A
THE
EARTHQUAKE
THAT OCCURRED
ON
THE ISLAND OF
JUAN FERNANDEZ
AND
TALCAHUANA,
IN THE YEAR 1835.
LONGMAN, ORME AND CO., London;
AND
J. & J. THOMSON, MARKET-STREET, MANCHESTER.
ENTERED AT STATIONERS HALL.
200000


1
>
:
L


THE

EARTHQUAKE
OF
JUAN FERNANDEZ,
AS IT OCCURRED IN THE YEAR 1835.
AUTHENTICATED BY THE
RETIRED GOVERNOR OF THAT ISLAND.
TO WHICH IS ADDED,
A REFUTATION
OF SEVERAL MISSTATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN THE "NAUTICAL
MAGAZINE" OF 1837, AND THE PUBLIC PAPERS.
Strange things-strange things,-
Travellers see great wonders."-Old Song.
MANCHESTER:
PRINTED AT THE "ADVERTISER" OFFICE, 78, MARKET-STREET.
1839.
PRINTED AT THR "ADVERTISER "
OFFICE, MARKET-STREET, MANCHESTER.
Reo.
Regent R. R. Hubbard
9+
10~6-1924
THIS IS INSCRIBED,
AS A SMALL TOKEN OF ESTEEM,
TO
JOHN FORMBY, ESQ.,
BY HIS
ATTACHED FRIEND AND
RELATIVE,
T. S.
PREFACE.
HAVING been repeatedly requested by my friends, since my return to England, to give
them some account of the Earthquake which occurred on the Island of Juan Fernandez
in the month of February, 1835, I have concluded to adopt the present mode of
communicating authentic information of what really took place during my government
of the island, as well as of the disasters which were experienced about the same hour
on the Continent of Chile. I am induced to take this course, more especially, in
consequence of the extraordinary accounts which have been published in this country
relative to the total destruction of the island, and the appearance of a new group of
islands in the vicinity.
Certainly it is impossible to say what may happen in the vicinity of islands known to
have originally sprung from volcanic matter, and where extraordinary convulsions have
been witnessed; but I have no knowledge whatever of the occurrence of what these
writers have intimated. The earthquake to which I refer, took place during my
residence as Political and Military Governor of the Island of Juan Fernandez, in the
year 1835, and I am not aware that there has been any similar visitation since that
period. I sailed from the island on the 28th of January last, and then learned from
the person I had left as Governor of Masa Fuera, previous to the insurrection, and
who had remained in charge of my establishment on the island, that nothing extraor-
dinary had occurred since my expulsion in September, 1835, except the total
destruction of all the edifices, forts, cattle, &c., by the mutineers and crews of vessels
touching there for refreshment; the Chilian Government having, on account of the
Peruvian war, withdrawn the garrison, &c. I was an eye-witness of the awful
catastrophe of the 20th of February, and, with the exception of those who lost their
all, the greatest sufferer from its ravages. The particulars of that event are in an
extract from my journal, written at the time, and other documents in my possession.
These statements, I am aware, will fail to convey an adequate idea of the appalling
scene I have witnessed; for I can conceive of nothing more terrible than an earth-
quake. I trust, however, that the extract, which I subjoin, and the accompanying
documents, selected and translated from many others of a similar kind, may be such
6
as to merit the approbation of my countrymen, as well as give to my friends the
information they have solicited, and which I am happy to furnish to the full extent of
my ability. The following extracts from the Nautical Magazine ought to serve as an
apology for my publishing the second portion of my journal, and the concluding
documents, which refer to the insurrection :—
"During the earthquake which did so much damage a few months since in South America, the sea rose at
Juan Fernandez three different times. It left a mark on the shore which was nearly filled with water; its
greatest rise was about forty feet above the general level of the sea; and I was informed that the rise was
sixty feet at the western part of the island. The sea was quite smooth when it occurred, the weather calm
and clear. The water did not rush in like a wave, but rose like a rapid flood-tide. As it came on un-
expectedly, the dry provisions which were in store (all that were in the island) were entirely destroyed,
and several mud huts which were near the beach, were washed away, but there were no shocks felt on any
part of the island.”
"On the 2nd of August, 1835, the prisoners at Juan Fernandez rose on the troops at the time they were
receiving their weekly allowance of provisions, took the arms, and had possession of the fort for two hours.
The soldiers at last rallied, and attacked the prisoners with the carpenters' tools, and any other weapons they
could get; retook the fort, and recovered their arms. There was not a soldier hurt in the fray, although they
were fired upon repeatedly, but three prisoners were wounded, who shortly after died. Soon after this
affair, the second in command put the commandant (an Englishman) under an arrest, for inattention to his
duty, and which neglect was considered the chief cause of the prisoners rising. Five days before we arrived
here he was sent to Valparaiso to be tried. Another commandant, with a fresh detachment of troops,
arrived at the same time to relieve those who were on the island, their time, which is six months, having
expired. Everything appeared to be carried on in good order, and with strict discipline; but the com-
mandant recommended me to be on my guard, as the prisoners had once risen, and might again attempt it,
and take possession of my vessel. About two years previous, a number of them had taken possession of a
French brig during the night, which had called in for supplies, and made the crew land them near Chiloe."
I also consider it a duty I owe to myself, relatives, and friends, to refute such parts
as are highly injurious to my character, and I consider my native country the most
appropriate place, to shew the public in general that the statements are incorrect,
especially those that have been so widely circulated in the Nautical Magazine of
June, 1837.
departu
The translation of a few documents I published in Santiago previous to my departure
will, as they have reference to the earthquake and mutiny, shew that "the com-
mandant, an Englishman," was not "arrested for inattention to his duty," nor was any
neglect on his part "considered the chief cause of the prisoners rising ;" and also the
conclusion will prove, that, although I left the army at a time the republic was at war,
my motives were just and honourable. Lieutenant-General Don Manuel Blanco, did
me the honour to receive my power of attorney and other documents, in order to
obtain a recompense for my services, should I remain in Europe. I published the
farewell token in order to inform my Chilian friends of the motives, &c. of my leaving,
and which I have translated; and I am flattered that the Editor of the Nautical
Magazine will see that my motives for refuting the misstatements of Captain Masters
have been well founded.
Ashton-under-Lyne, August 3rd, 1839.
T. SUTCLIFFE.

VIEW OF THE
ERUPTION FROM EL PAN GAL.

VIEW OF THE ISLAND FROM CUMBERLAND BAY.

29.4
2
2
22 222
2222
22
2
22222
42244
22
22
PLAN OF THE NORTH EAST SIDE OF THE ISLAND OF JUAN FERNANDES_
Anson's Dale
00
20
El Pangal
42
22
ANSONS 22
TOWN
2
2
3
42
5½
9
31
2 7/22
20
28 22
Cumberland Bay
was dry to this line
LONSDALE
RAYTOWN
2
10
LATT. 33 40S
LONG 78.52 W
SELKIRKS
TOW
English Bay
Selkirk's Dale
* ૨૨
B
PUNTA
DE BACALLAO
The Fish drawn by Maurice Rugendas Esq
of the exact size represented, was found in
one of the closets that was washed out of the
Government House, and afterwards presented
to Alex: Caldeleugh Esq Corresponding Member
of the Royal Zoological Society
A
D
SCALE OF TWO MILES.
A. Bristles
B. Pipe, having no mouth
C. Strong barbed defence
D. A defect occasioned
by being destroyed by
insects.
The colour of the Fish red

ENTERED AT STATIONERS HALL.
THE EARTHQUAKE OF JUAN FERNANDEZ.
T.PHYSICK LITH
P
PCoronel
I
Paps
زه
Bio Bio
Lat.36
PLAN OF PART
of the
Province of
CONCEPTION
1911
F
S. Vixente
I
Aie
10

Long 73-0-0 w.
River Itala
@
E
A
COELEMU
Honda
Panqua kue
DEPARTMENT
OF
Columio
Rafael
P Loberia
Quirique
Bocachi
Tome
क्ष
VA
Man
←
+3
Talcahuana
Penco
DEPARTMEN
"S. Pedro
Conception
RIVER
BIO BIO
//Colcura
DEPARTMENT
LAUTARO.
OF
PUCHAC
T. Physick lith: Manch"
Roa
WA
Quilleu
Conuco
ACCOUNTS RELATIVE TO THE EARTHQUAKE.
EXTRACTED FROM MY JOURNAL OF 1835.
On the evening of the 19th February, I heard a
strange rumbling noise, something similar to what
happens on the Continent on occasions of earthquake,
and inquired whether such had been experienced on
the island, but, being answered in the negative, I
fancied the noise proceeded from some empty casks
hard by, occasioned by a gust of wind passing their
bung-holes. This evening I finished one of the new
boats and had her launched; also, the new doors
were fixed to the store-house. Next morning, about
half-past eleven, whilst on the walls of the Castle of
Santa Barbara, accompanied by the Commandant
and Ensign Molina, giving directions to some men
who were building the barracks, I observed the new
boats, and two others floating in the boat-house, and
the mole, nearly covered with water. The sea never
having risen so high since my arrival, it being the
time of low tide too, I became alarmed, and de-
scended as quickly as possible, and gave orders for
the boats to be immediately secured; whilst so em-
ployed, the sea began to retire with velocity, leaving
the greatest part of the bay dry. I now ordered the
drummer to beat to arms, and the alarm bell to be
rung. As soon as the people came to me, I ordered
them to shoulder all the boats, and carry them from
the beach, placing myself in the rear to animate them.
Then the earth began to shake violently,-we heard
a most tremendous explosion, and the sea receded in
immense rollers. The prisoners became so fright-
ened, that they abandoned two of the boats, having
secured the other to a fig tree near the foot of the
castle. It is impossible to describe the consterna-
tion we all were in,-the people screaming and
making dismal cries as they climbed the hills. The
soldiers had but barely time to save their arms before
the town was literally covered with water, which, on
again receding, carried away the houses, trees, and
cattle, also several men and women, leaving only the
store-house, prison, and church, standing. The
roof of my house, and that of the soldiers' barracks,
which on account of the former being built on an
elevated situation, and both recently repaired, es-
caped, although the water reached the first story.
Happily our provisions were uninjured. The sea
advanced and receded four times to the foot of the
castle. As soon as it became quiet, or, I should say,
less agitated, I launched the boat and picked up the
men and women who had kept themselves afloat on
some timber, but were severely bruised; two of
them were carried out to sea upon the roof of a cot-
tage. I lost nearly every thing I had; but at the risk
of my life, saved my writing desk, a box with papers,
and two family portraits (Governor Greenhalgh, of
Brandlesome Hall, and John Kay, Esq., of Bury,
Lancashire, inventor of the fly shuttle, &c. &c.)
All the ammunition, excepting a few cartridges the
soldiers had, was spoiled. As the other two boats
had been left dry on shore, and uninjured, I ordered
them to be launched, and a quantity of furniture and
other articles were picked up, besides what had been
washed on shore and left dry.
Shortly after the explosion, I observed a large
column, something like a water spout, ascend in a
rapid manner out of the sea, which surprised me,
there not being a cloud to be seen; it proved to be
smoke, which soon covered the horizon, and east-
ward point of the bay, called Punta de Bacalao. It
is impossible to give an adequate description of what
took place, or of my anxious and painful state of
mind; it requires both an abler pen, and the observa-
tion of one, who had not, as I had, above 500 per-
sons under his charge; of these, 200 had been as
great a set of ruffians as God ever permitted to live.
But no language could be found adequate to describe
the awfully wondrous scene!
What is hardly credible, many of these wretches
thought of nothing but plunder, and several nearly
paid with their lives for their temerity, having been
actually swept away with my store, and from my
house, to which they made on the appearance of the
sea; but how they escaped drowning, is to me a
mystery.
I had to keep the loss of the ammunition a secret,
even from the soldiers; except, of course, what they
themselves had seen wet in their cartridge boxes.
I therefore filled two empty ammunition boxes with
saud, and had them covered with hide, and placed
under a guard, as if full of powder, which I con-
ceived absolutely necessary, my situation being ex-
tremely critical, with so many convicts under my
charge. The ground where the town and garden
had been, was covered with sand, and the wreck of
which had been left behind. The mole and watering
place were likewise destroyed. I placed a strong
guard in the castle, over what had been saved,
and, with the officers and troops, took up my quar-
ters in caves, which the former governors had made
for the residence of the prisoners. The convicts re-
mained at large, for their prison had been filled with
water, and their cottages swept away. During the
night, until about two or three o'clock in the morn-
ing, there appeared, at intervals, violent volcanic
eruptions, which kept all of us awake, and in con-
stant dread of something happening even more ter-
rible than what we had experienced. These pheno-
mena had been preceded from sunset by heavy flashes
of lightning, in the direction where I had seen the
smoke before mentioned. The day following I went
in the boat with a lead and line to sound where I had
observed the smoke, but found no alteration in the
bottom, as all the coast near the point of Bacalao is
full of fissures, and on shore there are still remains
of a crater near the place where the eruption ex-
ploded. There was a great quantity of dead fish
floating; we picked up a number of fowls, and some
dead sheep that had been drowned, and also a variety
of articles that had been washed out to sea. Wish-
ing to collect all the information possible, in order to
forward to the government an accurate report of
what had happened, I ordered the Chaplain, Com-
missioned Officers, and Sergeants, also the Governor
of the prisoners, to collect me what information they
could, and to communicate the same to me in writing,
with their own separate observations, which are as
follow:-
The Chaplain's Account.
"Juan Fernandez, Feb. 21st, 1835.
"SENOR GOBERNADOR,-At the moment the sea
began to retire, I ran to the hills, for which reason
I cannot give an exact account of what happened
yesterday; but on my return I found that the sea
had destroyed and carried away the greatest part of
the houses, leaving only the store-house, on account
of your having repaired and strengthened it lately
with a brick and mortar foundation. The residence
of the prisoners (Galpon) and the chapel also have
escaped, no doubt on account of having been re-
paired, as well as a few cottages, built on an elevated
situation. This is all I can relate to V. S. con-
cerning our disaster.
"FRAY JOSE RAMON RAMIREZ, Capellan."
The Commandant's Account.
"Juan Fernandez, Feb. 21st.
"SENOR GOBERNADOR,—V. S. has ordered me
to give my account of what I observed on the 20th
of February. On that day, about half-past eleven in
the morning, I observed, for the first time, the sea
rise and cover the mole and place of debarkation of
this port. Shorly after it retired about two quadras
(about 300 yards), and returned and covered the
town up to the foot of the hills; and on it returning
again, it carried away the greatest part of the houses,
gardens, fences, &c., having left only the store--house,
which must be owing to your having recently
strengthened it with a brick foundation; the Galpon.
also and church, which had been repaired; besides
some cottages, in which the families of my soldiers
reside; these on account of their being on an eleva-
tion. Of my troops, I can give you no account of
their losses until I make an exact inspection of the
whole.
"NOBERTO AGUAYO."
The Lieutenant's Account.
"Juan Fernandez, Feb. 21st, 1835.
"SENOR CAPITAN,-Whilst on the walls of the
Castle of Santa Barbara, about half-past eleven
yesterday, I observed the sea rise more than twelve
yards from its usual depth, and shortly after it retired
with precipitation to the distance of two quadras
(300 yards), and returned with velocity, and, in a
moment, overwhelmed the town. The store-house,
Galpon, and church have escaped; the first because,
no doubt, it has so lately been repaired a yard and a
half from the ground with bricks and mortar.
soldiers, fishermen, and prisoners escaped to the
hills, losing all their effects, &c. From about seven
in the evening there appeared at the Punta de Ba-
calao volcanic eruptions, which only lasted until about
two in the morning. This is all I can relate or affirm.
"FRANCISCO MOLINA.”
The First Sergeant's Account.
The
"Island of Juan Fernandez, Feb. 24th, 1835.
"SENOR CAPITAN,-On the 20th February, I
was in my quarters, and about eleven in the morn-
ing I heard the Governor, who was in the castle,
call out to beat to arms, saying the sea was rising.
I immediately ran to my company, and whilst the sea
was retiring to about two quadras distance, it only
gave us time to save part of our armament and
knapsacks before it returned. We escaped to the
Castle of Santa Barbara, where I formed with my
company, and from whence I observed the move-
ments of the sea, which covered the town and carried
away many houses, fences, trees, &c. &c.
church and Galpon escaped, although the water rose
about three yards round it, but it had been recently
repaired; also the store-house, which had been for-
tified 2 yards from the foundation with bricks and
mortar. During the night, I had the advanced guard
on the castle walls, and about seven I observed vol-
The
canic flames arise in the direction of the Punta de
Bacalao, but ceased before the day broke. This is
all I can relate concerning what has happened.
"PABLO GONZALES.”
The Mayoral's (Governor of Prisoners) Account.
"SENOR CAPELLAN,-On Friday the 20th Feb-
ruary of this present year, at about eleven in the
morning, whilst I was in the store-house, I heard
some one call out, saying, 'secure the boats,' and on
going out I saw it was the Governor, who was seated
on the castle wall, that gave the order, on which I
went to order the men to the beach to carry the boats
up; but we had scarcely got twelve paces when,
observing the sea to rise, I ran and called the Go-
vernor to secure his equipage, &c., but he ordered
us to save the boats. The sea had retired about a
quadra, and I saw two anchors, and something like
the smoke of a volcano in the figure of a white tower
in front of the Punta de Bacalao; and as the sea was
retiring I ran to the castle, and when I got there I
observed the sea had covered all the town, and on
receding carried away the greater part of the houses,
plants, fences, &c. The provision store escaped, on
account of the Governor having had it repaired
with a foundation of brick. The Galpon had also
been repaired, as well as the church, and these, as
well as some cottages, which were on an elevated
situation, remained. This is all I can state as falling
under my observation.
"GABRIEL SALDIAS.
"Juan Fernandez, Feb. 24th, 1835."
Felix Baesa's Account (Clerk to the Store-keeper).
"SENOR CAPELLAN,-On_the morning of the
20th February, about mid-day, I was in the Quebrada
del Yunque (a mountain most elevated in the island),
cutting some timber for oars, with three companions,
on a hill from which we could see the port and town,
and was surprised by the moving of a tree that I was
leaning against; but believing it to be caused by the
wind, which was blowing fresh, I took no more.
notice; but soon after I felt various shocks of an
earthquake, which lasted for a quarter of an hour,
and it shook to violently that the trees beat against
each other, and large masses of rock came tumbling
down, carrying the trees and all before them. Such
a scene terrified us, as did also a tremendous explo-
sion which took place. On looking towards the port
I saw the plain covered with the sea, and the roofs
of houses, and other articles, floating on its surface.
We immediately returned, and found that the sea
had destroyed the town, and done a great injury to
all of us. This is all I can relate concerning what
has happened.
"FELIX BAESA.
"Juan Fernandez, Feb. 24th, 1835."
I made out my official account to forward to go-
vernment, stating what fell under my own observa-
tion, enclosing, at the same time, duplicates of nine
accounts, of which I have here translated five word
for word, as they were the best of a number which I
had sent to me by persons who had witnessed what
happened on the 20th of February.
I cannot refrain from mentioning the following
fact:-A favourite pointer bitch, called " Chula,'
had pupped on the 17th of February, and was in my
servant's room when my house was destroyed. I
supposed, therefore, she and her four pups had been
drowned, but was agreeably surprised to see her
scampering towards me with one she had saved,
which I took from her. She immediately returned
to the sea, from whence she soon came back with
9
something in her mouth, which proved to be a
pigeon, which was dead, but still warm. She laid it
near the pup, and again went; but as the sea had
retired to some distance, she returned, and threw
herself down nearly exhausted, and began to caress
her pup, which still lives, and which I called
"Friday," as the earthquake took place on that day.
(James Whitehead, Esq., who accompanied me to
the island, has brought Friday to Liverpool.)
I was occupied more than a week collecting the
wreck of the town and other articles that were afloat
or left on the beach. I picked up a quantity of books
and papers which were strewed about, but they were
nearly destroyed, or illegible. I deposited all I
saved in the church, and there, also, took up my
quarters, for the caves were uncomfortable and wet.
The ship Cyrus, an American whaler, Capt. Hussey,
arrived on the 28th, from whom I got a little powder
and other articles; also some tools, of which I was
much in want. My having repaired the store in the
manner I did, by putting a brick foundation, to a
house which had been built of" adobes" (dried mud),
and fixing strong doors to it on the evening before
the earthquake, was a most fortunate circumstance,
to which alone can be attributed that all our pro-
visions were saved, and which otherwise would have
been totally lost or destroyed, and we should have
been reduced to a miserable condition, until such
time that succours might be sent from the Continent.
Providence, however, was kind, although we suf-
fered a great deal. Had the earthquake happened
during the night, scarcely a soul could have escaped.
On the 18th of March the Chilian brig-of-war,
Achilles, Capt. Simpson, arrived with three months.
provisions, and some convicts. She was laden with
timber and planks, and had a number of carpenters
on board, to take to Talcahuana, which had also
been destroyed. So not to detain her, I received
the provisions and other articles she had brought,
without her coming to an anchor. Capt. Simpson
was so kind as to supply me with 1,000 ball car-
tridges and some flints, and also an ample share of
his own private stock of necessaries, books, &c. He
brought me no correspondence from Government;
but he gave me several private letters and some
newspapers, from which last, the following is a trans-
lation taken of the official account addressed to the
Intendente of Conception, from the principal sea-
port of that province :-
"Talcahuana, Feb. 23rd, 1835.
