a prize on board of her, andperhaps wishing to have in his hands sopowerful a vessel. He had called ameeting of his officers, to consult uponthe most advisable plan to pursue, toaccomplish the capture. The first planproposed, was that which had been sosuccessful in our case and that of theEnglish brig : to seize the officers asthey came on shore, and kill them atonce, to avoid the necessity of employ-ing men to guard them ; then to boardthe steamer and take her, having firstenticed away as many of the officersand crew as possible. The sight of thebig guns, which showed their teeth allalong the side of the steamer ; theirknowledge of the excellent discipline onboard a British man-of-war ; of the ca-pability of even the smallest midshipman


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CAPT. CUARLES H. BROWN. 87

to take command of the crew in caseof the absence of tlic superior officers,all deterred the pirates from attemptingthis plan of capture.The difficulties in the way of the

capture were, I heard, discussed veryfreely ; general Garcia being most earnestin insisting upon them. The chief, orrather the first difficulty suggested byhim, was that the officers might comeon shore so well attended that a fightmight be necessary, to overcome them ;and that the noise of the struggle mightexcite the suspicions of those on board,when the whole colony would be at themercy of the guns of the Virago. Thisplan was put to the vote among theofficers, and after voting upon it ninetimes, it was rejected. Once, I wastold, it came within one vote of beingaccepted.


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The next proposition was worthy oftlie blood-thirsty wretches. It was thatsuch officers should be invited to dinewith Carabiaso, he supporting the char-acter of governor of the colony ; andthat poison should be mingled withsome of the dishes of which the officerswere to partake ; but this plan also wasrejected. The rebels must have feltthat it was too uncertain, even if humannature did not make them feel some-thing revolting in it. It was then pro-posed that some of the officers of Cam-biaso should be sent on board thesteamer, with an invitation to the captainto land, and that they should, on theirreturn, report the appearance of tilings.This was agreed to, and the spies weresent ; but their report of the order anddiscipline on board, the well mannedguns, the well drilled nuirines, deter-


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CAPT. CHARLES II. BROWN, 89mined Cambiaso to give up all hopes ofcapturing the vessel, and to confine hini-self to attempting to elude suspicion.The officers of the Yirago landed, andwere shown through the fortification andthe colony, Cambiaso attending them.I was told that one of the prisoners,Mr. Dunn, who talked both English andSpanish, was taken from his prison, andafter being threatened with instant deathif he revealed the true state of things,was employed to interpret for Cambiaso ;while at the same time two of the rebelswho had some knowledge of English,were ordered to watch him, and reportany thing w^hich might sound suspicious.The captain of the Virago asked what

vessels those were lying at anchor.Cambiaso answered that they belongedto him ; remarking that the brig hadprisoners on board of her some of the

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90 IMPRISONMENT AND ESCAPE OFconvicts ^vhom he had not the conve-niences for keeping in close confinementon shore ; and that as the vessel wasonly used as a prison, there would benothing interesting to them in going onboard of her.The captain and officers afterwards

visited the Florida, from which all mycrew had been removed except the stew-ard, a negro man, and on board whichwere living five or six of Cambiaso'sfollowers. How the English officers couldbe so blind as not to read on thestern of the barque the name, Florida,of New Orleans, and on the brig, Eliza Cornish, of Liverpool, or not tohave their suspicions excited, if they didread those names, is incomprehensible tome. It would seem that their owncommon sense would have told themthat such a colony could not hold ves-


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scls ; or if it did, that the vessels wouldbe Chilian not American, or English.I was told that Cambiaso made thecaptain a present of eighty or ninety-tons of coal, of which the Virago wasin need ; but I could not but thinkthere must be some mistake about this.The coal was perhaps bought by theVirago. Surely, Her British Majesty'svessels do not accept such presents asthat from the governor of a small penalcolony, on the shores of Patagonia. Solarge a quantity of coal would be a veryvaluable gift in such a place as that,where all the fuel, except the brush-woodfrom the scrubby forests around, must bebrought from abroad.

Cambiaso told the captain, whose nameI afterwards learnt was Stewart, thatseveral of his prisoners had escaped,and were now lurkinn: about the woods


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92 IMPRISONMENT AND ESCAPE OFat Port Famine ; and if, on the steamer'sanchoring there to take in some of thiscoal, which lay on the shore, any ofthese prisoners should wish to be takenon board the Virago, he wished captainStewart to order his men to drivethem away, and to hold no communica-tion with them. Some of the soldierswho escaped with the governor, had, itappears, never been re-taken, and Cam-biaso feared their report to the Englishvessel.

It seems to me another instance ofstupidity in captain Stewart, that heshould have swallowed unsuspiciously thisstory of Cambiaso's. Would it not havebeen much more probable that Cambiasowould have asked their assistance in re-capturing his prisoners, and requestedthe Virago to retain them until hecould send for them ? I could not but


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feel that all these things, or indeed,half of them, Avould have been enoughto have opened the eyes of even amoderately cute Yankee. But per-haps some allowance for my impatienceat the blindness of the English officersis to be made, when we consider howmuch this chance of escape was to me,and how bitterly I lamented its loss.My fellow prisoner and myself weresad enough during the rest of that even-ing, as we heard that the Yirago hadleft Port Famine, and was now out ofsight.


