Chapter I: Preface

The preface to a book is very often nothing more than a respectable cloak, allowed by the conventionalities of literature, in which an author may wrap his excuses and apologies for troubling the public with his lucubrations. This dressing up of excuses in order to introduce them into notice under another name, is a thing so tempting to poor human nature, such a pleasant little offering to self esteem and vanity, that it would be very hard if authors were to be debarred from a luxury in which all their fellow mortals indulge. Yet, if it be true that a good wine needs no bush, it is equally true that a good book needs no excuse; and in this age of ready writers, it is very certain that no excuse or apology can justify the publishing a bad one. To apologise for poor or careless writing, because there has not been time or opportunity to make it better, provokes the question, “What necessity was there for writing at all?”--a question not always easily answered.

But this is not an apology for my own book; it is simply a preface to the narrative of another person, in which I can claim no part except that of collecting the facts from different sources, of arranging and compiling them. If in performing this task, I have in any way “come tardy off,” my excuses are due to both captain Brown and his readers.

In writing out this account, I have labored under the disadvantage of being able to hold no communication with captain Brown, except by letters. His legal papers connected with his claim for salvage, and his own concise narrative of his sufferings and escape, drawn up for Mr. Webster’s information at the time the claim for salvage was first made, were put into my hands; and his letters from time to time have supplied me with the details. I have, in every case where it was possible, retained his own spirited language; but I feel that had it been possible for me to have seen and heard him, the narrative as taken down from his lips might have been, not, I believe, more correct as to facts, but perhaps more graphic and life-like as to detail.

Still, I am convinced that the simple account of his adventures, his sufferings, his unquenchable spirit, and the manner in which he sustained and did honor to the reputation of our American seamen, amid dangers before which the bravest might shrink, cannot be without its interest to his countrymen, and especially to those of his profession; while every American must feel that his services to the Chilian government were received by them without even an acknowledgement of their value; his just and legal claims being refused almost with contumely. Had captain Brown’s demand for salvage on the treasure rescued by him been backed by the presence of an American frigate, commanded by such a man as captain Ingraham, we should not have seen the British admiral allowed to carry it off from under the eyes of the Chilian authorities, while they feared to serve the process of detainer issued according to the law of the country; nor should we have seen an American citizen brow-beaten by an English officer, while in the discharge of his duty to his owners and to the government in whose employ he was sailing. An American frigate would have taught captain Stewart that no orders from the Chilian government could give him power to seize a vessel sailing under the American flag, commanded by an American citizen.

Such outrages and such injustice to our citizens will never occur when that can be said of the American navy, which one of our own authors has lately said so well of the British. “An English man-of-war seems to be always within one day’s sail of every where. Let political agitation break out in any port on the globe, if there be even a roll of English broadcloth or a pound of English tea, to be endangered thereby, within forty-eight hours an English steamer or frigate is pretty sure to drop anchor in the harbor with an air which seems to say, ‘here I am; does any body want any thing of me?’”[A]

Our country should be the guardian of her children, wherever the rights of civilized society are respected, that our citizens may be in danger of outrage and injustice only among savages and outlaws; and we may be assured that in such extremities, they will, for the most part, like captain Brown, be found fully able to protect themselves.

To return to my preface or apology: in offering this narrative to the public, let me repeat my assurance, that captain Brown is answerable only for the facts; for whatever literary defects there may be, I alone am responsible.

E. H. APPLETON.

_Cincinnati._

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Valparaiso--The barque Florida--Chartered by the Chilian
government--Prisoners for convict colony put on board--Captain
Avalos and soldiers sent for protection--We set
sail--Arrangement of the vessel--Mr. Shaw’s sickness--Attempted
insurrection among the prisoners--Prompt
conduct of Captain Avalos--All quiet again--We reach
the Straits of Magellan--Williwaws--We anchor in
Sandy Bay 15

CHAPTER II.

Sandy Bay Colony--Governor Benjamin Munoz Gamero--Insurrection
of Cambiaso--Forged Message from the Governor--Landing
of Captain Avalos--Escape of Governor
Gamero--Boat sent on shore--Return of the boat--Capture
of the Florida--Mr. Shaw and myself seized--Taken
on shore--Our imprisonment at the barracks--Privations--Mr.
Shaw removed 30

CHAPTER III.

My prison--My guards--An English hymn book--A fellow
prisoner--Capture of the Eliza Cornish--Fears of the
English mate--Death of Mr. Shaw--Of Captain Talbot
and boy--Barbarity of their execution--The Chilian prisoners
sympathize with us--Cambiaso’s bravado--Captain
Avalos and others led out to view the dead bodies--Treacherous
betrayal of Governor Gamero--Execution
of the traitor--My walk 51

CHAPTER IV.

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

CHAPTER V.

We are better treated--Captain Avalos again--His privations--The
sergeant shot--Mr. Buela--Cambiaso’s discipline--His
code of laws--Personal appearance--His
vanity--Threats of poison--Improved fare--The coffee--The
mate secures the E. Cornish--Cambiaso and
Garcia visit me--I go on board the Florida--My steward 94

CHAPTER VI.

Comparative comfort--The American ensign--Christmas
day--My visit to the barracks--The Indian boys--Cambiaso’s
rage--Execution of the Indian woman--The
cattle slaughtered--Escape of the Indians--Fears of the
rebels--Preparations for leaving--The Florida re-christened--Interview
with Cambiaso--The embarking of the
colonists--Prisoners sent to the Florida 123

CHAPTER VII.

Cambiaso’s orders--We set sail--Wood’s Bay--The old
French ship--A drunken riot--The officer condemned--Garcia’s
interference--Men deserted at Wood’s Bay--The
Eliza Cornish left behind--Stormy weather--Sandy Bay
again--The Indians--Cape Gregory--Interview with
Cambiaso--His promises--Conversation with Mr. Dunn--My
determination 145

CHAPTER VIII.

The re-taking of the vessel planned--Mr. Dunn--Captain
Avalos--Preito--The corporal--Three bells--The struggle--Cambiaso
overpowered--Garcia--Cheers for victory--The
crew swear fidelity to me--Our course--Cambiaso
put in irons--His cowardice--The prisoners from the
hold--River Gallegos--Voyage round Cape Horn--Attempted
outbreaks--Our danger--We reach San Carlos 169

CHAPTER IX.

Reports of the revolt reach San Carlos--American Minister
sends assistance--Chilian Government despatches forces
to the Straits--The Virago--Fears of the inhabitants of
San Carlos--I deliver the Florida to the Chilian authorities--Arrival
of the E. Cornish--The Virago takes the prisoners
and treasure--Passage to Valparaiso--Protest and
claim of salvage--Mr. Duer--Don Antonio Varas--Injustice
done me by the Chilian government--The British
Admiral claims the treasure--I protest again--Compromise--Don
Antonio denies all claim--My claims put into
the hands of the United States Authorities 191

CHAPTER X.

Cambiaso’s trial--His execution--His character--Garcia--My
interview with him--The officer saved by Garcia--His
wife’s gratitude--Mr. Duer’s kindness--Mr. Dunn--Captain
Avalos--Conclusion 220

INSURRECTION AT MAGELLAN.