“Senor InteNDENTE,-On the 20th instant, at
twenty minutes past eleven o'clock, a.m., we ex-
perienced a most tremendous earthquake, which in
the space of three minutes threw down all the roofs
and the greatest part of the edifices of this town, and
the almost continuous shocks which followed aug-
mented progressively the destruction.
"About half-past twelve o'clock, there appeared
near the Boca Chica, and near the coast of Tome, an
immense rolling wave, which in a majestic but
dreadful manner advanced, overwhelmed and de-
stroyed the numerous villages on the coast, overturn-
ing the rocks in its passage; and, to consummate the
work of destruction, sweeping to their foundations
the edifices to the eastward.
"In a few minutes the sea receded about twelve
quadras, leaving the vessels in the bay dry, carrying
with it the property which formed the fortunes of my
townsmen, and of the inhabitants of the province;
and it were as if the inhabitants of the centre and
the creek (Caleta) were not to be favoured, for
there came at half-past one, a mass of water as
smooth as a basin of milk, which bathed all that had
escaped the fury of the first rollers, and destroyed
their habitations. About twenty minutes after the
sea retired, the vessels began to run foul of each
other, and got their cables entangled in an incon-
ceivable manner.
B
"About the same time was observed near the
Boca Grande de la Quiriquina (an island so called),
an immense foaming surge of a prodigious height,
which passed by the Island of Rocuan, overwhelming
in destruction the villages, drowning at the same
time the inhabitants and cattle, up to the Perales.
"The shocking effects of this terrible phenomenon
are shewn by all the buildings being torn from their
foundations, and so mixed, that no one can find or
discern his property; in the town from 30 to 40
have fallen victims to this dreadful blow.
feroz como inesperado."
"Tan
"The particular accounts of what has happened
from the movements of the earth and sea are so
strange and numerous, that I have abstained from
relating them, for fear of being accused of exaggera-
tion. The following one is sufficient :-The lady of
Capt. Rogers, on the sea's first retiring, strove to
embark with her children, but was so unfortunate as
to be thrown by the rolling billow to the distance of
six quadras inland, with three of her children, in one
of the fragments of the boat; her fourth child, who
had held fast to a piece, not the twentieth part of the
boat, was picked up near to Lilcuen, by a boat com-
ing to this port, nearly exhausted, but now this for-
tunate little creature is recovered. Lastly, a huge
mass of rock, which it is calculated must weigh
25,000 tons, fell from the mountains of the Quiri-
quina, on the side of Boca Grande, in the bay of
Talcahuana.—Dios gue, &c.
"MIGUEL BAYON."
The accounts from Conception, Chillan, Los Ange-
les, Colcura, Puchacay, Coclemu, Rere, Cauquenes,
Linares, Peral, and Arauco, cities and towns to the
southward of the Maule, in like manner Talca and
Nueva Bilbao, were all involved in the like disaster
and ruin.
The effects of the sea, except in the last-mentioned
place, where two schooners, the Juana and Gertrudes,
were left in the neighbouring woods, high and dry,
and others on the beach, were dreadful. The dis-
astrous effects were extended as far as Curico; which,
however, suffered but little. The shock was violent
in Santiago and Valparaiso, and neighbouring towns,
but no damage was suffered in them.
By what I read in the public papers, I had not
been the only sufferer. My loss was calculated at
more than 3,000 dollars, yet I fared no worse than
many of my neighbours on the Continent. But I
really felt sorry for my poor fishermen, who, besides
losing all they had possessed (including 600 seal
skins, which being of the fur kind, were worth three
or more dollars each), were in a state of nudity.
I informed government of the state of the prisoners,
soliciting clothing, some agricultural implements,
and carpenters' tools. Having already bought some,
and received a few from the Achilles, I began to
form a new town, on the very spot where Commo-
dore Anson had his tents pitched, according to an
engraving I had in the history of his voyage round
the world, which I called Anson's Town; and to the
beautiful and romantic valley in which it was situated,
I gave the name of Anson's Dale. The captains of
several whalers, which touched for wood, water, and
vegetables, were much amused by the novelty of
being received and entertained in my cave, for the
rats had driven me out of the quarters I had taken
up
in the church. These animals are very numerous
and mischievous. I had destroyed great numbers
with arsenic, and am sure that myriads must have
been swept away and killed by the earthquake.
Seal of Office.)
Ministry of the Interior, No. 207,
"Santiago, April 28th, 1835.
"I have received your two official notes of the
26th February and 12th March last, in which you
refer to the extraordinary phenomenon that was ob
10
served on account of the earthquake, which took
place on that island. The President, to whom I
have given an account of both, has ordered them to
be published, to the end of preserving for the history
of this country, the memory of such an extraordinary
event. His Excellency charges me to inform you,
that government will attend to the necessities to which
the establishment has been reduced, in order to suc-
cour you as soon as possible.-God guard you.
"JOAQUIN TOCORNAL."
EXTRACTS RELATIVE TO THE INSURRECTION.
On the 7th of July, the Colocolo came in from
Talcahuana, and brought a sergeant and eighteen
men of the company of Grenadiers, of the battalion
of Valdivia, to replace those she had taken away to
the Continent. I received no answers to my official
notes addressed to the Governor Intendant, Com-
mandant of the battalion Valdivia, and the Com-
mandant of the battalion Carampangue; but what
surprised me still more was, that the purser of the
Colocolo had not brought any of the articles which
I had given him cash to purchase for me; and on
my demanding his reasons for having acted in such
a manner, knowing that we were in want of the
common necessaries of life, occasioned by the
earthquake and by government only allowing me
flour and dried beef as rations, he said that Captain
Dias had prohibited his embarking the necessaries,
although he had at the time already given the order
for all I had sent for to be purchased. On requiring
of Captain Dias an explanation of such reproachful,
not to say inhuman conduct, he replied, his vessel
was a man-of-war, and that the purser had acted ac-
cording to his orders. So not to have words with
this person, whose conduct led me to believe that
something was in machination to injure me in Con-
ception as well as in Santiago, I gave orders to
Ugalde to embark and demand his receipts for the
cash and rations I had let him have; besides a friend
of mine (William Delano, Esq.), who had come
passenger in the Colocolo and spent the night on
shore, informed me that all was not right. He had
heard of my having sent for provisions, &c., and that
the commandant of the Colocolo had not allowed them
to be embarked, as well as other circumstances,
which made him believe that I had a bad set to deal
with. I sat up all night to despatch the vessel, and
sent a copious correspondence to government, in
which I detailed all the particulars concerning
Ugalde's behaviour, and stated my conviction that a
combination had been formed against me by Latta-
piat and others; and above all, begging that the
troops which garrisoned the island should be relieved
as soon as possible, for I could not answer for the
security of the establishment with such an insu-
bordinate set. I also packed off the two fisher-
men, with their new contractor, Ugalde, who pro-
mised to maintain them until he should return to take
charge of the island, &c. I sent my correspondence
on board at day-light, with orders for the Colocolo
to sail. Shortly after she had got under weigh, I
heard a noise, and going to the door, saw she was in
danger of getting on shore. I immediately ordered my
boats to be in readiness, and on observing the vessel
to be handled in an unseamanlike manner, I went on
board and found Captain Dias at a loss what to do
with her, on which I took command, and with the
help of my boats and launch I got her from amongst
the breakers, and after she was in safety and out of
the bay, I gave her up to Captain Dias, and desired
him to inform government, on his arrival in Valpa-
raiso, that if they had a vessel of war called the
Colocolo in their service they were indebted to me
for her. He took particular care not to mention a
word about this affair; but, conjointly with Ugalde,
he spread the most infamous reports against me in
Valparaiso, &c. &c. I felt proud of having had it in
my power to render such a service to government,
which must have mortified both Ugalde and Captain
Dias. I told the latter, as I was leaving the vessel,
that I had no doubt but that the next time I should
require him to bring me necessaries or provisions,
he would do it, for now I had a right to occupy his
vessel, as I was entitled to salvage.
I sent nearly all my money, one thousand dollars,
and documents of importance, away with my friend
Delano; and I also confided to his care the official
note respecting Ugalde, to prevent its being de-
stroyed. A few days after the Colocolo had sailed,
I was informed that Captain Saldes had received
communications from the Governor Intendant of
Conception, Don N. Alemparte. I was surprised that
this personage should have written to the officer under
my command, and not have deigned to answer my
official note. I sent for Saldes, who denied having
received any correspondence, but upon my pressing
him hard upon the subject, he acknowledged having
received a letter from the major of his battalion, and
went to fetch it for me to read. It was advice of his
being promoted to the rank of captain, and he re-
quested I would publish his promotion, which I
would not accede to, on account of his commission
not having been sent. He seemed displeased at my
not conforming to his wishes, and left off coming to
dine with me, on which I reprimanded him, and gave
him orders to attend daily at table. He came, but
seldom eat. I also observed a greater familiarity be-
tween him and the priest than had existed before the
Colocolo's arrival. I prohibited the latter keeping
his house open to late hours, and gave orders to my
store-keeper, not to let him or the officers have any
liquor. I was determined to keep the prisoners
whom I had placed on the small island, there, until I
should hear from government, notwithstanding that
the priest and Saldes often expressed themselves
that it was cruel to keep them away from their
families, now that the piquet had arrived; but I
silenced them at length, by telling them, they had
better attend to their own duties, for I was the only
person responsible to government, and I well knew
what was necessary under existing circumstances.
My gardener, who had fallen from a tree, by
which he had broken his arm and shattered his wrist
in a shocking manner, would have died for want of
surgical assistance, but for the timely arrival of the
English whaler, the Caroline, Captain Meek, hav-
ing on board a surgeon, who amputated his arm.
From this vessel I got a good supply of necessarios ;
for American whalers, that touch for refreshments,
are often very short of what we wanted. They
seldom had wine or liquors on board, and were most
of them temperance ships; but on shore they did not
spare the grog, and all took large quantums of liquor,
and what they call mint julep (and termed it medi-
cine). On the 29th of July, a French whaler, the
Dunkerquoise, came for refreshment. She hove to
and sent her boats on shore; the chaplain and Saldes
requested leave to board her, but being at a consider-
able distance, I refused. Indeed, I never did allow
any person to board vessels, unless at anchor. They
both seemed very much mortified, and the chaplain
expressed himself in such terms, that I was under
the necessity of ordering him to keep his house. My
store-keeper went off to her with refreshments, which
I sent in a present to the captain, who was unwell;
and I entertained the first officer and surgeon, until
gun-fire, in the best manner the place afforded. It
blew very hard during the night, and next day, it
being hazy, no vessel was in sight. I fired a beacon
the ensuing night, and about one in the morning my
boat returned with various articles which Duncan
had purchased. The captain wrote me a polite note,
telling me he had been obliged to hoist my boat in,
on account of the weather, and that next day he
would come into the harbour and pay me a visit.
I was pleased at the safe return of my boat, and also
at the supplies received thereby.
About six next morning, Captain Saldes came to
request the rations for his soldiers; but on account
of Duncan being much fatigued, I told him to wait
until ten o'clock. He then said that they had nothing
to eat; so I ordered the bread to be taken up into
the castle, to be there distributed, as the whaler was
close to the bay, and the captain to allow only two or
three at a time to come down from the castle, to re-
ceive their provisions. About eight o'clock the cap-
tain came, with a request in writing to let him have
a month's pay for his company. Having always let
the soldiers have their pay and rations on the same
day, notwithstanding I had not any money belonging
to government, I ordered him to make out a pay
list for the month of July, and that I would advance
the amount. I then went to the mole, to examine
the boat, which had returned, and observing a num
ber of the soldiers outside the castle, I ordered them
to be called in and kept there whilst the whaler was
near, as I intended going on board of her. A short
time after I had counted the money (547 dollars four
rials), and whilst Saldes was re-counting it, the ser-
geant of the piquet, José Docagua, ran into the
room, and informed me that the convicts had taken
possession of the castle, and at the same moment I
heard the report of two muskets. This surprised
me exceedingly, having but an hour before given the
captain orders to keep the soldiers in the castle,
where there was a main-guard of a sergeant, two
corporals, and fourteen men; a barrack-guard of a
corporal, and four men, besides a corporal placed
over five men who were employed building the store-
house. I called the captain to account for his neg-
lect, &c.; he informed me that he had given orders
to the sergeant on guard, and other excuses, on which
I ordered him to assemble all his soldiers, and that
those who had bayonets, should fix them on sticks; I
told the store-keeper to distribute all the offensive tools
he had amongst them; and in the meantime I called
the "Mayoral," and ordered him to assemble all the
prisoners behind the church; and, abandoning the
money, I began with two or three convicts (for I was
determined to restore order), with their aid to prepare
the arms I had in my house, which were one blun-
derbuss, two muskets, one rifle, one fowling-piece,
two double-barreled pistols, and four pair of horse
and pocket pistols, besides three swords, one sabre,
one sword-stick, and 2,000 ball cartridges. I selected
twelve prisoners, among whom having distributed my
arms, I placed the ammunition, and some bread and
dried beef in sacks for them to carry with them, and
then ordered Duncan to destroy all the boats, except-
ing one, to prevent the mutineers boarding the
whaler. Two sergeants, one corporal, and three
soldiers, begged earnestly to be allowed to assist and
accompany me, so I gave them fire-arms, and ordered
them to gain the height which commanded the castle
and that, as soon as they should observe me, to sally
forth from my house, to open their fire upon the
mutineers, who were on the castle wall. I also sent
for the chaplain, and ordered him to go and demand
what were the intentions of the mutineers, thinking
that the soldiers had joined the convicts, for all
whom I could see were in uniform; and to let them
know, that if they would surrender, and return to
their duty, I would pardon them; but, if they did
not immediately do so, I had the means, and would
storm the castle, and shoot all I caught alive. He
went, and shortly returned, saying, that they would
not come to terms until they had the command of the
island, and something to eat: that hunger had com-
pelled them to take such a desperate step. The
priest advised me to embark on board the whaler,
stating that the resolution was only against my per-
son, &c. I, to convince his paternidad that I had
nought to fear from the prisoners, called him up into
my house, and showed him that my person, and every
thing belonging to me, was in the hands of the pri-
soners, and with whom I intended to reduce the rest,
even without the aid of the troops. I also mentioned,
that I had more confidence in them than in the sol-
diers; for what had taken place had confirmed my
suspicions that I was beset by an infernal crew.
desired him to retire to his house until all was settled.
This reverend personage, however, thought fit to
avail himself of the opportunity to enter the store,
and seize upon a demi-john of liquor, and was making
off with it; but on my being apprised of the circum-
stance, I ordered it to be taken from him. It was
really a ludicrous scene, notwithstanding the very
serious and critical dilemma pending, to see the
priest and Duncan tugging at the demi-john; and but
for a chance ball, which hit somewhere about the
heel of the priest's shoe, I apprehend the demi-john
and its contents would have remained upon the spot.
I
Whilst I was anxiously pondering who might really
be in possession of the castle, two women came down,
and from then I obtained the information, that there
were only thirty-six prisoners in the castle, and that
they were dressed in the soldiers' uniforms; that
Juan Lillo Robles was their chief; and that he had
gone out with four others to bring more people to
the castle; also that the Ensign Riquelme and several
soldiers were prisoners in the barrack-room. Captain
Saldes now made his appearance, bringing with him
about thirty soldiers. He demanded the arms and
ammunition I had in my house; to which I replied,
"Where are the arms and ammunition I entrusted
to you, as well as the castle which was in your care?
in whose possession is it now?" He replied that the
prisoners had got possession of them; on which I told
him that all the arms I had in my house were my own
private property, and that with them I should main-
tain my authority, and in the last extremity defend
myself and the few that were with me so long as I
lived; and upon his reiterating his demand, I turned
round upon the soldiers with an air of determination,
and in the most peremptory manner, ordered them
instantly to place themselves under the command of
a sergeant. I then immediately divided all the offen-
sive tools, and some lances, amongst them, and to a
sergeant and a corporal, who had first offered their
services, I gave fire-arms, with orders to place the
party in the rear of the castle in order to secure the
prisoners by cutting off their retreat, in case I should
succeed in driving them out of it. I next formed my
party, which consisted of Sergeant Docagua, one cor-
poral, and four soldiers, the mayoral, Cruz Sanchez,
and eleven of the prisoners whom I selected from
about thirty who offered to accompany me, leaving
the rest with Duncan to guard my house and stores
during the conflict. As I was starting, the captain
came up and begged I would allow him to accompany
me in the assault; I told him he might do so, and
gave him a pistol which I had just discharged as a
signal to the party on the height, who, as had been
preconcerted, immediately opened their fire on those in
the castle. I sallied out, and ordered my men to keep
up the fire as they were advancing, which we were
doing quickly; but, whilst re-loading my rifle, some one
behind gave me a violent push, and I fell over a log of
wood, and my ramrod was instantly snatched from my
12
hand; I got up as quick as possible, and turning
round and cocking a pistol, demanded who had taken
my ramrod, and had dared to push me. I received
no answer, but I perceived the captain and three of
the prisoners running off towards the priest's house.
One of them I found was the master blacksmith, the
person to whom I had chosen to entrust a basket
that held my ammunition and percussion caps. I
had no time to lose in observations, &c., so we ad-
vanced under the fire of the mutineers, who wounded
two of the party, and entered the castle. We killed
two, wounded six, and took fourteen prisoners; the
rest escaped with their fire-arms to the mountains, on
account of the party which I had ordered to the rear
of the castle not having arrived soon enough to in-
tercept them, although I had allowed ample time for
them to have taken up the appointed position. I
found the muskets piled against the castle walls, and
many of them had been rendered useless, by having
their locks broken. I then hastened to take posses-
sion of the height that commanded the castle, and
soon after arriving there I observed the captain en-
tering the castle over the wall, close to the flag-staff,
where it requires the use of the utmost agility to
climb. I ordered a gun to be fired, to recall the
soldiers and others who had fled to the mountains.
I sent for the chaplain, and ordered him to prepare
the prisoners, for I was determined on shooting them
all at sunset. I required the captain to account for
the castle's falling into the hands of the prisoners,
and charged him with having deserted me during
the assault. He laid all the blame of the castle's
being taken to Sergeant Altamirano, who was in the
command of the main-guard; and said that he only
ran to the priest's house for his sword, and that af-
terwards he had fallen in with two of the mutineers;
that he had wounded one of them, José Maria
Candia, and had left him in the priest's house, with
another he had taken. I ordered the sergeant to be
sought and put into confinement along with the rest
of the guard; as, in like manner, all those who were
on duty when the affair took place. I then sent for
the men whom Saldes had taken prisoners. One of
these stated that the captain had wounded him. I
took the declarations of the prisoners myself, in the
presence of the officers, of the chaplain, and of the
mayoral of the prisoners, who signed for all those
who could not sign their names or write, and cer-
tified as to the authenticity of the rest of the signa-
tures. I found that all those whom I had taken had
been forced into the castle by Lillo Robles; so I
ordered them to draw lots, in order that I might
make an exemplary punishment by shooting four.
Whilst they were on their way to the place of exe-
cution, at sunset, I was informed that one of them
had his wife with him, on which, to testify my
approbation of the conduct of 158 prisoners who
were on the island when I arrived, who had not
taken part in the insurrection, I gave them leave,
as a reward for their good behaviour, to pardon
one of the four, hoping sincerely they would select
the married man, but they saved another. As soon
as the execution was over, I gave the captain strict
orders to send me a statement, in writing, of what
had taken place before he retired to rest. I also
sent my boat, and ordered the others to be repaired,
to fetch the people who were in the different bays,
as well as all their effects, in order that those who
had absconded might not receive any assistance or
provisions. And after having regulated and given
the necessary orders to the patroles I had formed of
the prisoners who had assisted me, to preserve order
during the night, I retired to my chamber, and al-
though much fatigued with the day's occurrence, I
passed a sleepless night, ruminating on the dangers.
I had so wonderfully escaped. About eleven o'clock
I heard a loud knocking at my door, and on in-
quiring what was the matter, a soldier came to me
who had been sent by the priest for a bottle of liquor.
I asked this man who the priest had in his house.
He told me the captain, the alferes, and cadet; on
which I sent the priest a reprimand, with orders to
dismiss his guests, and ar order to them at the same
time to retire to their quarters. I sent to the cap-
tain for his statement alluded to above, and was an-
swered that he was writing it. At length daylight
appeared, and on account of his disobedience of my
orders, I came to the determination of arresting him.