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CHAPTER V.We are better treated Captain Avalos again His priva-

tions The sergeant shot Mr. Buela Cambiaso's dis-cipline His code of laws Personal appearance HiavanityThreats of poison Improved fare The coffee The mate secures the E. Cornish Cambiaso andGarcia visit me I go on board the Florida My steward.After the departure of the steamer,

the severity of our imprisonment wasvery much relaxed. The prisoners wereallowed to walk about every day, ac-companied by a guard, and were evenallowed some communication with eachotlicr. I saw captain Avalos again, andshook hands earnestly with him. Hetold me that he had thought that I hadbeen shot with captain Talbot and Mr.Shaw. Captain Avalos had been con-


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CAPT. CIIAELES H. BROWN. 97

They danced it with handkerchiefs, wav-ing them as each couple separated andretired to the right and left. Oneevening Cambiaso came up to me as Iwas standing by the tent ropes, andasked me to join the dance. I had noheart to do this, but pleaded in excusemy American ignorance of the figures.These evenings generally ended with afeast a pig or calf barbecued.One night's rude and cruel amusement

I cannot even now think of without ashudder. All the dogs of the encamp-ment were driven into a circle, andthen chased with clubs. The cries ofthe poor frightened animals, the howlingsof those who were knocked down, rangin my ears all night ; and next morn-ing their carcasses could be seen lyingaround on every side.

I also did my best, during my walks,9


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to keep up my friendly intercourse witlithe prisoners I had brought down tothe Straits with me, and who had beenallowed their liberty, on swearing alle-giance to Cambiaso. Some of them werevery friendly, and brought me such in-formation as they thought would interestme. From them I learnt much of thediscipline which Cambiaso had estab-lished, and of the sanguinary code oflaws which he had drawn up.

Immediately after the escape of thegovernor, and the success of the insur-rection, Cambiaso was proclaimed Com-mandante by the rebels. Afterwardshis title was Major General, and Garcia's,General, or littk general, as he wascalled by most of the soldiers, by wayof distinction. On the same day, byorder of Cambiaso, the hospital, chapel,with all the sacred vessels on the altar,


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the house and robes of the priest, wereburnt ; Cambiaso declaring that he wouldhave nothing to do with any religiousrites. A red flag was hoisted, havingupon it a scull and cross-bones, withthe motto, I give no quarter; andupon it the soldiers and released con-victs all swore fidelity. This flag Ioften saw raised in the colony, onparade days, during my imprisonment.I give below the code of laws, a copyof which I afterwards obtained at Val-paraiso. Of its atrocity I need saynothing, as it speaks for itself.

MILITARY CRIMES,AND THEIR CORRESPONDING PUNISHMENTS.

Article I.Every inferior who speaks disrespect-

fully of his superior officer, shall beimmediately shot.


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100 IMPKISONMENT . AND ESCAPE OFArt. II.

Every inferior who should raise hiahand against his superior officer, shallbe immediately hung.

Art. III.If an inferior strikes his superior

officers, with or without arms, he shallbe burnt alive.

Art. IY.He who should be a traitor to the

flag we have sworn, shall be cut inpieces, alive, and afterwards burnt.

Art. Y.He who is guilty of perjury, incurs

the same punishment.Art. YI.

He who communicates with the enemy,incurs the same punishment.


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capt. charles h. brown. 101

Art. YII.He who speaks against the service,

incurs the same punisliment.

Art. VIII.Robbery. lie who steals any object,

money, or any article whatsoever, shallbe hung.

Art. IX.Want of Punctuality. If any person

in the military service, ( no matter inwhat capacity,) be wanting in his duty,and does not present himself in tlieplace and at the hour at which he hasbeen ordered to appear, he shall botried and shot.

Art. X.Cowardice. Every man who, for want

of courage, flics from the enemy, shallbo put to death by the bayonet ; and

9 *


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102 IMPRISONMENT AND ESCAPE OFhis eyes shall be taken out to provethe fact. The body of a coward shallbe burnt.

Art. XI.If any traitor be seized, his tongue

shall be cut out, it being tlie instru-ment of his falsehood. He shall beburnt with a red hot iron, and he shallafterwards suifer the punishments he hasincurred, according to Articles 4th, 5th,and 6 th.

Art. XII.Sentinels found asleep at their posts,

shall be immediately hung ; they beingthe only persons responsible for saidpost's security. Therefore, the sergeantsarc requested to risit tlie posts everyten minutes, for the observation of thisarticle.


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CAPT. CHARLES II, BROWN. 103

Art. XIII.He who in battle gives quarter to au

enemy, out of pity, or any other con-sideration, shall be immediately shot.

Art. XIV.The officer, sergeant, or soldier who

is not vigilant when on guard, shall betried and shot.

Art. XV.The infractor of any of these laws, if

an officer, shall be hung ; if a soldier, shot.Art. XVI.

All military persons are charged withthe fulfilment of the preceding articles.This is particularly recommended to su-perior officers : and they are requestedto inform their troops that want of in-formation on this head will not excusethem from undergoing the punishmentsexpressed.


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10-1 imprisonment and escape of

Art. XYII.He who should steal or hide ( or abet

another in so doing, ) any powder, balls,or article of war, shall be burnt alive.

Art. XVIII.He who in battle or on march should

throw away the cartridges given him,desirous of not injuring the enemy, orof relieving himself of their weight,shall be cut in pieces alive, joint byjoint, beginning in preference with thefingers of the right hand. His remainsshall afterwards be burnt.

Art. XIX.If, on arriving in a

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Insurrection at Magellan. Narrative of the Imprisonment and Escape of Cap. Chas. H. Brown, From the...

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