I sent for Ensign Riquelme and Sergeant Docagua,
to put my orders into execution, but the officer re-
fused to obey my summons, and the sergeant sent to
inform me that he had orders from his captain not
to quit the castle. I had already, from the captain's
conduct and the behaviour of the ensign, entertained
the belief that they had been abettors of the revolu-
tion, for how was it possible that a few unarmed
prisoners could surprise and take possession of a
castle garrisoned by 68 soldiers, after the captain
having received strict orders, too, to keep them in
the castle and under arms, shortly before the event
took place? The letters which I received shortly
before from my friends on the Continent, and the
chaplain's earnest entreaties for me to embark in the
hour of danger, stating that the mutineers only
wanted to seize upon me, and to wreak upon me
their vengeance or revenge, &c., confirmed my sus-
picions of their treachery. On the point of leaving
my house to repair to the castle, to arrest Saldes,
the ensign came in; and on my demanding the reason
he did not obey my summons, he said he had orders
to that effect from his captain, who had sent him to
me to inform me that he had assumed the military
command on account of the occurrences of the 1st,
and would only acknowledge me as the political Go-
vernor until he should hear from government; so
that whatever I wanted with the captain, he said,
must be done in an official manner! I inquired of
this officer how he and the castle fell into the hands
of the convicts, but he only told me he had received
orders not to answer my questions. My situation
was critical. I informed him that both he and the
captain would have heavy charges to answer; that
was confident they had been deceived, and induced
to act in such an improper manner by persons who
would leave them in the lurch when brought to an
account; and on observing the sergeant, who had
been on guard the day before, pass by, I inquired by
whose orders he had been set at liberty, The ensign
informed me that none of the guard were in confine-
ment. I immediately sent an official note to Captain
Saldes, requiring him to give an account how the
castle, arms, ammunition, Ensign Riquelme, and
four soldiers, had fallen into the hands of the con-
victs. The ensign himself was the bearer, and de-
livered it to his captain.
In the evening the mayoral came and informed
me that a convict had arrived from a distant part of
the island, with a message from the mutineers to the
captain and priest, saying that they were waiting for
their orders to surrender themselves; and that they
suffered for want of provisions. I sent for this in-
dividual, and inquired how he had met with them.
He told me that he had obtained leave from the
mayoral to fetch a quantity of dried lobsters from the
place he had been to, on a fishing excursion, and on
his way back he had been stopped by Lillo Robles
and 13 others, who were dressed in soldiers' clothes,
and had muskets; that they had deprived him of his
lobsters, and sent him to the captain and priest. I
asked him why they had applied to those persons,
knowing me to be their Governor, and who alone
had power to pardon them. He replied that they
did not even mention my name until one, called
Gutierrez, said he would not surrender, for fear of
being shot by the Gringo, as he had little dependance
on the padre's promise. This made me confident
that some understanding must have existed between
the captain, chaplain, and prisoners, before the castle
13
fell into the hands of the latter; but not having yet
got hold of any of the eight who had entered and
taken possession of the castle, to take their declara-
tions, I could not unravel the mystery. I then de-
sired this convict to return and offer my pardon to
all, excepting the two ring leaders, Lillo and Guti-
errez. This night the wife of one of the soldiers
who were on guard when the castle fell into the hands
of the convicts, came and informed me that the cap.
tain had ordered the soldiers to leave the castle
without their arms; and whilst they were going down
the hill, the captain having observed me walking
towards the mole, recalled them; that this was just
before she heard me call to him, and ordered them
to be kept in the castle; and that about an hour af-
terwards the sergeant, Altamirano, who was in charge
of the guard, formed the whole of them, only leaving
one sentry, and marched them down the hill; and
then Lillo Robles and seven others ran in and took
possession of the arms, &c., and made the sentry and
Ensign Riquelme prisoners; that they then put on
soldiers' clothing, and stationed four on the walls;
that Lillo Robles went out with two others, and re-
turned with about thirty men. This information
opened my eyes at once; but what could I do? I
rewarded the woman, and bade her keep what she
had told me a perfect secret even from her husband,
whom I should also protect; in short, that her own
safety would be endangered were it to become known
that she had even taken notice of such things, or was
privy to such facts. I thought it high time to adopt
some means of securing my papers, taking duplicates
of the most interesting, for which purpose I had to
sit up all night. Next morning I gave orders to my
store-keeper to ration the troops up to the 16th Sep-
tember, two days over the time I had received pro-
visions for them, and the prisoners up to the 14th;
and to demand the receipts from the captain and the
mayoral for the same in triplicate; and to take an
exact account of all the provisions that remained in
store, as well as of the tools and other articles I had
received from government; and to get receipts for
what were in use from the mayoral, carpenter, and
blacksmith, so as to enable me, at a moment's warn-
ing, to give up what I had in charge, or leave the
island; for now I plainly saw I had a most villainous
set to deal with, and that the captain must be acting
according to instructions he might have received from
Ugalde, or others on the Continent. On the 3rd I
was informed that the chaplain and officers were
convened, and that their conversation was about my
having starved the prisoners, and robbed them of
their rations. I therefore went to them, and required
them to accompany me to the depôt at the dinner
hour, in order to investigate whether the convicts
had cause to complain for want of provisions, as the
padre capellan had told me that they had stated to
him it had been the reason of their taking the castle.
I also demanded of the captain to give me his written
account, in answer to my official note, as well as his
reasons for having usurped the military command,
and for ordering the soldiers to have no communi-
cation with me; to which he replied, he had his in-
structions, and knew what he was about, adding that
until he should hear from government he would only
acknowledge me as political Governor. I then told
him and the chaplain that I was aware they had been
led on to commit themselves by Ugalde, or some
other person on the Continent, and that government
would never sanction or approve such conduct, which
was contrary to all military rules and regulations;
and that I was sorry I had no means to uphold
my authority. We went to the depôt, and I ordered
the prisoners to inform the chaplain and captain what
rations had been delivered to them since my arrival
on the island, and to state the motives of the defec-
tion of Lillo Robles and his accomplices; and leaving
them I went out of the yard, and as soon as the priest
and captain had concluded their investigation, I gave
the following order :-
Aug. 3rd, 1835.
"GOBIERNO DE JUAN FERNANDEZ,-The chap-
lain, Fray Juan Evangelista Lopez, and the com-
mandant of the garrison, Don Nicolas Saldes, will
declare, at the foot of this, what have been the results
of their investigations of to-day in the depôt, in regard
to the maintenance of the prisoners since my arrival
on this island. Dios guarde á V.V., &c.
"THOMAS SUTCLIFFE."
"Juan Fernandez, August 3rd, 1835.
"SENOR GOBERNADOR, DON TOMAS SUT-
CLIFFE,―The chaplain who subscribes, has the
honour to inform V.S., that on this present day he
assisted at the investigation held in the depôt of the
convicts, during their dinner hour, in company of
Captain Don Nicholas Saldes, and, having weighed
the rations, found that each individual has received
five pounds eight ounces of meal, beans, pepper,
and salt, &c.,* daily, since the last remittance of
provisions arrived from the Continent; and that, in
the time of scarcity, they had received four pounds
of the same, according to the weights and measures.
This is all I can inform V.S. in obsequiousness of
the truth, and in compliance with your order. I
avail myself of this opportunity to offer to V.S. my
consideration and respect.
"FRAY JUAN EVANGELISTA LOPEZ."
* On account of the quantity of goats and fish, the
prisoners had requested a greater quantity of meal, &c.,
in lieu of dried beef (charke.)
"Juan Fernandez, August 3rd, 1835.
"In compliance with the order of V.S. I have
here to state, that the prisoners have received five
pounds eight ounces of victuals daily; and, in the
time of scarcity, four pounds, according to the
weights and measures. These rations are composed
of meal, beans, fat, salt, pepper, &c.
NICOLAS SALDES."
I also requested Captain Saldes to give me the re-
ceipt for the provisions he had received for himself
and soldiers, and he sent me the following:
"Juan Fernandez, August 4th, 1835.
"I have received from the store-keeper the pro-
visions belonging to my troops, for forty-five days,
counted from the first of the present month; also
the total that belonged to them before that date,
except flour, having received, as requested, two
loaves each, daily, in lieu of it; and I myself have
received double rations up to the 13th of September,
as well as the candles for the barracks and the main-
guard.
"NICOLAS SALDES."
"Juan Fernandez, June 16th, 1835.
Having been informed that you have given orders
that no more bread shall be issued to my soldiers,
and that they are to receive the flour as it is sent to
them from the Continent, I beg that, as it is in your
power to grant them bread as hitherto, your noto-
rious bounty and goodness will be pleased to order
them the same rations as before, if it be not attended
with too great inconvenience. God preserve V. S.
many years.
"NICOLAS SALDES."
The foregoing documents and receipts, and the
earnest solicitation to have bread in lieu of flour,
amply exonerate me from any charges that might
have been sent against me to the Continent, or made
afterwards, with respect to mal-administration of the
14
provisions; although, in fact, I have had to main-
tain thirty or forty ever since the Achilles brought
the prisoners, as up to this date I had only received
rations for 158 individuals, having 200 to maintain.
Out of thirty declarations I had already taken of
persons who had taken part in the insurrection of
the 1st, only one complained of hunger, and he was
the man who had charge of my poultry, and, besides
his rations, had an extra allowance of two loaves daily,
and the range of my kitchen.
Juan Lillo Robles, who headed the party that
took possession of the castle, and seemed the most
inveterate against me, was a convict, whom I had
orders from government to keep in constant confine-
ment; but on account of several of the most respect-
able inhabitants of Chile having interested themselves
solicitously in his behaif, I had not only given him
a cottage with a plot of ground to it, and money,
but had allowed him his rations, without ever having
obliged him to work with the rest of his companions.
The others who had aided him, were those who had
arrived in the Colocolo and Achilles, since the earth-
quake, without rations. As I deemed it the best
policy, in the posture of affairs, to make the captain
believe that I was ignorant of his treacherous pro-
ceedings, I continued sending to him for an answer
to my note of the 2nd; and on the 6th he sent me a
note in the manner I required, in consequence of
which I sent him the following:-
August 6th, 1835.
"GOBIERNO DE JUAN FERNANDEZ,-In your
note of to-day's date you say you find yourself
perplexed how to answer mine of the 1st. This
is the sixth day of the month; the affair in ques-
tion took place on the first, and I am still igno-
rant of the names of the persons who were on duty
in the Castle of Santa Barbara, &c., and your answer
is equivocal in the extreme; but, to prevent my being
occupied frivolously, and in order to bring this affair
to light, I again hereby order you to act in the man-
ner conformable to military rules and regulations
towards the sergeant, corporals, and soldiers, who
were at the time on duty, that I may be enabled to
forward their declarations to the chief of the army,
where exists every means of observing the proper
formalities, in order to sentencing cases, and which,
under existing circumstances, it is impossible to pro-
ceed in here. Dios guarde á V.
"THOMAS SUTCLIFFE."
To the above I received the following reply :-
"Juan Fernandez, Aug. 7th, 1835.
"SENOR GOVERNADOR,-In answer to, and ful-
filment of, the order contained in the note of V.S.,
which I have now had the honour to receive, I have
to state that the sergeant, corporals, and soldiers,
who were on duty on the 1st of this month, are
the individuals whose names are given below;
whose declarations I have taken, and which, in my
note No. 2, I have sent you. Others, more strictly,
such as V.S. requires, it is impossible to realize, on
account of the circumstances that actually surround
us;
and to effect which it would be necessary to
put all who were on guard into confinement; and
then consequences would follow in no ways agreeable
to your person, as well as the whole of us. V.S.
well knows that the (Forragidos) outlaws have still
their arms, and might have spies amongst us to ob-
serve our operations, and seize the opportunity that
presented, in order to realize their wicked projects.
And who would then be responsible to the nation,
and to the supreme government, for having acted in
such an injudicious manner, diminishing the strength
of the garrison, and giving the banditti scope to make
another attempt, but the commander of the garrison?
These, sir, are the reasons which impede me, and
which have obliged me to take such steps, and adopt
the other measures I have in the actual situation of
this establishment. Dios guarde á V.S. muchos anos.
"NICOLAS SALDES."
Sergeant Teodoro Altamirano.
Corporal Manuel Ruiz.
Id. Juan D. Gutierrez.
Soldiers.
Juan Manuel Leiba.
Francisco Pincheyra.
José Maria Bega.
Mariano Espinosa.
Juan de Dios Toro.
José Maria Mora.
Valentin Carabajal.
Remigio Sanchez.
Juan de Dios Bastia.
Cruz Gonsalez.
Gregorio Garrido.
José Angel Pino.
To which I returned the following answer:-
"Juan Fernandez, Aug. 7th, 1835.
"GOBIERNO DE JUAN FERNANDEZ,-Your note
of yesterday's date has informed me who was the
commander of the guard on the 1st of this month,
and who will have to answer for abandoning his post.
So I now order you, under the severest responsibi-
lity, to proceed in the manner prescribed by the
military laws, against the sergeant, Teodoro Altami-
rano, and, with the rest of the guard, proceed, ac-
cording to the exigency of, and what is rendered
expedient by, the actual circumstances, which also
exonerate me from making observations or reflections
on the contents of your note. Dios guarde á V.
"THOMAS SUTCLIFFE."
I received information that the priest was per-
suading the captain to arrest me, and blamed him for
not having done so on the Ist, to prevent so much
innocent blood having been shed, telling him that it
was better that one should suffer than so many. I
had gained over one sergeant and several soldiers,
and intended to seize the captain and chaplain, but
they remained all night in the castle. Next day I
sent an order to the captain to send me Sergeant
Docagua and 19 soldiers, to guard my house and
stores while the runaways were at large. A short
time afterwards the captain sent to inform me that
something like the hull of a vessel was to be seen
from the castle wall. Suspecting it be a stratagem
to draw me from my house, I sent a fisherman with
my spy-glass to see what it was; and on his returning
and informing me that it appeared to be the hull of a
vessel or a large boat, I ordered my store-keeper,
Duncan, to go off with a whale-boat, and to take
water and some provisions with him, in case it might
be a wreck. He had scarcely left the bay when my
house was surrounded by soldiers, and the Ensign
Riquelme, after placing two sentries at the door of
my habitation, presented me the following order of
arrest, &c. :-
"Juan Fernandez, August 8th, 1835.
"I have considered it my duty to demand of V. S.,
that all the ammunition that exists in your house
belonging to my troops shall be given up to me, in
order that I may have the necessary means of defend-
ing this place from any other affair such as the last,
and not to leave exposed the lives of the inhabitants
for want of resources; also, that V. S. will remain
under an arrest in your habitation, in order to pre-
serve public tranquillity; for I have been informed
that V. S. has exposed me and all my troops to perish,
by not informing me of the revolution, which V. S.
knew of before it took place, until such time as I have
informed the supreme government of what has oc-
curred.-Dios guarde á V. S. muchos anos.
"NICOLAS SALDES."
On perusing this strange document, I found that
some one of the soldiers that had offered his services
must have informed the captain of my intention; and
desirous to preserve in my own keeping this order of
arrest, I told the alferez to return to his captain, and
tell him he had better not proceed too far, commit-
ting fault ofter fault, and that I wished to see him to
arrange matters. As soon as this officer left me, I
placed the order in my boot, and put another letter on
the table where I had thrown down, in his presence,
the one he brought, after reading it. He returned in
a very few minutes, and told me he must obey the
captain's orders; and began to ransack my house.
Observing his soldiers to take my arms, I called to
him, and taking up the letter, as if reading it, I said,
here is no order for you to take my arms; your cap-
tain only specifies my arrest, and demands the ammu-
nition. He replied, that his captain had given him
verbal orders. On which, I broke out into a rage,
and told him that both he and his captain would here-
after have to suffer for such wicked and guilty pro-
ceedings; saying to him, "Tell your captain, I know
how to respect his illegal order." I tore the letter I
had in my hand to pieces, and threw it out of the
window. The officer believed it to be in reality the
order of arrest, and went away with my arms and
ammunition, telling me, as he retired, that the cap-
tain would come to visit me. Suspecting it might be
to deprive me of my papers, I cut off the bottom of
a metal flask, which had a cover, and served for a
cup to drink out of, and placed the order of arrest,
receipts for provisions, and other documents, in it,
and left it carelessly among several useless articles I
had laying on a table; the remainder of my papers
of consequenee, I concealed under my bed, ‘and
sent for the chaplain, who, as soon as he made
his appearance, I ordered to go to the captain and
reason with him, and to induce him to return to his
duty. The better to keep up the stratagem, and in
order to induce the belief that I was ignoraut of
their villainy, I resolved to make them think that
they had driven me to desperation; and accordingly
I brought my medicine chest into my room, where
the two sentries were posted, and mixed a vomit in
a tumbler, and having placed a jar containing a little
arsenic on the table, I sat down and wrote a letter
to His Excellency the President, in which I stated
that the proceedings and conduct of the chaplain and
captain had urged and determined me at last to com-
mit suicide. The priest soon returned, and as I had
anticipated and made my calculation, informed me
that he had done all he could to persuade the captain
to return to his duty, but that he remained obstinate,
and that there was no remedy. On which, springing
from my seat, and exclaiming, as if frantic, "What!
no remedy, father ?" and on his faultering out, "no,"
I said (with excitement and a ghastly smile, and low-
ering my voice from one extreme to the other, in a
confidential almost whisper), Here," and laying
hold of the glass, and pointing with my left hand to
the jar's label, "here, father, is a remedy for all my
sufferings; both you and the captain will one day,
after I am dead, have to answer and to suffer for
having been the cause. With which I gulped the
greatest part of the vomit, before he seized upon the
glass, endeavouring to hinder and prevent me swal-
lowing its contents; but disembarassing myself, I
emptied it, and said to him, in an expressive and
emphatic manner, "You, father, I forgive." It is
impossible to describe the priest's confusion, his con-
sternation; he beat his breast, he ran out of the
house with the jar in his hand, exclaiming, “the
Governor has poisoned himself!" A crowd of
soldiers and prisoners soon assembled in front of my
dwelling. The captain and officer seeing this, and
supposing it a rising in my favour, came down from
the castle to disperse them, but on being told by the
priest the cause, the captain was observed to smile,
and gave orders that no one should approach me;
15
the murmurs of the soldiers and prisoners, and the
clamours of my cook and his wife, however, obliged
him to let these last come in to assist me. The
moment they entered the room I told them, signifi-
cantly, I was feigning, and delivered to them the
afore-mentioned metal flask, with the most important,
and also the residue of my papers of consequence in
a packet, which they had hardly secreted about their
persons when the priest, a corporal, and four sol-
diers came in, in order to oblige me to take an anti-
dote. I lay stretched on my bed, in full uniform,
and acted, in every possible manner, to make them
believe I was poisoned, and refused to take any
remedy. My cook and his wife played their parts
as well as I did. The priest became very earnest in
his entreaties to take an antidote, before it was too
late. I continued obstinate and silent; but at length
broke silence, accusing him of being the principal
cause of the captain's behaviour towards me, which
he denied, with assurances, in the most earnest man-
ner, that he was my friend, and that if I recovered,
everything would be as I might wish, &c. Then, to
work upon the priest's mind, and to frighten him aud
others present, I told him that I should not be the
only victim, for I had poisoned several articles. Upon
which he ran out of the room like one out of his
mind, and returned with my countryman, Duncan,
to beg me to declare what articles I had poisoned;
but I remained deaf to their entreaties. But as it
was now time to take something as an antidote, that the
artifice might not be discovered, I began to call for
water; the priest told them not to give me any, and
approaching me with a tumbler nearly full of salad
oil, seeing my eyes shut, said, here is some water;
on which I drank off the contents, and called for
more water; he repeated the dose, which I in like
manner swallowed; he kept inquiring, in the most
solicitous manner, what articles were poisoned. I
had now no reason to pretend being ill, for the mix-
ing of the oil with the vomit I had taken, gave me
such a griping that I kicked down a partition, and
overthrew a table which was loaded with crockery and
glasses. The priest then ordered me to be seized
and laid on the floor; they took off my coat; but he
acted altogether in so ridiculous a manner, that I
could not refrain from laughing, notwithstanding I
was at the moment suffering great pain inwardly. I
got a feather, and by tickling my throat, succeeded
in discharging the contents of my stomach, which
relieved me greatly, and pretended to be a little re-
covered. The priest again pressed me to inform
him what articles were poisoned. I told him it was
the
sugar under
my bed, in a tin case; on which he
seized upon it, and gave it to a soldier, with particu-
lar orders to throw it into the sea. He then kneeled
down and kissed the floor, saying, that he and others
had escaped by a miracle, and other monastic excla-
mations. Had I in reality have taken poison and
poisoned the sugar by mixing it with arsenic, there
is no manner of doubt the priest, officers, and many
more, would soon have followed me to eternity, as
it was the only sugar on the island. The trick struck
terror into all, and I verily believe saved me from
being assassinated. For three days I pretended to be
ill; during which time the priest was very attentive.
In order to make the chaplain believe I had de-
stroyed the documents relating to the provision
store, I tore up a quantity of old useless papers, but
sealed up all the official communications and the pri-
soners' sentences, and other papers belonging to
government, selecting all the documents I should
want, which I also delivered to my cook to be placed
in security. On the 11th, the priest, captain, and
ensign, came, and the captain demanded my papers
and what belonged to the archives. I protested
against the impropriety and illegality of his demand,
but he remained obstinate; on which I informed him
that his demand being illegal, he might take them by
force, but that if he chose, I would deposit them
1
16
with the chaplain, who would take charge of them,
and place them in the church, until he should re-
ceive superior orders regarding their disposal. He
agreed to my proposal; on which I requested him to
place his seal also on them. I then allowed the
chaplain to take them away, and he left me a receipt.
The captain had begun to kill the cattle and sell
meat to his soldiers and others; on knowledge of
which I sent him a letter, representing that all the
animals on the island, except a few, were appertenant
to the executors of the late governor, Don José Joa-
quin Larrain, who had appointed me to act for them;
and that as such, and thus empowered, I had abstained
from killing the cattle, inquiring how he could ac-
count for taking it upon himself to act in such a man-
ner with what ought to be considered a sacred de-
posit? He received this letter in presence of his two
companions, the priest and ensign, and gave orders
to Duncan to leave my service, and appointed one of
his own soldiers to attend me; on which I sent him
a note to say that I was greatly obliged to him for
having deprived me of the services of my countryman,
at a time when there were fifteen of the vagabonds
who had escaped from the castle with arms, in the
neighbourhood, and considering my life to be in
danger, I demanded to be removed into the castle,
protesting against his arbitrary conduct. About nine
o'clock at night Duncan returned, with permission
to remain, and gave me the following note:-
"August 12th, 1835.
"In this castle there is no commodious or decent
apartment, fitting for your person, as all are occupied
by the soldiers and prisoners, and the quarters destined
for myself and subalterns are full of provisions. You
need not be alarmed at any attempt being made against
your person, nor have any suspicion with regard to
my soldiers, for I am sure that all of them would de-
fend you to the utmost in case of danger.
"NICOLAS SALDES."
Next morning I had liberty to walk out in front of
my house, and two of the four sentinels only remained
over me. The captain answered my letter of the
eleventh by ordering the priest to take charge of the
cattle, and of my store. He furthermore took hold
of all my ready cash, whichí he persuaded the captain
to deprive me of, in order, as he said, that I might
not have the means to corrupt his soldiers. The ac-
counts that he presented me with, from the persons
that had charge of the cattle, were very amusing, es-
pecially one from the individual who had charge of
my pigs. This rascal gave in an account, in which
twelve sows had not littered for the space of eleven
months. My store-keeper had above six hundred
dollars in his possession, according to the balance
taken on the last day of July, but now he accounted
for no more than about one hundred. In the pro-
vision store there was plenty (of what I had saved by
economy in distributing fish, and liberating those that
chose from public works) to support the establish-
ment for a month; the whole of which the captain
transferred to the castle, and distributed in large
quantities to the convicts and others. On the 13th
of August, the captain gave orders to suspend all
work, as also liberty to the convicts to hunt and fish.
On the fifteenth, four of the party that were hovering
about capitulated, and came in; and two days after
the remainder gave themselves up, Lillo Robles and
Gutierrez excepted. On the night of the eighteenth,
about twelve o'clock, I heard a strange noise on the
outer part of the dwelling, and on cautiously opening
the window, to ascertain from whence it proceeded,
could distinctly discern several soldiers below in the
act of placing a ladder against the wall of the house,
whilst a stentorian voice from the castle warned them
to be on their guard. The singularity of the proceed-
ing, the lateness of the hour, as also the revolutionary
state of the island, were a combination of incidents
of themselves sufficient to induce me to believe that
my life was the object of their nocturnal visit; and,
under such conviction, I made immediate preparation
for defence. My only weapons were comprised of a
bayonet and a dagger, that had escaped the scrutiny
of the alferez when previously searching for arms;
and thus poorly weaponed, myself and Duncan, we
stood ready to meet the unequal contest, resolutely de-
termined to repel the assailants. Thus situated, many
moments had not elapsed before all fear of the con-
ceived assault was happily terminated, by the sergeant
hailing to say that the barracks in the castle were on
fire, and they were only making ready to unthatch the
house, in case of its taking fire. The fire in the castle
was soon extinguished, and all quiet. On the next
day I was informed that five of the soldiers' huts were
burnt, that the barracks were unroofed, as also that,
during the confusion, some prisoners had attempted
taking possession of the arms, &c. The captain sent
all his prisoners to Goat Island, so as to be free from
such dangerous persons. Feeling disposed to termi-
nate this unpleasant business, in a manner most con-
venient and amicable, I sent for the captain, and
offered to pardon him all my personal sufferings, &c.,
as well as to use my utmost endeavours to obtain some
indulgence from the supreme government, if he would
return to his duty, letting him know that I was per-
suaded he had been led on, from error to error, by
the priest, who, I considered, as well as Ugalde, the
chief instigators of what had transpired since the 1st
of August. He seemed to listen with attention, and
requested me to state my wishes in writing, and he
would consider how far he could with propriety com-
ply under the existing circumstances. Furthermore,
on his retiring, I begged of him to act independently,
and on no account to be biassed by the friar, who, I
assured him, would, whatever might be the consequence
hereafter, sneak out of the affair, and leave him alone
to suffer. As soon as Saldes had left me, I extracted
from Colon, and the recopilation of laws, several pas-
sages from the most pointed, in order to convince him
of the criticalness of his situation, and how he might
extricate himself from the consequences.
"Juan Fernandez, August 25th, 1835.
"CAPTAIN SALDES,-Although you have not
thought proper to return an answer to my letter of
the 21st, I feel it my duty to lay before you the
errors you have committed, perhaps from ignorance
of the existence of the following laws, which I here
copy for your perusal and instruction:-1. Magis-
trates, judges, intendents, chiefs of provinces, and all
persons of high rank, cannot be arrested without the
knowledge and approbation of the supreme govern-
ment. 2. He that takes the life of a counsellor,
justice of the peace, or court officer, or any other of
high rank, such as a governor of a province, whilst
exercising his authority, shall suffer the pain of death
and confiscation of all his property; also he will be
held as a traitor; and if he only wounds or imprisons
him he will suffer the pain of death, and the confis-
cation of the half of his property. 3. No magistrate
can be accused whilst in commission, except for
crimes committed in administrating his sentences.
The reason of this law is, that on account of their
charge they are supposed to have many enemies, and
each would be an accuser to impede them from doing
their duty but the injured may lay their case before
the supreme government, who will order delinquent
judges to be punished. 4. He that hath committed
crimes and not yet been tried for them, as well as
servants or familiars against their masters, are pro-
hibited by the laws, except in cases of high treason;
and clergymen have a legal impediment to be accusers.
5. The military judges try all military cases for crimes
committed by persons subject to other jurisdiction
such as conspiring against the security of a fortress,
its garrison, incendiaries, robberies, and all other
;
17
excesses committed in barracks, store-houses, or
military edifices; and the military judges can on no
account whatever refrain from examining the follow-
ing cases:- When accused of treason against the
government or the state, or abandonment of a castle,
fortress, or post, that the government hath entrusted
to a military officer. In all these cases the accuser
must follow up and prove the accusation, for if he
does not, he will incur the penalty in which the
accused would be sentenced in case the crime to him
imputed were clearly proved. A simple individual
can pardon the injuries he has personally suffered,
and renounce the satisfaction for the damage he may
have sustained; but the supreme chief can only
grant the remission of the punishment which the
delinquent is liable to; for the end of punishment is
not an act of vengeance, but to prevent the commis-
sion of crimes. It would be absurd to place in the
hands of a private individual the power to prevent
criminals from being punished. The public would be
deprived of the utility of a salutary warning, and the
supreme chief of rights inherent to government.
The mode to obtain your pardon from government
is this:-The injured has to manifest in writing, that
he freely pardons the offence as far as personally relates
to him, and that he renounces all civil and criminal
actions that he may have against the accused, and
supplicate His Excellency to pardon him, or diminish
the punishment due to his crimes. The situation of
both of us is critical: mine for the responsibility to
the supreme chief, touching the tranquillity and order
of this establishment; and yours for having adopted
improper steps tending to its dissolution, in collusion
with others, who by no means are your friends.
For your better information, I cite several literal
sentences from the laws, in which there is no deceit ;
from whose tenor, for the national honour, as well
as that of the battalion to which you belong, I counsel
you as a brother to return to your duty, and promise
for the general good, to adopt the method indicated
in my last letter, as it yet remains in my power, pre-
vious to the arrival of the Aquilles or Colocolo, to
pardon you all my personal sufferings; but should
you repulse my proposals, I shall ever feel satisfied
of having done my utmost towards an amicable set-
tlement. God guard you."
"THOMAS SUTCLIFFE."
I confess, that I had an ardent desire for the cap-
tain to return to his duty, in order to be enabled to
punish the priest, and get from him a clue to find
out who had been the instigators on the Continent,
for to me it was clear that all had been devised there,
and badly conducted, or seconded on the island.
I was now informed that the captain, subaltern, and
priest were together in the castle, examining the
contents of my letter, and that high words had en-
sued betwixt the priest and the captain, the former
advising him to continue in the command, in lieu of
retroceding; fearing, perhaps, that the change might
materially affect himself, from which results I pre-
mise the following letter must have had its origin :-
"Juan Fernandez, Aug. 31, 1835.
"SENOR DON TOMAS SUTCLIFFE,-In answer
to your very honourable communication of the 29th
inst. I beg to state briefly, that it is impossible to allow
you to return to the exercise of the functions you for-
merly possessed, until I hear from the Supreme Go-
vernment, who shall be informed of what has taken
place, and who will dispose of your person in the
manner they may consider worthy of justice. Sir,
should I accede to the repeated supplications you
have made to me, from the 1st of this month to the
present date, to the effect, that everything transpired
be left in silence (to which intent you have repeatedly
proposed it), the results would be a complete in-
version of the quietness and tranquillity of this es-
C
tablishment. Never, sir, can I consent that such an
affair should be left in impunity; for should 1 accede
to your petitions and promises, it would admit my
eriminality. You also say that governors cannot be
arrested; but the present critical circumstances per-
mit me to take this step, as most convenient, and no
one being here to whom an account can be rendered.
"NICOLAS SALDES."
I saw by the contents of this letter, that the priest
had got the upper hand; as also that he had either
dictated, or wrote the copy for Saldes, as likewise
the other communications I had previously received,
being aware that the latter was very illiterate, and
scarcely capable of composing his own letters. The
same day that I received this epistle, the store-keeper
was ordered to stop the provisions that had hitherto
been distributed to me and my servants; and all that
were in my private store were transferred to the
castle, as well as several barrels of American flour
and biscuit, that I had purchased from an American
whaler. This day Duncan was taken violently ill,
keeping me awake all night with his moans; he suf-
fered great pain, and suspected that the store-keeper
had poisoned him; I administered every remedy
that could be devised for his relief, and happily suc-
ceeded, for on the following morning he appeared
considerably better;-he had been addicted to indulge
himself with liquor, but now in his moments of pain,
he promised to renounce his libidinous practices, and
join the Temperance Society. According to his own
statement, he was a native of Bristol, where he had
respectable connexions, and formerly had been cap-
tain and owner of a small sealing vessel, but failing
in speculations, had been reduced to keep a house of
entertainment for mariners in the port of Payta, on
the coast of North Peru; he was a navigator, and
an excellent carpenter, and I thought myself fortunate
in having such a person on the island. The captain
had deprived the mayoral, Cruz Sanchez, of a canoe
I had given him, and delivered it to a man named
Moyano, one of the most worthless fellows on the
island, whom I sent for, and ordered him to return
it to its original possessor, whereas he retired to
lodge a complaint with Saldes. I sent for Sanchez,
and gave him a large quantity of garden seeds, and
some slops I had purchased, that he might divide
them amongst those men that accompanied him to
the assault of the castle. The captain had taken
possession of the clothing I had purposely bought for
my boat's crew. I sent for each of these individuals,
and gave them written orders on Saldes for the dif-
ferent articles comprising their dress, which was
immediately honoured by the delivery of the afore-
mentioned. Sanchez informed me that the priest
had deprived him of the greater part of the seeds I
had given him to distribute. My passion here got
the better of patience, and I sent a peremptory
order to his paternity to return them, which he not
only refused to do, but immediately proceeded to the
distribution of the lands I had formerly laid out
and cultivated, giving to each prisoner a share, under
condition of receiving a stipulated part of its produce
for their labour, assuring them that their situation
would be much bettered on the arrival of Don Mar-
celo Ugalde, the new governor, whom he expected
daily to arrive, and take possession of the island as
proprietor. He had also begun to make rapid ad-
vances in killing the cattle I had deposited in his
hands, selling the meat to the soldiers and prisoners,
and, in fact, carrying on a free and flourishing trade
with what he had found in my store, not exempting
himself from a free use of all, and everything else
within his grasp; and it was quite in vain for me to
attempt expostulating with him, for he was, in fact,
the absolute governor of the island, Saldes being
no more than a tool of his that he wielded as occa-
sion required. The fellow that had received the
18
canoe made his appearance, and with reiterated epi-
thets, insulted me beyond forbearance, of which the
sergeant of the guard seemed to take not the least
cognizance, and my patience being quite exhausted,
I seized a wine-bottle that fortunately lay within
reach, and with vehemence launched it at his head,
on which he scampered away to make his complaint
to the captain. Shortly after the sergeant made an
addition of two more sentries over my person and
house, and deprived me of the liberty of walking
in front of it. Duncan had now almost recovered
from his illness, but appeared quite emaciated from
its effects; it had been a severe lesson to him, and
a warning for the future. The sub-lieutenant, Ri-
quelme, called upon me and delivered the following
letter from Saldes :-
"Juan Fernandez, Sep. 2nd, 1835.
"SENOR DON THOMAS SUTCLIFFE,-I am sur-
prised that a person of your class should have made
use of such insulting language before Moyano and
others present, saying, that I might imprison, but
not rob you of your private property; therefore, I
expect that you will let me know what money I have
stolen: these insults that you publicly make, you will
do me the pleasure to prove before the Supreme
Government.
NICOLAS SALDES."
I sent him the following:-
"Juan Fernandez, Sep. 3rd, 1835.
"In answer to your note of yesterday, permit me
to inform you, that it is not money alone that comes
under the denomination of private property (but of
that hereafter); and such as have cost me ready
cash come under that article; for example, boats,
oars, sails, and cordage, which you have arbitra-
rily and violently taken possession of, without ever
condescending to request them of me, to whom they
appertained. The canoe that I gave Sanchez, the
rascal Moyano asserts to be yours, and not mine,
undoubtedly from your insinuations. Furthermore,
your detention of my own private stores, from which
you have given orders to cease supplying me, and
other vexatious injuries, too numerous to mention,
with which you continually harass me, all combine to
augment my surprise at your proceedings. Place
yourself for a moment in my situation: what would
be your thoughts at viewing your property destroyed
in the malicious manner that mine is? Yet, however
devoid you may be of manly feeling, I beg you will
desist for the future to merit the language of which
you complain, and strive to hold in stricter obser-
vance the decorum of a Chilian officer.
"SUTCLIFFE."
About four o'clock in the afternoon, two boats
were observed pulling in for the harbour, which
rather alarmed Saldes, for I had induced him to be-
lieve that my letters had been forwarded to the Con-
tinent, in a vessel that passed the island two days
after my imprisonment. He now placed his soldiers
under arms, and went himself to reconnoitre the
boats that were in sight, which shortly after landed,
and proved to belong to the same whaler that left the
island on the 1st; the captain conveyed the officers
to the castle, whilst the crews, with their oars, sails,
and whaling implements, found a receptacle in the
guard-house, which plainly denoted that he in-
tended a repetition of some of his mad pranks,
to prevent which I hailed the officers as they passed,
to place them on their guard against any sinister in-
tentions he might have in embryo, which so enraged
him that he ordered my sentinels to be doubled, to
prevent all communications; but his precautions were
useless, for with the same rapidity with which I con-
ceived the plan to overreach him in this, was the
project carried into execution, and one of the crew
was already in possession of a packet of letters,
through the medium of my servant Juaquin Arrevalo,
directed to the captain, requesting him to forward
the inclosed official notes for the Chilian government,
should he have an opportunity so to do; and at the
same time specifying to him the signals he might use
to inform me of the port to which he was destined.
I also, at daylight the next morning, placed myself
at the window of the house, with a packet I had made
up during the night (of duplicates), to throw to any
of the crew that might come near, meaning thereby
to obliterate any suspicion that might be attached to
Arrevalo, for which purpose I had wrapped them
around with some lead that was in the room, which
had formerly been part of an old tea-chest; but the
soldiers were too wary, and kept a stricter watch
than I could have supposed over both parties, which
induced me to retire, happy in having drawn the
suspicion from my servant. The ship now came close
in, and fired several guns to recall her boats, and
about nine the captain allowed them to return. The
priest, ensign, and a soldier that spoke English went
off also. Shortly after the boats had regained their
ship, an English jack was seen flying from the fore-
top-gallant mast head, whose appearance disap-
pointed me, although I imparted to Duncan that it
was the preconcerted signal the captain made to ac-
knowledge the receipt of my papers, and say that he
was bound to Valparaiso, whither he would convey
them. The friar returned alone, and on the officer
and soldier remaining on board, I suspected that they
were going to Valparaiso, although the signal was a
negative. The priest, as soon as he landed, gave
orders to kill a bullock, and went on board with the
meat, and a pig, which he exchanged for brandy,
cards, and other articles. The ensign, on landing,
came to see me, and inquired if I had written to
the captain of the whaler. I replied that I had suc-
ceeded in throwing a packet to one of the sailors,
and that the captain had acknowledged their receipt
by hoisting a flag. I, in my turn, interrogated him
to know if he was aware of her destiny, which he re-
plied was for Valparaiso, and which I pretended to
credit, endeavouring to make him believe that I was
deprived of my documents through miscarriage.
Several soldiers and others had made repeated offers
of service, and to form some idea of the extent of
their fidelity, I delivered them several packets of old
useless papers, enveloped and directed to several
persons in Valparaiso. I also got Duncan to write
me several letters in English, directing them to the
captain of the Aquilles or Colocolo, and distributed
them to those that proffered their services. Only
one of them was given to Saldes, who immediately
sent for Duncan to translate it. As I had latterly
noticed a greater familiarity between the captain and
Duncan than was consistent with our actual situation,
I thought it advisable to make him my confidant,
which I had hitherto refrained from doing on account
of his propensity to liquor; but I considered that his
late illness would cure him of that vice, and accord-
ingly imparted to him, that if in case I should be as-
sassinated, he, on account of being my countryman,
and a witness to all that had occurred since the 1st
of August, would have to share my fate, and un-
doubtedly suffer equally in the tragic scene. I fur-
ther advised him that the villainous conduct of the
captain and priest had not escaped my scrutiny, and
verily suspected that the castle had been treacherously
delivered up by them to the prisoners; on which he
took me by the hand and informed me that my sus-
picions were well founded; that he knew more than
he could with propriety relate, until some vessel
should arrive, or a change take place; but that he
was and would remain true to me, as a proof of which
he mentioned to me that the captain had been en-
deavouring to seduce him, in order that he might,
by these means, obtain possession of some documents
19
,
I had, of great importance, and informed him that
Ugalde would return in a few days to govern the
island, and then they would remit me under an
arrest to Chile. On knowledge of this, I was deter-
mined to ensnare the captain in his own toils, and
made the following agreement with Duncan, for the
furtherance of the plans I had conceived under de-
termination of carrying them into execution :-First,
that he should inform Saldes that he knew where I
had secreted a packet, directed to the Supreme Go-
vernment; second, that
second, that I should quarrel with and
drive him out of the house, by which means he might
enter the service of the captain; third, that should
I be sent to the Continent, for him to stay on the
island, to watch the proceedings of the captain, and
keep a log of all that occurred; for which I would
give him a document to certify, in case of necessity,
that he had remained solely on my account, and
wherein I would become bound to give him fifty
dollars per month until I should return or meet him
on the Continent.-On the 5th Duncan informed me
that the captain had ordered him to purloin my papers,
and take them to him, on which I gave him two
packets, directed to government, containing dupli-
cates of all my documents (except the order of arrest
and receipts for provisions), a copy of the declara-
tions taken from the prisoners, as also an official note,
in which I explained every transaction that had taken
place up to the whaler's arrival, but not a word about
my knowledge of the captain's having given up the
castle, only stating that he, when required to give an
account how it happened, had made me a prisoner.
I also mentioned the necessity of a proper person
being sent to investigate the affair on the island,
where there were a sufficiency of witnesses to prove
who was culpable; also, that I had remitted nearly
all my documents by the French whaler. Duncan
took them next morning, Sunday, September the 6th,
and delivered them to the captain; both he and the
priest devoured the contents of my official note,
which operated upon them as I had expected. Dun-
can returned as if in liquor, and I reprimanded him
before the soldiers, but on his entering the house, he
told me had assumed that character on purpose to
leave the captain; and further informed me of what
had transpired in the castle; on which I asked him
for his log, or account of the transactions of the 1st,
which he delivered me, and I gave him, in return, a
document, in which he was allowed double salary,
and at the same time certified his having made an
agreement to act in my behalf until circumstances
might occur to require its manifestation. I then
began to have high words with him, which brought
the sergeant and soldiers on guard around the door,
outside of which I thrust him, and requested the
sergeant to take him in charge, in order to conduct
him to the guard-house, despatching, at the same
time, a note to the captain, informing him of Dun-
can's improper behaviour, and requesting him to
allow me Arrevalo in his room; which was accorded,
and on the following morning Joaquin re-entered my
service. This faithful fellow informed me that both
the captain and priest had given him instructions to
act as a spy over me, and inform them of my trans-
actions. What incommoded me most was to see the
dilapidation committed by the soldiers and convicts,
who destroyed all the pallisades and fences I had
constructed around my house and garden, as well as
what surrounded the orchard, which was an exten-
sive one and well stocked with fruit trees, some of
which had been planted by Commodore Anson and
the former governors, as well as a number I had
brought from the Continent. I had also received a
quantity of stones, nuts, and seeds, from England,
which I had planted and distributed, for I felt great
pleasure and amusement in making the plain near the
beach and orchard have the appearance of pleasure
grounds. But now these fences, which cost such
immense trouble, were wantonly burnt and other-
wise destroyed, whilst the cattle were seen grazing
where I had planted cotton, flax, hemp, and vege-
tables; to add to which, they had maliciously burnt a
sloop that I had, at a vast deal of trouble and expense,
nearly finished constructing, as also a quantity of
timber that had had been collected for the express
purpose of building a fishing smack. The best stream
of water in the bay I had conducted to a watering
place, where the pure liquid gushed out of the muz-
zles of two guns, whose breaches I had got cut off to
allow the water to pass through; but as the priest
had begun to sub-divide the plan, he, of course, ap-
propriated the best piece of land to his own use, and
in order to irrigate it, had destroyed the watering
place. I reasoned in vain with the captain, in ad-
vising him to put a stop to all these dilapidations and
disorders, and furthermore sent the following note to
the priest:
"Juan Fernandez, Sep. 10th, 1835.
"TO THE CHAPLAIN, FRIAR JOHN EVANGE-
LIST LOPEZ.-Reverend,-Although I am a pri-
soner, permit me to inquire of your paternity, who
has invested you with the civil authority, and from
whom you have received the right and power to dis-
tribute lands and change the water course? When
I was first imprisoned by Saldes, you received my
delegated power to take charge of the animals and
what belonged to the testamentary of the late Don
José Joaquin Larrayn, in order that they, as a sacred
deposit, might be taken care of and strictly pre-
served; but as you have thought proper to slaughter
and sell the meat, or exchange it for brandy, cards, &c.,
I think proper to transfer their care to another per-
son; for as I appointed your paternity, whilst under
confinement, I also, under the same circumstances,
demand that you return your nomination, with an
account of the cattle; and I will make him respon-
sible to the Supreme Government and the executors
of the late Don José Joaquin Larrayn, who dares to
destroy or injure the property. I am obliged to act
in this manner, on account of being surrounded by
a set of ungrateful wretches.
"THOMAS SUTCLIFFE.'
Next day the chaplain came to demand why I had
sent him such an insulting letter, stating that the cap-
tain was now the governor, and had given him`a
piece of land, which he had begun to cultivate in
company with a prisoner; and that the animals of
the late Don José Joaquin Larrayn could not be in
better hands than in his; and at the same time the
captain, who came with him, added, that the padre
should retain their possession, until he should hear
from the Supreme Government. I also demanded
of the captain, who had invested him with the
power of paying his soldiers with the money he had
taken from my store-keeper, and whether it would
not be proper for him to deliver me a receipt for
what he had distributed on the 25th; for I consi-
dered it a downright robbery. He replied he would
send me a receipt, and that he had taken the money
to complete the month's pay. I mentioned the affair
of Moyano, as also of a soldier of the name of Maray,
having insulted me, and inquired if he had punished
the latter. He answered that he had received my
message, but had not acted as I had desired him, be-
cause he thought the soldier's statement was true;
and further, that he himself would prove to the
Supreme Government that I had robbed the soldiers
and prisoners of the greatest part of their rations;
and to mend the matter, he sent for the soldier Maray
and Duncan, to whom he gave orders to search my
house for papers. I told the captain that he was
acting very improperly, and would be brought to a
serious account hereafter for this conduct; but he
only laughed at me and my reflections, and said, he
knew what he was about, AND HAD HIS INSTRUC-
TIONS. Duncan returned from the search, and re-
ported that the papers could not be found; on
20
which I went and brought a metal flask, whose bot-
tom I had cut off for the express purpose of secreting
the documents, and taking off a metal cap that
covered the bottom, explained to him the manner
and mode that the most important had been con-
cealed on the day of my arrest, adding, that it was
useless for him to adopt such indecent measures to
obtain what had already been placed in safety on
board of the French whaler; and on showing him
the copy of a letter that I had purposely written with
a view to deceive him, addressed to the captain of
the whaler, he seemed satisfied; but on the priest
mentioning that I had kept a journal, he immediately
demanded it. In answer to this he was informed
that it had been sent away with the others, but if he
chose, he could be favoured with that of his friend
Duncan's, from the 1st of August to the 6th of Sep-
tember, if the father chaplain would give me a
receipt for it, properly rubricated; then they would
be enabled to discern what a precious rascal they
had to deal with; which seemed so to exasperate my
confidant, that he retaliated, to keep up the farce,
in the strongest language, which induced me to drive
him out of the house, as well as the soldier Maray.
I now wrote a note at the bottom of Duncan's log
for the priest to add his receipt, and give me another
to keep. I could not but smile at two circumstances
notable in the friar's receipts; first, his styling me
Senor Governor, after having degraded me on the
11th of last month; and in the next place, dating it
from Santiago, in lieu of Juan Fernandez. I now
read them several parts of Duncan's log, assuring
them that he was a worthless fellow, and would, no
doubt, ultimately deceive them as he had done me,
who, moreover, was his countryman; but the captain
felt confident of his integrity, and forthwith de-
manded the wages due to Duncan, which, after some
seeming reluctance, I ordered to be paid, on his
rendering me the account and receipt. The priest
having now retired, I mentioned to Saldes that I felt
sorry that he was yet in the leading-strings of the
chaplain, which made good an old Spanish saying,
"that wherever there was mischief, a friar was sure
to be the counsellor;" but he returned for answer,
that he was under no such influence, having had a
quarrel with him latterly, through his repeated inter-
ferences, and that he felt himself capable of conduct-
ing the establishment without any person's aid or
counsel; and what made me suspect they actually
were at variance, was the strange and confused man-
ner in which the receipts were worded.
I shall now copy Duncan's log from the 1st of
August to the 6th of September.
•
DUNCAN'S LOG.
August 1st.-At the accustomed hour, about six
in the morning, I opened the store of provisions, to
serve out the rations to the troops and prisoners, as
this was the day they generally received their monthly
allowance. I desired my assistant, José Troncoso,
to prepare the different species, in order to distri-
bute them, whilst I should be employed in making
out the lists. About eight o'clock, I went to settle
some accounts with the Governor, but found him
occupied counting out money for the captain to pay
the troops of the garrison, on which I retired.
About half-past eight, I was surprised by the report
of two muskets, which seemingly proceeded from the
castle. To investigate this, I made all possible speed
for the Governor's residence, in front of which I
found assembled about sixteen unarmed soldiers, and
a number of prisoners, who informed me that the
convicts had revolted and taken the castle, with the
arms and ammunition, and made prisoners of an
officer and several soldiers. My services were im-
mediately proffered to the Governor, who, for the
safety of the establishment, as well as that of a
French whaler that was in the offing, ordered me to
destroy the bottoms of the boats, which was imme-
diately performed, with the exception of one whale-
boat, which he ordered afloat. Whilst so employed,
several shots were fired at me, but without effect. I
now returned, and found the Governor distributing
arms and ammunition to some soldiers and prisoners
out of his own private armoury; but during the
time so occupied some one stole 244 dollars in
gold and silver, that had been left on the table at
the commencement of the affair. Consecutive to
the distribution of arms, the governor sallied out
to recounoitre, which was nearly proving fatal in the
warm reception they gave him by repeated shots
from the castle, during which the captain appeared
to act a cowardly rather than an active part in the
business; but the Governor, to animate the men,
placed himself at their head, ordering the captain to
accompany him, and me to draw off some liquor;
whilst performing which, the chaplain came, and un-
corking a demi-john, poured half of its contents into
another, with which he decamped; but on informa-
tion being given to the Governor of this affair, I had
orders to take it from him, which, not without some
difficulty, was effected. The Governor having divided
his force into two parties, himself heading one, soon
entered and took possession of the castle, and at the
same time liberated the officer and soldiers that had
been made prisoners; in the meantime the captain
had absconded to the house of the chaplain. I can
prove the truth of these assertions, especially the
former, from having seen the Governor on the para-
pet. Shortly after, the captain was seen to ascend
the hill, in doing which, he met a man whom he
wounded with his sword, who was afterwards taken;
in continuation, he climbed the castle wall, and voci-
ferated, "Kill him; kill him," which order was re-
echoed back by the Governor's countermanding it.
I heard the whole of this, but could see nothing,
having been left in charge of the government house
and stores; I had also about thirty convicts and
some women under charge. The remainder of these
affairs passed out of my sight, which prevents me
from saying anything more on the subject; however,
about ten o'clock all was quiet, and free from alarm,
excepting those fourteen men that had escaped to
the mountains, whom, it was imagined, might cause
further trouble, as they had marched off well armed
and accoutred, taking with them one of the bul-
locks. All the prisoners were called in with their
provisions from the different parts of the island
where they had been distributed, in order to prevent
the runaways from being succoured by them. The
Governor, about half-past ten o'clock, returned from
his enterprise, to the satisfaction of all, without
more than two lives being lost on the part of the
mutineers; but the most astonishing part of the
affair is, that so small a number of unarmed men
could surprise and take a castle where so many
soldiers were on duty. In the afternoon, I heard
that fourteen prisoners had been taken, and the Go-
vernor, at the hour of sunset, shot three as an ex-
ample, leaving the rest in close custody in the castle;
this being the whole of the day's transaction that
came under my knowledge.
Sunday, August 2nd.-These twenty-four hours.
21
strong N.W. winds, with rain at times; the isle per-
fectly tranquil, but the absconded party still in the
bush.
Monday, 3rd.-Moderate and fine; all tranquil. It
appears that, yesterday, the priest told the Governor,
in the presence of the captain, that the latter had
said he should like to see a revolution on the isle,
and on the Governor's inquiring his motives, he an-
swered, that it arose from a desire he had that an
opportunity might offer for him to show his readiness
to assist. Yes, replied the Governor, "I saw
sufficient the day before yesterday to be convinced of
the sincerity of your assertions."
Tuesday, 4th.-Moderate weather; the captain
and troops in the castle, whilst all seem to disobey
the Governor, who turned Troncoso out of the priest's
house.
Wednesday, 5th.-Moderate weather; employed
taking an account of what remains in store, after
separating the rations belonging to the men on the
Island of Masafuera (sufficient for three months);
affairs in the castle begin to wear a suspicious aspect.
Thursday, 6th.-Moderate weather. I this day
gave the governor the following account of what pro-
visions remained in store, after the troops and pri-
soners had received the rations, up to the 14th and
16th of September:-12 sacks of fine flour, 7 bar-
rels of North American flour, 30 sacks of coarse
flour, 23 sacks of meal, 43 sacks of beans, 22 pack-
ages of dried beef, of 250lbs. each, besides a quantity
loose, one hogshead and seven barrels of fat, one
barrel of butter, seven boxes of soap, three boxes
of candles, a large quantity of tobacco; besides three
months' provisions for the fishermen of Masafuera,
weighed out, and laid apart in sacks.
Friday, 7th.-Moderate weather. The Governor
and captain had high words; the troops still in the
castle; letters going to and from each party.
Saturday, 8th.-Moderate weather. I was sent
with the whale boat, provisioned and watered, to
reconnoitre something that had been seen in the
offing of the appearance of a wreck; but after having
searched the place indicated, and finding nothing, I
supposed it to have been the momentary appearance
of some huge monster of the deep, which occasioned
my immediate return to the island, where, on land-
ing, I found that the captain had made the Governor a
prisoner-probably with the intention of screening
himself from what might be the results of his allowing
the castle to be surprised and taken from him. I
strongly suspect that the priest is the chief instigator
of these disturbances, or at least his word has great
weight with Saldes. The Governor was taken very
unwell, and, as a favour, I was allowed to remain and
attend on him. The soldiers that had served him
were withdrawn. During the night the Governor
much recovered.
Sunday, 9th. These last twenty-four hours past fine
weather. The Governor still a prisoner, but reco-
vering his health. Delivered four days' provisions
to a man, that he might go in quest of the runaways.
For the first time, since my residence in the island, I
witnessed the exhibition of a regular staked cock-fight,
whilst the whole of the officers, with the priest, the
soldiery, and convicts promiscuously intermixed,
formed the herd of spectators by which it was at-
tended. The chaplain ordered a bullock to be killed,
and I received about 12lbs. of its meat.
Monday, 10th.-Moderate and fine. The captain
sent the boat to Goat's Island with the prisoners'
rations up to the 13th of September. The Governor
still a prisoner, but recovered from his late illness.
The captain discharged me from the store, and took
charge of all the provisions, but gave me no receipt,
although he re-weighed everything. All quiet.
Tuesday, 11th.-Fine weather. All quiet. To-
day the Governor was allowed to walk in front of
his house. The captain ordered the prisoners to
leave off all work. I was to-day taken from attend-
ing ou the Governor.
Wednesday, 12th.-All quiet. I returned to attend
on the Governor.
Thursday, 13th.-Fine weather. All quiet.
Friday, 14th.-Fine weather. The captain de-
livered a large quantity of provisions to individuals
that had already received their rations up to the 13th
of September. To-day they were capitulating with
the runaways.
Saturday, 15th.-Fine weather. This day four of
the runaways surrendered.
Sunday, 16th.-Fine weather.
Monday, 17th.-Fine weather.
sight.
A vessel in sight.
The vessel still in
Tuesday, 18th.-Fine weather. About ten, p.m.,
the houses in rear of the barracks in the castle caught
fire, which was extinguished after consuming four of
them, whether by accident or design, I know not;
however, the prisoners in the castle had nearly sur-
prised the guard a second time.
Wednesday, 19th.-The boats and people em-
ployed bringing material for thatching from French
Bay to repair damages. It is evident that the priest
is Governor of the island.
Thursday, 20th.-Cloudy weather, with rain. All
the tobacco served out to the soldiers and prisoners,
by order of the captain.
Friday, 21st. The same weather as yesterday.
Saturday, 22nd.-These last 24 hours continual
rain. All quiet with the exception of the Governor's
confinement, which is ill borne by the prisoners.
Sunday, 23rd.-The same weather as yesterday.
Monday, 24th.-More moderate and clear weather.
Tuesday, 25th.-The same weather as yesterday.
The captain paid the soldiers with money from the
Governor's store; it was evident that both him and
the priest were endeavouring to get possession of
the Governor's property, without his knowledge or
sanction, in which they had in part succeeded, but
on discovery the captain gave me receipts for the
same, and everything was quiet on that head.
Wednesday, 26th.-Strong northerly gales; a vessel
in sight. The captain made me deliver up all the
hemp-rope to make fishing lines for the soldiers and
prisoners, and I greatly opine that there will, ere
loug, be a great necessity for these measures, es-
pecially if the great waste of provisions be continued
much longer, and the vessel should not arrive at its
appointed period with a fresh supply to prevent their
utter starvation, which must ultimately be the case,
owing to the extensive robberies lately committed.
They have also stolen from me about 90 fathom of
cotton line.
Thursday, 27th.-Weather the same.
Friday, 28th.-No alteration of weather. The priest
giving out land to the prisoners, which, as Governor,
he certainly has a right to do.
Saturday, 29th.-More moderate. The captain
sent the prisoners, who had nearly surprised the
castle, to Goat Island; he also gave orders to the
store-keeper to deliver no provisions to the Governor
from the store. All hands trying who can rob him
most, and the insidious priest filling every one's head
with report of Ugalde's coming here to be Governor ;
so by that means any disorder they may commit will
never be taken notice of.
Sunday, 30th.-Fine weather.
Monday, 31st.-At about nine o'clock last night I
was taken very ill, and in the course of the night was
dangerously so, being neither able to sit, stand, walk,
or lay down on one side or the other, from a very
severe pain in my chest and bowels. At last it was
with much difficulty I could breathe, and in this man-
ner I passed the night. At the first onset I endea-
voured to take some sweet oil, but could not swallow
it. I next tried brandy, and, in fact, took half a
bottle of it, and half a tumbler of wine, with the idea
22
of easing the pain, but all to no effect, and was now
fearful of becoming delirious. At length long-
wished-for morning came. In the night it struck me
that I had been poisoned; and, from not having eat
or drank anything but a little wine from the house,
I could easily tell by whom it had been given, and,
without any hesitation, pronounced it to be the store-
keeper. As soon as the Governor arose, I told him
that with certainty I had been poisoned, and re-
quested a dose of white vitriol, which he gave me,
and after a while it operated, and, in the course of
the day, by the Governor's kind attention, I began
to recover. Towards evening he gave me ten grains
of calomel, a little rhubarb, and cream of tartar: I
suffered the most violent pains. At night I took 25
drops of laudanum, which eased me much and laid
me to sleep, so that I passed a far better night; but
had it not been for the attention paid me by the Go-
vernor I must have died.
Tuesday, September 1st.-Weather the same;
found myself much recovered, but suffering much
pain in respiring; still attended by the Governor.
;
Wednesday, 2nd.-No difference in the weather
pretty well in health, with the exception of the pain
in the chest, which is also decreasing. The boats'
crews of the French ship that was here on the 1st of
August landed, and slept on shore all night,—the
doctor and officers at the castle, and the crews under
charge of the soldiers, in pursuance of the captain's
orders.
Thursday, 3rd.-Fine weather; the French vessel
close in, and firing guns for her boats; at eight a.m.
her boats left the shore and one of the Governor's
also, with the ensign, the priest, and the soldier
Maray; at nine o'clock the boat returned with the
friar, leaving the officer and soldier on board; at
eleven the priest took off a bullock he had ordered
to be killed, as well as a pig, that on board he
managed to barter for a barrel of brandy and other
species; the priest, or more properly styled, the
governor, is selling brandy at one dollar per bottle;
the Governor succeeded in smuggling his despatches
on board the vessel, which I believe is bound to
Valparaiso.
Friday, 4th.-Weather the same; observed to-day
that they have taken nearly all the things out of the
Governor's fish-store, without his or my consent, or
even knowledge of the business; they have also
taken the padlock to put on the prison door.
Saturday, 5th.-These twenty-four hours fine wea-
ther; a letter I had written, directed to the com-
mander of the Colocolo or Aquilles, on the Gover-
nor's account, fell into the captain's hands, but owing
to its being written in English he sent for me to
translate it for him, which I performed, without let-
ting him know its true import, but substituted some-
thing else in lieu thereof, with which he seemed
content; the whole of the flour left in store is pretty
near expended, and the captain, to supply his troops,
has taken the barrels of American flour belonging to
the Governor (the results of this will be seen here-
after); yet great must have been the abuse of this
article, of which there were ten full bags, and a cask
containing two and a half more, being a sufficiency
for fifty days' full allowance; a soldier of the name
of Maray was here to-day, and used very abusive
language towards the Governor; some time after, I
heard him in conversation with some other person
whom I could not recognise, but greatly suspect that
it may be of consequence hereafter in case of require-
ment: the priest to-day put a man in the guard-
house for inebriety.
JOSEPH DUNCAN.
Vista buena, THOMAS SUTcliffe.
"Juan Fernandez, Sep. 11th, 1835.
"REVEREND FATHER CHAPLAIN,-As your re-
verence has witnessed the conduct of Duncan to-day,
and that you may become better acquainted with the
wickedness of mankind, I remit this document to
your custody, as well as a translation of what hap-
pened on the 1st of August, for which I request your
receipt. God guard your reverence,
"THOMAS SUTCLIFFE."
"Received from the Senor Governor Don Tomas
Sutcliffe, a document belonging to Joseph Duncan.
"FRIAR JOHN EVANGELISTA LOPEZ.
"Santiago, Sep. 11th, 1835."
My note and the father's receipt authenticated the
log or journal, and the separate receipt held the
priest responsible in case it should be required. He
was a deep, designing scoundrel, yet I was deter-
mined to have the upper hand of him; and the
Chilian government were certainly much to blame in
sending such a chaplain to the island, more so on
account of its being the depository of so many pro-
fligate and abandoned criminals, who were much
rather in want of a sound and pious adviser. On my
receiving the appointment of Governor, I requested
several good and religious persons to accompany me,
but none of these would accept the situation as chap-
lain, although I made them the most liberal offers;
perhaps on account of Juan Fernandez being the
place where the reprobate clergy were sent for punish-
ment. No one would receive it or degrade him-
self by going to that place in the character of chap-
lain. From which results, government generally
gave it to one that had been destined by his superior
to purge his conventual disorders; as was the case
with Friar John Evangelist; yet it was more re-
markable, that on an island where near 500 souls re-
sided, there was no person to be found that could
bleed or draw a tooth; and of consequence it fol-
lowed, that if any were so unfortunate as to be taken
ill to the extent of being confined in bed, they seldom
or ever (from want of medical assistance) arose from
it, proceeding from the dislike of practical gentle-
men to reside on the island. Nor was there any
person allowed by government that could be made
responsible for the distribution of provisions and
other articles sent to the island, or act as secretary,
although the Governor of Juan Fernandez had to
correspond with every department of the Supreme
Government, as well as those of the provinces, with-
out ever being allowed the expenses of writing ma-
terials; so that the whole of the charge and respon-
sibility rested solely on him, without any other gra-
tification but his net pay and rations of flour and
dried beef, and then at the mercy of the commander
of the vessel that generally brought the prisoners to the
island, for the common necessaries of life. It is true
that the governors had ways and means to enrich
themselves if they chose, and many had done so; but
I, on the contrary, can prove having done away with
the many abuses hitherto in practice, and from the
profits of the store, after having reduced the prices of
everything, liquor excepted, to one half of what my
predecessors had established, I kept a free table for
the chaplain and officers, and distributed bread and
salaries to more than the amount of 108 dollars
monthly.
To show that I had nothing to fear for maltreat-
ment given to prisoners, no guard was seen near my
house since the month of June; and I have often
traversed the island accompanied only by the pri-
soners, from whom, during my government, was
never heard a complaint of hunger or bad usage, and
my pleasure was unbounded when enabled, on the
1st of August, to quell such a desperate insurrection,
got up on purpose by a nefarious set, although aban-
doned by the garrison, and aided only with the co-
operation of the prisoners, and to whom I certainly
was indebted for the safety of my documents and
papers, when arrested, thus trusting my life and re-
putation in their hands. The priest and captain had
in vain striven to gain proselytes from any party,
although they distributed provisions amongst them
in the most prodigal manner. Only one of the nu-
merous packets I had delivered them, to try their
fidelity, fell into the captain's hands. Duncan in-
formed me daily of what was going on, and one day
sent me a copy of the charges they had prepared
against me, which were as follow:-Cruel treat-
ment to the prisoners; robbing the troops and pri-
soners of their rations, which had exasperated the
latter so as to drive them to desperation; cowardice,
for not assisting the captain to retake the castle;
having destroyed all the documents belonging to the
provision store; having shot three individuals in
cool blood, without allowing them time to prepare
themselves, or taken their declarations; my having
taken poison to prevent being brought to trial; my
having repeatedly implored to be allowed to embark
in any foreign vessel, in lieu of returning to Chile;
my having striven to prejudice the soldiers against the
captain; having monopolised the trade of the island,
and charged exorbitant prices for everything sold;
having had knowledge of the castle going to be taken,
and ordering the troops to leave it unarmed, in order to
get the captain and garrison sacrificed; and for offering
money to the cadet to obtain his signature to a docu-
ment, &c. In fact, everything that persons in the
situation of the priest and captain could invent, to
palliate their conduct, and criminate mine, was dic-
tated by the priest, as had been all the documents
I received from Saldes during my confinement. I
also was informed that it was not intended to send me
to Valparaiso, but to Conception, where the inten-
dant was a friend of Saldes, as equally so of the Colo-
colo's commander, and at the same time the military
commandant was uncle to the captain, and also chief
of the battalion that the troops of the island belonged
to; from which circumstances they naturally surmised
that I should be shown little indulgence. I laughed
at their machinations, and was glad to know their in-
tentions, and took particular care to have my papers
concealed and ready to send on board of the Colocolo
as soon as she should anchor, to be delivered to the
mutual care of Mr. Ashton, the gunner, a native of
Liverpool, and the boatswain, an old Spaniard, who
were both my friends. The Colocolo arrived on the
13th of September, and in the afternoon Saldes and
the priest went off on board of her, and remained
some time after she had anchored. Before they left
the vessel, Captain Dias had received a letter from
me, which was delivered to him by my cook, Espi-
noza, and immediately after reading it he showed it
to Saldes, explaining its contents, which occasioned
the poor fellow's getting punished. However, he
managed to deliver the box with the papers to
the boatswain, who secreted them away with per-
fect security. Neither the captain, purser, or
any of the officers came near me, nor could I hear
from Duncan, for Arrevalo informed me that he
had not left the castle since the Colocolo came in
sight. I now began to fear that our plan had been
discovered; or, at least, that they had some sus-
picion of him being in my interest. Next morning
the captain and purser called upon me, and de-
livered me the correspondence. I inquired of Capt.
Dias whether he had received a letter from me; and
on his answering in the affirmative, I again requested
him to assist me in restoring order. He began
making some foolish and ridiculous excuses, saying
that the island was in a state of tranquillity; and
they both retired, directing their way to the castle.
I received a number of private letters; also a copious
correspondence from government, who had also sent
me a quantity of articles I had previously requested,
especially clothing for the whole of the prisoners;
also the full compliment of provisions for all on the
23
island, as well as those that had just arrived in the
Colocolo. I was informed by several of my friends
that both Ugalde and Lattapiat had been loud in
vociferating against my bad administration, but that
Ugalde's errand was, as I suspected, all a humbug.
Also, amongst several newspapers that had been re-
mitted me from England, was one, wherein was pub-
lished a letter, formerly written by me to a friend in
Liverpool. Little did I think, when writing that letter,
that I should read it published in an English newspa-
per, on the eve of obtaining my liberty, by being trans-
ported from the depot of Chilian convicts. I received
many letters from Santiago and other parts of Chile, as
well as good advice from my friends in England, who
had also sent me a large quantity of books, maga-
zines, and garden seeds, and the following letter
from my dear mother :—
"Godley Hall, Cheshire, June 4th, 1835.
"DEAR THOMAS,-I was anxiously waiting for a
letter from you, when Mr. Crook was so kind as to
send me a copy of yours to him; it was handed to
me by a particular friend, the Rev. Mr. Massey, of
Hyde; it is impossible to describe the agitation I was
thrown into at seeing Mr. Crook's name; I supposed
you were dead. Mr. Massey read me the letter;
I also have read it many times over, and shed tears
of gratitude to the Almighty for his providential care
of you during the earthquake, &c. I hope you will
be able to do your duty in the situation in which he
has placed you.
I had flattered myself that I might
be permitted to see you; but now I have given up
all hopes; I am now in my 70th year, and by course
of nature cannot stay here long. I have sent you a
few magazines and other books, which, if you read
with attention, will, I hope, be of essential service.*
I sent you two books last year, the Encyclopædia of
Agriculture and Gardening, and another that was
recommended, which I hope you have received. No
changes have taken place amongst your relations; I
was afflicted with the rheumatism last winter, and I
have great cause to be thankful to the Almighty for
his goodness in supporting me, and giving me, I
trust, an humble resignation to his holy will.
I can
say mercy and goodness have followed me, and I
believe will follow me all the days of my life. Glory
be for ever to his holy name. May that God who
commanded the light to shine out of darkness, shine
into your heart, to give you the light of the know-
ledge of his glory, and to give you grace to cleave to
him, is the prayer of your affectionate mother,
"FRANCES DAVENPORT."
* After having been expelled from the island by the
mutineers, I sent all my magazines and religious tracts
to Pitcairn's Island, and the following letters from the
captain and master of H.M.S. Imogene, will show, that
they were a most valuable acquisition to those interesting
islanders, and it may be hoped that others may be induced,
should an opportunity occur, to remember that such pre-
sents are not thrown away:-
-
"H.M.S. Imogene, Valparaiso, Jan. 10, 1839.
"Dear Sir,-The books which you were so considerate
as to send by Mr. Thompson, of this ship, for the Pitcairn
Islanders, were most thankfully received by them; and
it is gratifying to find, that so useful a present is duly
valued by that highly interesting and well-disposed com-
munity.-I remain, truly yours, "H. W. BRUCE,
"Captain H.M.S. Imogene."
"H.M.S. Imogene, Jan. 4, 1838.
"My dear sir,-On our arrival at Pitcairn's Island, I
delivered the religious books, &c., you were kind enough
to send for the use of the islanders.
"I feel great pleasure in stating they were most thank-
fully received, and will, I doubt not, be most carefully
read, as well as being of great service.
"Had you seen the way in which they were read, you
would, I know, have felt truly delighted.
"Excuse haste, and believe me, dear sir, yours very
truly,
"RICHARD THOMPSON,
"Master, Imogene."
24
It gave me great pleasure to read my mother's
letter, but how could I answer it until I had got
through the many troubles that surrounded me, and
defeated at the same time the machinations of my
detractors. The following letter I received from a
worthy friend, and one of the first personages in
Chile, Don Manuel Salas, who, during the return of
the Spanish government, had been exiled to Juan
Fernandez, and had resided some time upon the
island:
"Santiago, September 1st, 1835.
"SENOR DON TOMAS SUTCLIFFE, Gober-
NADOR POLITICO Y MILITAR JUAN FERNANDez.
MY ESTIMABLE AND VALUED FRIEND,-I reply
with pleasure to your two letters of the 23rd April
and 18th June, which have but recently come to hand,
and almost on the same day. Although I regret
their delay, I feel great pleasure at their contents.
I am filled with delight at the idea that that hell, the
centre of wretchedness, desperation, and immorality,
is about to be converted into a theatre of virtues, of
which not even the sound had yet been heard. All
may be accomplished by constancy and by rectitude
of intention.
"St. Helena is at the present day a garden, formed
from an arid and solitary rock, and New South Wales
is going to become one of the most brilliant parts of
the British empire. If you pause to consider what
humanity may be indebted to you, and those who
enjoy the benefits, always increasing, of which you
may
be the immortal author, you will hold firm your
benignant resolutions and thoughts, to which con-
secrate your zeal, your talents, and your time.
Friend, great works are meritorious only in pro-
portion to the difficulties by which contrasted, and
the smallness of the means of carrying them into
effect. You find yourself in this case; but do not be
disheartened, nor easily believe in such stumbling-
blocks as you indicate to me; the solicitation of Don
Marcelo Ugalde ought not for one moment to cause
you anxiety, as it is a matter which has not invited
the slightest attention. I have inquired about it to
the very bottom, and have availed myself of the
opportunity to learn the good opinion which the
president and the three ministers do entertain of you,
and in which I shall endeavour to continue them as
far as my influence extends.
"The Island Floriana, which, but a few years since,
was nothing but a sandy soil, inhabited by turtle, is
now a place where whalers touch, who leave there
large sums, utensils, and even people.
"Juan Fernandez offers much greater advantages to
a beneficent and active genius. The clays and soils
of various colours brought to my memory the minerals
of Golconda and Brazil. Nature is systematic: their
geographical position places them in a like situation,
and renders probable the same effects and equal pro-
ductions. It would appear madness to those who do
not wish to think, but not to those who know that
this has been the beginning of all discoveries. For
the furtherance of such investigations, you have for-
tunately three or more men with you ingenious and
clever, and some with an idea of arts, who may be
made useful if applied and directed with sagacity and
vigilance. Some of your predecessors reaped advan-
tages from such collegiates; extracting anchors and
things which had been lost on the anchoring ground;
improving the fisheries, and of curing (salting); be-
sides other expedients of which we are ignorant.
One occurs to me which might be of great importance;
such is the making of bricks, of which immense quan-
tities are brought from England and the United States,
and for which you have all the elements in abundance;
these are, the firewood, the clays, and above all, the
idle hands.
"Friend, The celebrated Buren, by having taught
in Holland the manner of fishing and curing the herring,
has provided occupation for more than two hundred
thousand persons; and Don Luis Louison, by the
establishment of the manner of preparing pescado (fish
corned and dried in the sun), in Valparaiso, furnished
to that poor place the entry of more than seventy
thousand dollars. What a benefit! How enviable a
memory! What examples!
"To prevent this suffering the delay or going out of
the direct course, as happened with your favours, I
avail myself of the kindness of the ministers, under
cover to whom you may send me your commands.
"I enclose the annexed from our mutual friend
Campino, to whom you may send your letters through
the same channel.
"If you find, among the fish on your coast, one called
'Berrugate,' or 'Tollo,' which has on the middle
of the ridge of the back a bone, which is discovered
to view, to it is attributed the virtue of curing the
tooth-ache. This, however, is not the most bene-
ficial and important; but its bones, of whose ad-
mirable effects I have been a witness and an agent,
administering the weight of an ounce dissolved in
wine, broth, or water, are successful in stopping
hæmorrhage, or the effusion of blood, infallibly,
whether from the mouth or any other way. Whilst
I was in that quarter I used much diligence, but did
not succeed in obtaining this admirable specific,
which may perhaps be now obtained. You might
thus have the satisfaction to alleviate many, and of
obliging one who is well aware of its importance.
"I heartily wish you much health, constancy, and
patience; and reckon upon the good offices which
may be in the power of, your sincere friend and ser-
vant,
"MANUEL DE SALAS.”
(Seal of Office.)
"Santiago, September, 1, 1835.
"MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR,-I have given
an account to the president of your official note of
last June, No. 250, in which you give a detailed re-
lation of the state in which the establishment is at
present, as also of the works you have commenced;
and his Excellency feels satisfied with your diligence
as a public functionary, and philanthropic views as a
promoter of industry, by which means the condition
of those unfortunate persons there detained may be-
come alleviated. God preserve you.
"JOAQUIN TOCORNAL."
(Minister of War's letter.)
Santiago, September 6, 1835.
"MY LABORIOUS FRIEND,-Being always in a
hurry, I cannot extend my letter to manifest my satis-
faction at your industry and advancement of your
insula this will be the best attestation of the con-
duct of its worthy Governor, who has so much
honoured my fortunate election. Continue, and do
not fear your detractors. The actions are what
speak perpetually, and not the unjust detractor of
the moment. By this vessel you will receive all that
has been required, and shortly I will send your com-
mission of Lieutenant-Colonel, that the earthquake
of February robbed you of. Now you will receive a
good remittance, and amongst them birds that will
be troublesome-persons of family, on whom you
must keep your eyes. I have no more time: con-
tinue in good health, and command your affectionate
friend that kisses your hand,
"JOSE JAVIER DE BUSTAMANTE."
As soon as I had read these documents I gave them
to the chaplain, as also three private letters, in order
that he might be convinced that Ugalde had deceived
him, and that the government was perfectly satisfied
with my conduct. He perused them with visible
agitation, and such was the effect produced on his
mind by their contents, that the deep, designing vil-
lanies that had hitherto sustained him in his treach-
25
erous character, failed him; and, perhaps, aware of
what might be the consequence of a discovery of
those crimes he had committed, and with the inten-
tion of exculpating himself as much as possible,
boldly made me an offer of his future services, adding
at the same time, that Ugalde was a rogue, for he
had sent money by him to a person in Santiago, who
had informed him that he could not get it from
Ugalde. I then showed him a letter from a friend of
mine, who had my orders to receive 69 dollars I had
lent to Ugalde the first day of his arrival here, in
which was an obligation to pay three per cent. per
month for this sum, until he should be enabled to
pay the amount demanded. On which the chaplain
said he was a pretty fellow to come and rent the
islands and perform all his promises.
Yet on the
friar's repeating his offers of service, I asked him for
my private and public papers, copying book, and
baston, which he brought to me, and they were by
me immediately packed up, with others, and sent
on board the Colocolo, whilst a box of dried lobsters,
remitted to a friend in Valparaiso, served as a veil
to screen them from observation, although under the
charge of my old friends the gunner and boatswain,
who had promised their safe delivery. I now sent
for Saldes, and again offered to pardon him for what
I had suffered if he would return to his duty, and
further informed him what sort of a character Ugalde
was; but he remained obstinate, saying he knew what
he was about, and had HIS INSTRUCTIONS. The
Governor of Valparaiso had sent me 1,500 dollars,
on account of the money destined for the island not
having arrived in time, and answered my note re-
specting Burkett, by the following
"Valparaiso, September 7, 1835.
"SENOR DON TOMAS SUTCLIFFE,-I have been
satisfactorily informed by your last note of your re-
gulated proceedings with respect to the affair of the
fishermen; and I can assure you, that your circum-
spection and judiciousness never have in the least
been doubted by me. I wish you may enjoy good
health, and that God may give you much patience.
Command your very affectionate friend,
"RAMON CAVAREDA. ***
I sent for the captain of the Colocolo, as also his
purser, and ordered them to deliver neither the
money, stores, or provisions to Saldes, advising them
that there were provisions for a month or six weeks in
the castle, and again requested the captain to assist
me in re-establishing order; but he paid no attention,
and shortly after his leaving me, he gave orders to
land the provisions, and everything else he had on
board. Messrs. Macfarlane and Green had sent me
a copious remittance for my private store that I could
not receive, from which the captain landed a box of
sugar, contrary to my orders, and sold it to the priest.
Government had sent clothing for all the prisoners,
and a number of articles I had required for the use
of the garrison, which were landed in the greatest
hurry and disorder; and as soon as all was disem-
barked, I received orders to go on board. I sent for
Saldes, who refused to appear; and about eight
o'clock at night was obliged to leave my habitation
and embark. Lieut. Martinez, of the Colocolo, ac-
companied me to the mole, and hailed his vessel for
a boat. He seemed very inquisitive concerning what
had happened, and eager to know how I could justify
myself on the Continent. I told him that Saldes had
taken an ungenerous part in every act of the affair;
and having been led to believe that the French whaler
was bound to the coast of Chile, my papers were sent
on board of her. Of these it was plain that I was
deprived; but that my own clear conscience would
* This personage is now the minister of state in the war
department.
D
be sufficient to enable me to prove my innocence.
Martinez expressed his doubts, telling me it would
be difficult to refute the many charges that were
pressed against me. I went off alone, and he returned
to Saldes and the other confederates, who were
pleased to think me unprepared to meet the approach-
ing struggle, where life and honour were to be lost or
won; but secure in the integrity of my proceedings,
I could not but smile in my passage off to think by what
miracle I had escaped from the clutches of such an
infernal gang of miscreants. On my arrival on board
of the Colocolo I inquired for the captain, and was
informed he had gone on shore with the rest of the
officers. I requested the midshipman who had charge
to send for him, and inform him that the Governor of
Juan Fernandez was on board, and wished to see
him. He sent a boat. I then inquired what orders
he had received in regard to my person; he replied,
to receive me on board, and consequently invited me
to the cabin, which I declined entering, choosing
rather to stay on deck until the captain should come
on board. In about two hours the boat returned
with a message, to say that he would be very quickly
on board. I waited another hour; but finding myself
fatigued, I ordered my bed to be made on deck, to
lay down. About one o'clock the captain, purser,
lieutenant, and three passengers came on board, as
also the ensign Riquelme, chaplain, Cruz Sanchez,
and my servants, Arrevalo and Carrasco, who brought
me some papers I had entrusted them with, at the
same time two sheep, some poultry, and other articles
I had sent for. I demanded of the captain of the
Colocolo how and in what manner he had received
me in his vessel, as also his motives for not
coming on board when sent for by me expressly;
on which his purser, Mouroy, advised him to give
me no further answer than the following-that he was
commander of his own vessel; yet, however, the
captain replied that he would answer me in the morn-
ing, and immediately gave orders for hoisting in the
boat and getting under weigh. I protested in vain
against his arbitrary proceedings, giving him a note
to this effect, to which he returned no answer.
The
priest made me many and repeated offers of friendship,
which induced me to ask him if he still considered me
as Governor of the island, and ready to obey me as
such; from which, having received a satisfactory an-
swer, I ordered him to fetch me Duncan's log-book,
and other papers he had received in charge from me,
on which errand he departed, and, from a calm that
ensued, very quickly returned with the papers, which
he delivered me, at the same time requesting that I
would return him his receipt, which, I informed him,
was a document of too much consequence to be parted
with, it being one of the principal instruments that
authenticated the journal. He then begged me to
consider him as my friend, endeavouring to excul-
pate himself. I assured him that he had perhaps un-
consciously befriended me by letting me have the
documents, and in deceiving Saldes; but, as he had
taken an active part against me since the affair of the
1st of August, I should have to report the whole trans-
action to government, and in fact had already sent
an official note to the ministers, informing them that
I considered the priest as the adviser and instigator of
Saldes, from which there was no doubt to be enter-
tained of its going hard with him. He vehemently
protested before the captain and officers of the Colo-
colo, as also the several passengers on board, that he
had not in any way acted against me, but rather, on
the contrary, was my friend, and had ever endeavoured
to do all in his power for the protection of my pro-
perty, and more especially had guarded me from many
personal dangers, that came near to threaten my ex-
istence, during my confinement. After his leaving
the vessel, the captain of the Colocolo expressed his
dissatisfaction at the scoundrel's duplicity, adding, at
the same time, that he was fully convinced of the
priest's being more to blame than Saldes, as the latter
26
part of his conduct proved him to be a complete
rogue. At daylight, Saldes sent me my swords and
fire-arms, with the exception of a pistol I had lent
him on the 1st of August, also several barrels of dried
fish and lobsters, and about 200 quintals of prime
sandal-wood; but the captain of the Colocolo would
not allow me to receive anything but my arms, telling
me, at the same time, that his vessel was a man of
war, and not a transport. He now got under weigh,
and as we were standing out of the harbour, the Cadet
Bergara came to request, on the part of the captain and
soldiers, that I would inform them what articles were
poisoned. Such a question could not but excite my
merriment, for it confirmed the idea that they had la-
boured under the supposition of my having taken such
steps to retaliate. I desired him to say to the captain
that he need not be afraid or the least alarmed on that
score; that there was not to my knowledge any poi-
son on the island, nor had there been any since clear-
ing the store of rats; and that the farce of poisoning
myself had been acted in order to save my papers,
as also to this stratagem I attributed my preserva-
tion from the assassin's knife.
*
* Extracts from the records of the trial: charge of
Captain Saldes.
*
*
I ordered him to be arrested in
his house, until I could inform the Supreme Government.
A few minutes afterwards, he formed the impious and bar-
barous resolution (which the greatest criminals would not
attempt) to poison himself, in order that he might not ap-
pear before his superiors.
Seeing this measure so contrary to religion, and also his
refusal of the antidote that was offered to prevent the
effects of the draught, I ordered a corporal and four sol-
diers to enter and secure him, that they might by force
administer the remedy that would be efficacious; this was
done by making him drink a considerable quantity of oil,
which prevented his death, although it did not remove the
internal pain that was occasioned by what he had taken
(efectos propia de su esencia).
Whilst he was in a state of desperation, he revealed to
all present, that the sugar he had in his house, which was
all that was on the island, was poisoned. This, of course,
was immediately thrown into the sea. *
*
*
We were all horror struck when we found ourselves thus
innocently condemned to death.
This proves that he intended to have sacrificed the lives
of all who were on the island.
After he had recovered his health on account of the
promptitude with which the remedy was administered, he
repeatedly called upon me to request permission to embark
for his own country, in the first vessel that should touch
at the island.
* NICOLAS SALDES.
Juan Fernandez, September 14th, 1839.
*
*
The Padre's account, extracted from the records of
his trial.
* * I returned with an answer, and found him seated at
the door of his house, with two sentinels over him; I there
gave him the captain's answer. Then the Governor took
a tumbler from the table, and said, "Here, Padre, take this
paper and give it to Joseph Duncan, and I will take this to
put an end to my trouble." I seized the tumbler, and spilt
a part of its contents before he could swallow all. I then
ran and gave the paper to Duncan, who, on reading it,
said that the Governor had taken a strong dose of poison.
We both returned to render assistance, in order to save
his life, and found him seated at his table. He requested
Duncan to write for him, but, as he dictated in English, I
am ignorant of what he said. The chief then wrote a
short note to the Senor President of the Republic, in which
he stated he had taken such an unhappy resolution, rather
than suffer himself to be ill-used by mutinous officers. A
few moments afterwards he became desperate, complain-
ing of internal pains, and threw himself upon his bed.
Seeing him in this sad state, I told Duncan to give him a
glass of oil; but the Governor gave him a blow, and threw
the glass from him, and broke it to pieces, telling me that
I might retire, for my spiritual help was of no manner of
use to a man that had committed suicide. On this I
called in four soldiers, and got them to hold him, and
oblige him to drink oil, which was done to the extreme
of making him swallow the contents of two large bottles;
this made him discharge what he had in his stomach.
He afterwards informed me, that two tins full of sugar
that were placed under his bed were poisoned, and advised
me to throw them into the sea, which was immediately
done.
* FRAY JUAN EVANGELISTA LOPEZ.
I told the cadet to deliver the fish and sandal-wood
to the captain, as he would be held responsible for
it, and everything else that necessity obliged me to
leave behind; as also to say to him, from me, that
ere the elapsment of six weeks, we probably might
have the pleasure of meeting again. I communicated
to the Mayoral, Cruz Sanchez, and my servants, that
all my papers, as well as the archives of the island,
were on board, from which consequence nothing
could arrest the progress of my justification, or im-
pede their speedy release in remuneration of their
good services.* After the boat had left, one of my
double-barrelled pistols was missing; and on making
inquiry, several persons stated that the cadet had
taken it. On the captain telling the helmsman to
steer to the southward, I made inquiry as to where
he was bound, and received for answer that Talca-
huana was his immediate destination. I now handed
him another note, to which, as well as the former
ones, he returned no answer.
It is necessary to confess that I felt extremely
grateful to Providence at having been so fortunate
to leave the island with all my documents, which
were the instruments that would fully expose the
subtle villainy of this band of ungrateful wretches,
who had been induced by persons on the Continent
to the parts they acted; but all and every attempt
they had made to inveigle me into their snares had
hitherto proved abortive, for I had so completely
perplexed them with schemes, contrivances, and
counter projects that I had daily acted in confe-
deracy with my faithful ally, Duncan, that they stood
confused, without a clue to extricate themselves from
the labyrinth of their crimes, which had insensibly
drawn them on to the present precipitous ground,
where they found it impossible to remain, and to re-
treat would not be allowed them. I felt sorry at not
having had an opportunity to see Duncan before
leaving the island; on the day of my embarkation,
not a glimpse of his person nor a sound of his voice
was to be seen or heard of; from which I suspected
ill health as the cause, but it seems it was occasioned
by his being detained in the castle, offering up his
accustomed orisons at the shrine of his favourite
deity; however, remitting all his faults and love of
*Santiago, August 19, 1836.
Sir, I am ordered by the Minister of War, Don Diego
Portales, to answer your letter of the 16th, by remitting
you the copy of one he has forwarded to the Governor of
Valparaiso.
Soy S. S. S. Q. S. M. B., MANUEL CAVADA.
[COPY.]
""
Cruz Sanchez, José Maria Espinosa, Irene Carrasco,
Mariano Rivera, Joaquin Arrevalo, Tadeo Arriagada,
Andres Oliva, Alberto Briones y José Maria Perez.
"My Dear Friend,-As these individuals are to be re-
warded for their good conduct during the revolution
against Sutcliffe,' by the council of state, it would be
well for you to treat them kindly, and place them separate
from the rest, and free from irons, until the rcsolution of
the council of state is forwarded to Valparaiso.-Yours,
August 19, 1836.”
PORTALES.
66
I experienced an inward satisfaction on receiving this
mark of attention from the minister: the poor prisoners
were treated accordingly, and on the 7th of September I
received the following copy of their pardon :-
[cory.]
"COMMANDANCIA GRAL DE ARMAS,-His Excellency the
President deened it necessary to issue, under date of the
third of this month, the following decree :-
'In consequence of the merit due to the convicts, Cruz
Sanchez, José Maria Espinosa, Irene Carrasco, Mariano
Rivera, Joaquin Arrevalo, Tadeo Arriagada, Andres Oliva,
Alberto Briones, and José Maria Perez, assisting the
Governor of Juan Fernandez to suffocate the last revolu-
tion that took place in that island, I have, in accord with
the council of state, pardoned them the three-fourth parts
of the time for which they were transported.'
Which I transcribe to you for your intelligence and cor-
respondent effects.-God preserve you, &c.,
"Sept. 6, 1836.
"DOMINGO FRUTOS.
"To the Governor of Juan Fernandez."
27
liquor, I was certain he would be faithful to his
charge, by keeping an eye to my interests, and in-
form me of the proceedings of Saldes and Co. The
treatment I received from the captain and officers of
the Colocolo was extremely illiberal and ungentle-
manly, who, during the voyage, were continually
harassing me by the repetition of fulsome invec-
tives thrown out against foreign officers; but after a
passage of three days, we anchored in the afternoon
of the 18th of September, the anniversary of the
declaration of Chilian independence, on which ac-
count the vessel saluted with twenty-one guns. The
captain went on shore in the custom-house boat, in
order to proceed to Conception, the capital of the
province, expressly to wait on the Governor Inten-
dant, who was commandant of the battalion to which
the troops on the island belonged, as also uncle to
Captain Saldes. I had expressly written a letter to
forward to him, but the captain, on seeing the direc
tion, refused to take charge of it; but immediately
after his departure, I collected the most interesting
documents (the steward was highly amused to see
me draw them forth from their places of conceal-
ment), and proceeded on shore with Lieutenant
Martinez, to wait on the Governor, Don Miguel
Bayon, who was surprised to see me, and more
so, that the custom-house officer had not reported
my being on board, and what had taken place
on the island. On being sent for, and interro-
gated, he said that Captain Dias, of the Colocolo, had
not even mentioned the circumstance to him, for as
soon as he boarded the vessel, the captain requested
a passage on shore, in order, as he said, to see the
intendant, to whom he had something of consequence
to communicate. I mentioned my wish to go to the
city and wait on him also; on which the custom-house
officer, Don N. Lopez, generously offered to accom-
pany me, and furnish me with a horse. I gladly ac-
cepted his services, and in an hour arrived in Concep-
tion, and called upon the intendant, Colonel Don Ramon
Bosa. He received me very coolly, and informed me
that it would be requisite for my detention in Con-
ception until he should hear from government, as it
was necessary to send the Colocolo to Chiloe and Val-
divia, with arms and other articles she had on board;
on which I demanded assistance to be enabled to pro-
secute my journey to Santiago by land. He again
repeated that I must remain there, as government
had heard of the revolution on the island, and had in
consequence taken declarations in Chillan, the head-
quarters of the Chilian army, from Captain Aguayo,
who had commanded the late garrison on the island.
This information astounded me, being aware that no
vessel had held any communication with the island
during my captivity, except the French whaler, and
she had not yet come to the coast of Chile, nor in-
tended to do so for some months. An officer who
was present informed me that Aguayo had mentioned
the circumstance to him, and that he had been required
to give his information to General Bulnes respecting
my treatment of his soldiers and prisoners, and by
what he could learn was no way favourable to me. I
then inquired of the intendant what were the charges
his nephew had preferred against me, and what excuse
he had made for usurping the command, and remitting
me as a prisoner to the Continent. He seemed sur-
prised at my mentioning the relationship that was be-
tween them; but added that the charges were, for
robbing the soldiers and prisoners of their provisions,
the ill treatment of others, &c. I laughed at what
was related me; and further, told the intendant that,
from holding the station of Governor of Juan Fernan-
dez and its adjacent islands, I held myself amenable
to no one but the Supreme Government, and was
perfectly independent of all other authorities; that
my visit to him was on account of hearing that he was
unwell, and to request he would order the Colocolo
to return with me to Valparaiso, or to render me suf-
ficient assistance to revisit the island, for the establish-
•
ment of its former peace and tranquillity. I allowed
him to peruse several documents I had with me. After
he had read them, that is, two or three of the most im-
portance, he sat up in his bed, and exclaimed that I had
been grossly injured; that the captain of the Colocolo
was a base wretch, for that only a few minutes before my
arrival he had been with him, and corroborated every-
thing that had been stated in the communications he
delivered from Saldes. After he had concluded read-
ing the documents he admitted it to be true that he was
uncle to Saldes, as well as commandant of the bat-
talion that the company garrisoning the island be-
longed to, but nevertheless he could not swerve from
his duty on any consideration of this nature. He now
told his adjutant to order carts to be sent immediately
to the port to fetch what the Colocolo had for Con-
ception, and at the same time sent for Captain Dias,
to order him to proceed with me to Valparaiso as
soon as the wind would permit. He ordered some
refreshments, and offered me a bed, but I preferred
returning with my friend, the custom-house officer,
who was pleased to see me turn the tables upon
my enemies. Colonel Bosa informed me that Saldes
had been confined for several months previous to
his going to the island, and he had expected that
he would have bettered his conduct under me whilst
he remained there. On our being informed that the
captain of the Colocolo could not be found, we na-
turally conjectured that he had returned to the port;
so, on taking leave of the intendant, I made the best
of my way for Talcahuana, where I arrived at about
twelve o'clock, and proceeded to the house of my
friend, Don Manuel Serrano, where a festive party
were keeping up the 18th of September: no one was
informed of my having been with the intendant until
the following morning. At about nine o'clock Cap-
tain Dias arrived from the city. He seemed sur-
prised to find me on shore, and told me that I must
disembark my équipage, for he had orders to get
under weigh and proceed to Chiloe, as the wind was
favourable. I now invited him into the room, that
Don Manuel Serrano had obliged me with, and on
his seeing a table covered with papers, and two per-
sons occupied in copying various documeuts, he
seemed surprised, and more so when I informed bim
that he had not only transported me to the Continent,
but that all the archives of the island were brought
over also; and furthermore, that I felt much indebted
to him for his kindness in recommending me so
strongly to the intendant, in his statement and cor-
roboration of the charges advanced by Saldes against
my administration of the establishment, through which
means I had obtained an order to be conveyed, as
soon as possible, to Valparaiso, and should advise
him to disembark what he had to deliver here with
brevity, for the carts would soon be down to receive
it. He was confounded, and had scarcely a word to
say, when Captain Gallo Irrisabel arrived and de-
livered him an order to conduct the Governor of Juan
Fernandez, and two officers, with their servants, to
Valparaiso. Captain Dias now inquired how I had
communicated with the intendant. I assured him
that, from the moment of his first arrival at the
island, it had to me appeared plainly evident that
he was secretly affianced to act in collision with
the villain Saldes, which confederacy the intervention
of common reason would naturally incite me to use
every endeavour to crush and expose, as I had lat-
terly done, to the Governor Intendant, fully deline-
ating the measures adopted by himself and Saldes, to
deceive him and calumniate me. On which he, in
the greatest hurry imaginable, procured a horse, and
set out again for the city; during which time, I trip-
licated the whole of my documents and got them
certified by the Governor of Talcahuana, and sent
one set by the post, directed to myself in Santiago,
with two official notes for government, informing
them of what had taken place; the others I left in
charge of the captain of the port, Don P. Delano,
28
and took the originals with me. I remained two
days in Talcahuana on account of the wind blowing
from the northward, the captain having agreed to
fire a gun to advise me of its change, but a friend
assured me that it would be nccessary to keep an eye
on the vessel, as Dias had intentions to leave me be-
hind; to prevent which, as soon as I perceived him
getting under weigh,
weigh, I hired a whale boat to take
me on board, and arrived alongside as she was under
sail; and on inquiring of the captain his motives for
deceiving me in getting under weigh without firing a
gun as preconcerted, he made some crippled excuse,
and the subject was dropped. I received great at-
tention from Don Manuel Serrano (with whom I re-
sided); also from Don Bertran Matieu, a French
gentlemen; from Captain Rodgers; Don N. Rios,
the custom-house officer; Don N. Lopez; and the Go-
vernor, Don Miguel Bayon. We were two days on
our passage down to Valparaiso, during which time.
Captain Dias and his officers behaved in a far dif-
ferent manner than when they brought me from the
island. Immediately on disembarking in Valparaiso,
I waited on the Governor, Don Ramon Cavareda,
who was surprised to see me, and on informing him
of all that had transpired, and inquiring what vessel
had arrived from the island since the 1st, he told me
that none had arrived. I felt more surprised now
than ever, and mentioned what had been rumoured
in Conception. The captain of the Colocolo arrived
during my stay, and received a very severe repri-
mand from the Governor for his having acted in such
a disgraceful manner. I sent a note to the Minister
of War stating what had taken place; and that I
was on the eve of proceeding to Santiago, to make my
statement in person of every particular. I reached
the capital next day, and called upon his Excellency
the President. The meeting was rather cool; and
on the next day had another, of a nature more frigid
than the former, with the Minister of the Interior,
Don Joaquin Tocornal; the Minister of War, Don
Diego Portales; and Don Victorino Garrido, who
was also present. My friend Don Joseph Javier de
Bustamantes, unfortunately for me, had renounced the
ministry of war a few days previous to my arrival in
Santiago; so I had many unforeseen difficulties to
surmount.
CONCLUSION.
The following documents had been published in Chile previous to my leaving for Europe, and may
serve as a conclusion, for I have already exceeded what I had at first intended to publish; but the good sense
of my readers will let them see that although I have curtailed my narrative as much as possible, I thought it
imprudent to end abruptly :-
MY FAREWELL.
Being about to retire from Chile, I am impelled by
sentiments of gratitude, that will ever accompany me,
to adopt this mode of bidding farewell to those worthy
Chilians who have favoured me with their friendship
and esteem, during a residence of sixteen years in this
country, as well as a tribute to them of my most
sincere and grateful thanks for the many favours I
have received, and offer my services, should they
consider me of any utility; for I will, in any part
I
may reside, feel the greatest pleasure in having an
opportunity whereby I may return their kindness,
with unequivocal proofs of the unalterable profession
of my esteem.
In order to satisfy the desires of many who have
professed an interest in my concerns, and are desirous
to learn what are the motives that have compelled me
to retire from the military service of this republic, I
published on the 14th of last month the documents in
circulation, and to which I have now added others,
where may be seen, without the necessity of commen-
tators, a chain of misfortunes and vexations that have
not only obliged me to retire from the army, but from
a country in which it would have been my greatest
happiness to have passed the rest of my days.
THOMAS SUTCLIFFE.
Santiago, January 10th, 1839.
EXTRACTS FROM THE MANIFEST.
The criminal process concerning the occurrences
that took place on the island of Juan Fernandez having
come to a conclusion, I will now fulfil my promise of
the 2nd of last November, by manifesting documents
to refute the calumnies of those persons who have
interested themselves in order to stain my character
and reputation, which will prove that my detractors
have forged imputations, in different parts of the
republic, to effect my ruin, previous to the disgrace-
ful disorders (from the 1st of August to the 15th of
September) having taken place. They have accom-
plished their ends so as to see me accused and tried;
but their pleasure has been only momentary.
The mariner, George Burkett, has presented three
memorials to government; only one (No. 8) came to
my hands. The documents that accompany it discover
who have been the persons that were interested in
this scandalous affair. They thought that they had
found matter to complete my ruin and stain my repu-
tation, but my timely arrival on the Continent has
frustrated their malicious intentions. I well knew,
as early as March, that Lieut.-Colonel Lattapiat had
sworn vengeance against me, and in his letter he has
threatened me for having informed government, in
my notes, of acts in which my honour had been com-
promised.
The private declarations of Captain Don Norberto
Aguayo, that were taken at the head quarters of the
army of the south, carry the date of the 14th of Sept.,
the same day on which the mutineers embarked me
in the port of Juan Fernandez, and the official note
of their ringleader, which was remitted with my person
to the Supreme Government, is of the same date, and
nearly of the same tenor. On my arrival at the city
of Conception, on the 19th of September, I was in-
formed that Aguayo had answered to questions that
had been put to him respecting my conduct, and that
there were rumours of a revolution having taken place
on the island. This intelligence did not fail to sur-
prise me, for the Colocolo was the very first vessel
that had arrived from the island since the affair of the
1st of August. Who can have been my accuser?
An official order has been manifested to Captain
Aguayo, for him to give his depositions with respect
to my conduct towards the garrison and convicts who
were on the island. This is sufficient proof that
there was a strong feeling against me, which has been
consolidated by government having obliged me to
answer to such illegal charges; but having a clear
conscience, and feeling satisfied that I had fulfilled the
duties of my charge with honour, I depreciated the
machinations of my detractors, protested against the
illegality of the order, and then I willingly offered to
29
answer the judge fiscal, so that the Supreme Govern-
ment would see the falsity of my calumniator. In
the trial I have refuted the accusations of Aguayo,
and I will here manifest that the charge of having
deprived him and his soldiers of their rations is false
and malicious.
In the month of June, Don Marcelo Ugalde came
in the Colocolo, with a passport from the Supreme
Government. He gave me three letters of introduc-
tion, and, although I was only slightly acquainted with
the writers, I made him my guest; but his conduct
did not tally with the recommendations that were
given to a person whose ostensible business was only
to visit the island, with the object of examining its
soil, productions, and to take an account of the cattle,
&c., in order that he might rent the island and pur-
chase the stock, &c. &c., and be their governor.
The commander of the Colocolo, Lieutenant Don
Manuel Dias, on leaving for Talcahuana, informed
me that he had been obliged to go security for Ugalde
to his creditors in Valparaiso before they would per-
mit him to embark. This was useful advice, although
tardy; for he had already borrowed four ounces of
gold from me; and his subsequent conduct placed
me under the necessity of turning him out of my
house, and remit my reasons to government. He re-
mained on the island until the 11th of July, styling
himself the new governor, and striving to impress
upon the minds of the inhabitants that he was wealthy,
had great influence with the Supreme Government,
and that he would rent the islands, and return in the
month of August to take possession and govern them;
besides other fooleries. On which I gave orders to
the officers of the garrison to be on their guard, for
I saw that Ugalde was nothing more than an agent
of my detractor: his conduct and the occurrence that
took place shortly afterwards, have confirmed my sus-
picions. In the month of June I knew that some-
thing was getting up against me on the Continent,
and the Minister of War counselled me not to fear
my detractors. After my arrival in this capital I have
discovered that Lieutenant Col. Lattapiat, Ugalde,
and others, have had several meetings, previous to
his leaving for the island, in the house of a person
who has informed me of their proceedings. So the
public may judge whether the visit of Ugalde to the
island has been prejudicial or not to the establishment.
The antipathy and ill feeling that certain person-
ages have manifested towards me is notorious. I
am not ignorant of the machinations of my enemies,
but their intrigues have merited my disdain. He
that serves with honour, stands not in need of pro-
tection, nor ought he to fear his vile detractors. I
have many good friends in Chile, but have not required
their protection or assistance. Although I have been
transported from Juan Fernandez with a long cata-
logue of charges, my conscience and the documents
that a Divine Providence permitted me to preserve
from the scrutinizing search of the mutineers, have
vindicated my injured honour. What would have
been my fate if I had not been enabled to refute the
many calumnies that had been forged to procure my
ruin ?
I have served more than twenty years in the cause
of the American independence, and of which, more
than thirteen in the army of this republic, where I
have fulfilled with honour every duty that has been
confided to my charge, without ever mixing in the
political dissentions.
THOMAS SUTCLIFFE.
*
Santiago, May 21, 1836.
I have omitted publishing the documents that are
cited in the manifest, with the exception of a few
extracts from the defence, and the two following ex-
tracts from the public papers, for they are numerous,
and, in this small work, might be fastidious. The
memorials, in which I have claimed a remuneration
Jor the losses I have sustained on the island, will,
with the decrees of government, plainly show that I
had little to expect from an administration that had
not only manifested their eagerness to depopulate
the islands, but who have notoriously protected and
rewarded the very persons who have been the pro-
moters and actors of all the disgraceful scenes that
have taken place on Juan Fernandez.* The minister
of war, Don J. Zavier de Bustamantes, let me know
in the month of April that several members of the
government wished to break up the establishment,
and the following extract of the ministerial Gazette
El Araucano will shew that his information was well
founded:-
"INTERIOR.
"We know that government intends to remove the
establishment (el presidio) of Juan Fernandez to the
continent of the republic, where the convicts will
have to be occupied in the public works, where they
are so much wanted, and for which there are actually
a competent number of carts nearly ready, and made
of iron, in order to transport them to and fro.
"We have considered this measure under different
aspects, all of the greatest importance, and find it
the most opportunate and regulated to the public,
to the particular, and to the moral good that by every
means ought to be introduced and preserved in this
country.
"Our readers are aware of the immense expense
that the subsistence of the presidio' of Juan
Fernandez is to the treasury, the freight of the
convicts, their maintenance in that depôt, that of
a competent garrison, and of the Governor under
whose command is the island, have consumed
always a great quantity of dollars in the year
(han consumido en todos tiempos grandes can-
tidades de pesos en el anno), without any other be-
nefit than that of having a number of malefactors
separated from us for a certain period, that for the
most part become more hardened in that establish-
ment (empeoraban de costumbres en aquella residen-
cia); and return amongst us to commit more depre-
dations, and perhaps to receive the punishment of
death. *
"The separation of the island, the quality of its
inhabitants, their want of occupation, and, in many
cases, the bad disposition and irregular conduct of
the governors, have caused different insurrections;
that, at the same time, have caused damage in the
parts where the mutineers have arrived, and have
*
*
*
*
* The chaplain, Padre Lopez, was not tried, as ordained,
by a general court martial, but he went through the farce
of a "consejo," where Major Toledo, one of my judges,
and who had taken a decided interest against me, was the
president, and where neither myself nor my witnesses,
Joseph Duncan, Rojos, &c., were cited to appear against
him; and on Saldes retracting his former declarations,
wherein he, as well as Ensign Riquelme, had accused the
padre of being their adviser, &c. &c., HE WAS FOUND
INNOCENT AND SET AT LIBERTY, and claimed an indemni-
fication from me to the amount of 500 dollars, for his losses.
Saldes, in place of being transported, as a convict, to
Juan Fernandez for ten years, according to his sentence
(to expiate his crimes on the spot he had committed them),
was allowed to reside in Copiapo, and received a civil
appointment from the Governor.
Ensign Riquelme was not even censured for the part he
took, but was, shortly after the trial, promoted to be a
captain.
Lieutenant Dias, of the Colocolo, also escaped censure,
and was promoted to be a commander in the Chilian navy.
El Senor Don Marcelo Ugalde was rewarded with a com-
mission in the army, and received the grades of lieutenant
of infantry, lieutenant of cavalry, and "adjudante mayor"
of the battalion Colchagua," in less than twelve months
after the padre's trial.
Lastly, as if to try my patience. I was ordered to serve
under a general who had remitted the charges of Aguayo
(in order to effect my ruin), and who had no less a person-
age than Lattapiat to be his chief aide-de-camp.
These are only a part of my motives: I have others still
more powerful, should what I have already related be in-
sufficient to justify my having requested my retirement, &c.
30
obliged the government to spend extraordinary sums;
and have made the punishment of being transported
to that presidio' lose the greatest part of its im-
portance, because the convicts have been practically
shewn the possibility of escaping, and laughing at the
punishment they were condemned to suffer for their
crimes. *
* We therefore believe that govern-
ment, on putting this into execution, has meditated
seriously upon the means of preserving the important
possession of the island; and which truly never could
be worse taken care of than in having it occupied as
a 'presidio.'"- El Araucano.
The foregoing was published long before my trial,
as well as the following extract from El Philopolita,
No. 14, of the 4th of November, 1835:-
"PRESIDIOS.
* * *
"We have heard that the island of Juan Fernan-
dez is to be again depopulated, and that the motives
of this measure are the constant insurrections of the
convicts, the demoralization of the garrison, and the
enormous expenses of the establishment. These rea-
sons are, in our opinion, of sufficient force to stimu-
late the government to project a new organisation of
presidios.'
It is necessary to seek the
means that will conciliate the ends of justice-a
punishment that will terrify some, and impede the
criminal acts of others; and what is more adequate
than that of deportacion?'
With this
object has Russia and England formed their establish-
ments in Siberia and New Holland, and have gained
incalculable advantages, and where effects have risen
above the hopes of their wise founders.
*
*
"We here might adopt the same plan on a smaller
scale and in proportion, and by this method populate
the islands of Juan Fernandez, Santa Maria, La
Mocha, and others to the southward, that are capable
to contain small colonies, and in which it is now neces-
sary that the Chilian flag should be displayed, at least as
a sign of dominion, in order that they may be no longer at
the mercy of the first who might choose to occupy them.
It is said by those who object against this measure,
that on account of not being capable of maintaining
one presidio, how would it be possible to form three
or four? But these proposed are of a distinct
nature, and in which the criminals would be con-
tinually obliged to work, in order to maintain them-
selves, where they would have no occasion to commit
crimes, and where the married men would reside
with their wives and families, and form villages. On
their arrival they might have a portion of land given
to them, and for the first year only be provided with
provisions, some animals, and instruments of agricul-
ture. Although this indulgence or assistance might
appear at first expensive, it would be much less than
what has been spent yearly in the presidio, and when
once they have become proprietors and heads of
families, there are well-founded motives to make us
hope that they might be converted into honest peo-
ple, as well as what has occurred amongst the Russian
and English convicts."-El Philopolita.
By what I have here extracted it may be seen that
all were not of the same opinion in Chile as El
Araucano, nor were many aware of the premeditated
expedition of General Freyre, which at last has been
proved to be the principal cause of the interest that
had been displayed towards withdrawing the garrison
and convicts from the island.
EXTRACTS FROM THE RECORDS OF THE TRIALS.
EXTRACTS FROM THE DEFENCE.
The insurrection of the 1st of August, in the island
of Juan Fernandez, was doubtless commenced at the
instigation of Captain Saldes.
*
*
*
*
It is generally admitted and declared, that the mo-
ment it became known that the conspirators had taken
the castle, a number of soldiers and some convicts
presented themselves to the Governor as volunteers,
and were armed and provided with ammunition by
Governor Sutcliffe, who gave every order necessary
for the assault. He also gave orders that the launches
and boats lying in the bay should be destroyed, to
prevent the escape of the convicts, which might have
been easily effected, on account of a French whaler
being near.
One of the witnesses, Joseph Duncan, whose tes-
timony is most worthy of belief, on account of his not
being connected with the mutineers (por su ninguna
dependencia para con los amotinados), gives a cir-
cumstantial account of all that happened.
*
*
*
*
*
*
* *
*
Can it be said that covetousness has been the cause
of the excesses with which the Governor has been
accused? No; this never can be alleged against my
client, who, with the greatest generosity, has distri-
buted more rations to the prisoners than they could
claim as their due-augmenting their messes twice a
week with fish-paying salaries out of his own purse,
to the amount of more than one hundred dollars
monthly, that he might more easily preserve oder
and regularity-lending his boats to the fishermen,
and allowing the product to be applied for the beue-
fit of the unfortunates-and lastly, having to sustain
a greater number of individuals than government had
sent rations to maintain. All these things have been
proved.
*
*
*
*
Bergara, in conjunction with Saldes, has pre-
tended to insinuate, that the governor made a present
to Saldes of the sandal-wood that he was not per-
mitted to embark in the Colocolo, when he left the
island. This same sandal-wood was sold in an im-
proper manner to the captain of the Lady Wrangle,
by Captain Saldes. Now, what motives could have
induced my client to make a present of this nature to
his personal enemy, who had meditated his ruin by
promoting the insurrection in the island; who had
abused his person, placing him in confinement; and
lastly, had sent him to the Continent with a notable
detriment of his personal property, which he was
obliged to abandon, because he was not permitted
to collect or carry it with him?
*
*
*
The accusation of Captain Aguayo, in the private
declarations that were taken, greatly surprises me,
and forces the conviction upon my mind, that those
imputations were anticipated, and had been got up
(fraguado) in order to ruin the Governor.
Who could have given orders to take depositions
concerning the conduct of my client before the revo-
lution in the island of Juan Fernandez, which took
place on the 1st of August, had been made known?
Nor could that affair have given motive for such pro-
ceedings, because the Supreme Government had no
information before the 14th September, the period at
which these depositions were taken; for the Colocolo
was the first vessel that brought the news of the revo-
lution in Juan Fernandez; and by the correspon-
dence of Captain Saldes, remitted by the same vessel,
it is proved that she had not left that port before the
14th of September.
This sufficiently proves that accusations were pre-
meditated against my client, without any considera-
tion of the affair that has occasioned this court martial.
A document so illegal as the deposition of Agu-
ayo, ought not to be presented or credited; first,
because it is not preceded by any accusation that ought
to serve as a foundation of such proceedings; and,
secondly, because there exists no superior order to
take such depositions, without which it is improper,
and ought not to be introduced in the process.
I ought not to take up more time, senores, in re-
futing the points of accusation made by Capt. Aguayo
in his illegal declaration; which, amongst other nulli-
fying points that have been stated, wants ratification,
an indispensible requisite, without which the depo-
sitions cannot be legalised.
I shall now refer to the exposition made by my
client, and to the documents he has produced in his
depositions, which, I am fully satisfied, are sufficient
to justify him from the false charges which have been
got up in order to bring him to trial.
Captain Don Norberto Aguayo's receipts for pro-
visions, pay, &c., issued to him and soldiers, which
were as follow:-
"Juan Fernandez, Dec. 17th, 1834."
"Received from the Governor of these islands,
seventy-five rolls of tobacco, for the individuals under
my command.
(Signed)
"NORBERTO AGUAYO."
"Juan Fernandez, March 29th, 1839."
"Received from the Governor of these islands, a
quarterly distribution of pay, viz., for October,
November, and December.
(Signed)
"NORBERTO AGUAYO."
From the 24th Nov. to the end of March, is four
months and five days, or 125 days. Here are receipts
for an excess of 23 days, signed by Captain Aguayo,
who had two loaves per diem for his men, besides
fish at the rate of 4lbs. each per week. I next re-
quired him to give an account of what provisions
he had received extra on his own account, besides
double rations I had allowed him, on which my
store-keeper produced the following account :—
"Juan Fernandez, March 29th, 1835.
STORE-HOUSE ACCOUNT.
"Received one hundred and forty-eight
days rations for my troops, since the
24th of November, 1834........
148 days.
(Signed) "NORBERTO AGUAYO.'
"Received double rations for myself one
hundred and twenty-five days............ 125 days.
(Signed) "NORBERTO AGUAYO.
“Received extras in beef, flour, meal, fat,
&c., three hundred and fifty-one
pounds
351 lbs.
(Signed) "NORBERTO AGUAYO."
"JOSE TRONCOSO, Guarda Almazen.
"FELIX BAESA,
do.
do.
"V. B. THOMAS SUTCLIFFE."
The laws ordain that unjust calumniators be severely
punished; and as Don Norberto Aguayo ought to be
considered such, on account of his false and malicious
relation, I hope that "Los Senores del consejo,” in
obedience to justice, and the offended honour of my
client, will proceed against this individual according
to law.
*
*
*
The charge of my client's poisoning himself has
only served to render those persons fit objects of ridi-
cule, who were so easily gulled.
The object of this farce, represented by my client,
was simply to preserve the documents, by which he
would be enabled to justify his conduct to the world
at large, as well as to the Chilian nation, to which he
voluntarily belongs.
Who can suppose it possible for any man to attempt
to destroy himself, that had committed no crimes
whereby he would be condemned, and whose quiet
31
conscience insured him a speedy triumph over his
false calumniators.
*
*
The public and private conduct of my client needs
no other advocate to justify it than the public fame
but in our case a more circumstantial detail is indis-
pensably necessary.
On his arrival in this country, he voluntarily adopted
our cause, without any other object than that of lend-
ing his honourable services and sacrifices to the Chi-
lians, whom he has since viewed as his fellow-citizens.
After having been admitted into the army, he fulfilled
his duties in the most exemplary manner, and by his
conduct has gained the esteem and particular distinc-
tion of his chiefs, which is manifested by these certifi-
cates which I now present.
Admitted lately to be the governor of Juan Fer-
nandez, he has had no other interest than that of as-
sisting the unfortunate and alleviating their distress;
to carry out this humane and generous resolution, he
willingly consented to abandon the society of his
friends, without even making any remark on his
having to receive inferior pay.
On his arrival in the island, he gave full scope to
his laborious and enterprising mind, by commencing
considerable undertakings, ameliorating the condition
of the soldiers and convicts, elevating their morals,
cultivating their manners, and improving the state of
the colony. Of these statements you have abundant
evidence in the document I now present to your
notice.
*
*
The works that they refer to have been erected by
my client with his own tools and implements, notwith-
standing the almost insurmountable obstacles that
were occasioned by the scarcity of all kinds of artizans.
And ought all these sacrifices, that have been made
without any other object, or particular end, than the
satisfaction of having exerted himself to the utmost
to do good, to unappreciated?
*
*
I ought to conclude by reproducing the protest,
made by my client in his depositions, respecting the
illegality of being obliged to answer such accusations;
and more so, on account of the want of necessary de-
positions, in order to substantiate the process.
JOSE MANUEL MULET.
"EXMO SENOR.-Thomas Sutcliffe, &c. &c., ap-
pears before your Excellency, and states,-That
during the earthquake of the 20th of February, 1835,
it was notorious to all the inhabitants of the island of
Juan Fernandez, and the documents, Nos. 200, 210,
and 215, remitted to the Ministers of State, prove, that
during that terrible and unforeseen catastrophe, I,
at the risk of my life, saved all the provisions, arma-
ment, boats, &c., belonging to government; whilst
all my personal property, amounting to more than
3,000 dollars, without enumerating a number of other
articles, were swept into the sea; which I present,
so that your Excellency may be informed of the
extent of my losses, and, in consideration thereof,
remunerate them, so that I may be enabled to cover
my losses, and return to my native country.
"Portanto, &c.
"THOMAS SUTCLIFFE.”
DECREE.
Santiago, May 9th, 1836.
"The petitioner must prove, in the courts of jus-
tice, the action he believes himself to have against
the treasury, or particular persons, for the losses
stated in this memorial.-Rubric of his Excellency,
"CAVAREDA.
"EXMO SENOR.-Thomas Sutcliffe, &c. &c.-
In the court martial that was held at Valparaiso
respecting the revolution of Juan Fernandez, no
notice has been taken of the severe losses I have
sustained in the fulfilment of my duty by the dis-
orderly conduct of the mutineers, Don Nicholas
32
Saldes, and Chaplain Friar Juan Evangelista Lopez.
During the trial of this religious man, though his
principal accuser, I was not even cited; nor the two
witnesses Joseph Duncan, and Pedro Juan Rojo, my
store keeper, who were compelled to deliver up the
articles of my personal property, stated in the docu-
ments, No. 3 to 6, against my wish, and during the
time I was a prisoner. On account of this informa-
lity, the chaplain has been set at liberty, and con-
sidered an innocent man.
"Upon my arrival on the Continent, I gave notice,
in my note of the 20th Sept., of the scandalous con-
duct of the commander of the Colocolo, Don Manuel
Dias, who, forgetting his duty, rendered assistance
to the chief of the mutineers, receiving me as a pri-
soner on board of his vessel-conducting me to the
Continent, and obliging me to abandon all my per-
sonal property, although Saldes sent part of it along-
side the vessel. I have made him responsible for
80 cwt. of dry fish, valued at 8 dollars per cwt. which
the document No. 1 in the said note in the records
of the court martial, pages 62 and 63, prove; also
2 cwt. of sandal-wood, valued at 6 dollars per cwt.
but since sold at the low price of 3 dollars to the
captain of the American brig, Lady Wrangle, which
is also proved by his two certificates, that are ar-
chived in pages 47 and 48, jointly with the manifest,
from the Custom House at Valparaiso, which gives
an account of the 2 cwt. of sandal-wood, and other
articles of my property that had been sold to
Captain Paty.
"With what I have here stated, and without enume-
rating many articles of value, my losses amount to
2458 dollars 5 rials, which I present to government,
in order that your Excellency may deign to take them
into consideration, and lessen the losses I have sus-
tained on account of the disorders which have taken
place upon the island; and on consideration that the
authors of such diabolical intrigues, as well as my de-
tractors, have been made a laughing stock by the sen-
tences of the "consejo de guerra y corté marcial,"
where I have been vindicated in the most satisfactory
manner from all the charges that had been invented
at the head quarters of the army in Chillan and Juan
Fernandez, and now archived in the records of my
trial, which are of the same date, and nearly of the
same tenor. 'Por tanto.' I beg and supplicate
your Excellency to minorate my losses, so that
be able to cover my credit, and return to my native
country. Es gracia, &c. Exmo Senor,
may
"THOMAS SUTCLIFFE."
DECREE.
Santiago, May 9th, 1836.
"The petitioner must prove, in the courts of justice,
the action he believes himself to have against the
treasury, or particular persons, for losses stated in
this memorial. Rubric of his Excellency,
"RAMON CAVAREDA."
"EXMO SENOR.-Thomas Sutcliffe, &c. &c.—In
In answer to the two decrees of the 9th of May, 1836,
to my memorial, in which I have requested the Su-
preme Government to diminish the losses I have sus-
tained in the fulfilment of my duty, during my govern-
ment of the island of Juan Fernandez, I beg leave to
state that I do not intend to enter into a suit, nor
commence any proceedings with the ('Fisco') trea-
sury's tribunal, nor even against the authors of the
revolution of the 1st August, that took place in that
establishment, because these do not possess where-
with to pay me; nor have the senores, judges of the
trial of the principal criminals, made any remarks
respecting their robberies and disorders, nor in the
manner in which I ought to be indemnified. It is
notorious, and in the archives of the trial there
is more than sufficient proof, that the revolution
had been premeditated; and that in this scandalous
affair, at the risk of my life, with the help of the con-
victs, who voluntarily ran the risk of losing theirs, by
accompanying me to the assault, I retook the castle
of Santa Barbara, &c. &c., that had been vilely given
up by the garrison to a set of villains who had lately
been transported from the Continent; and after having
restored order on that island, I was deprived of the
command, and suffered, whilst a prisoner, for the term
of six weeks, injuries and vexations. I have been
transported by the commander of the mutineers to the
Continent, and obliged to abandon my personal pro-
perty, to the amount of more than 4000 dollars, of
which there is proof to the amount of 2458 dollars,
in the archives of the court martial. I have been
judged in a "consejo de guerra" and a "corte marcial,”
not only for the occurrences on the island, but on
charges that have been invented (fraguados) and re-
mitted from the head quarters of the army of the
south, on account of private declarations, taken from
Captain Don Norberto Aguayo, that are also in the
archives of the trial, and of the same date, and almost
the same tenor, of those that were remitted to go-
vernment with my person from Juan Fernandez,
which proves that, with anticipation, they had been
framing imputations on the Continent to affect my
ruin, without having had any intelligence of the dis-
orders which had taken place on the island. I can
cite many other particulars, but I believe it is suffi-
cient only to state, that I have been completely vindi-
cated from all the charges that the diabolical malice
of my detractors had invented to accomplish their
malignant intentions. "
"The decisions of the consejo de guerra y corte
marcial" declare that I have fulfilled the duties of
my charge, as governor of that island, with PURITY
and UTILITY. 'Con pureza y utilidad.'
"In the accounts presented to your Excellency, I
have clearly stated the powerful motives that have
obliged me to solicit my retirement from the military
service, during the present war, in the memorial in
which your Excellency has thought proper to allow
me to retire with my permanent rank, &c.
"If this exposition merits the consideration of the
Supreme Government, I hope that your Excellency
will deign to allow me, at least, what will be sufficient
to cover the losses I have sustained in consequence of
my expulsion from Juan Fernandez, and cover the
expenses of a voyage to my native country. For
which I beg and supplicate your Excellency to accede
to this my petition, &c. &c.
THOMAS SUTCLIFFE."
DECREE.
"Santiago, August 7th, 1838.
"Act according to what has been resolved by the
decrees of the 9th of May, of this present year, in
the two memorials of the same nature that were then
presented to government.-Rubric of his Excellency,
“CAVAREDA.
Lieutenant-General Don Manuel Blanco Encalada, under whose orders I served as first aid-de-camp
during the campaign of 1837 in Peru, did me the honour to accept the charge of my documents, as well as
power of attorney, in order to receive a compensation from government for my services in the army of the
republic, which was decreed in December last. And with respect to the losses I have sustained in Juan
Fernandez, I have a full assurance that I may some day be compensated, and verify the assertion of the late
minister of war, Don J. Zavier de Bustamantes, that "Los pueblos no seran siempre ingratos.”
THOMAS SUTCLIFFE.
Ashton-under-Lyne, August 3, 1839.
ERRATTA.—In page 23, line 18, the date of the letter is June 4.
In page 24, last line, for "villains" read "villanies.",

"
+



F
2