New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-15
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
DANGER AND DEATH NEAR CAPE HORN.

DANGER AND DEATH NEAH CAfB HOhN'
LETTER FROM Hx-MINIsTER J. p. ROOr-T0wBoATs
TIE Straits OF MAGFILAN-TIE DESTITUTE
INDIANS or TERRA DEL FUEGO.
To ne Rdtfor or The Tribune
SIR: While IN charge Of the United States
Legation IN Ch, account OF losses Of Am rcan yos
sells and she lives several Am ricaD seamn near Cape
Horn. which under official NOTICE, conceived
the idea Of avoiding the tempestuous and very danger
GUS navigation around Cape Horn by placing " Ss''m
OF steam towboats In tho Straits OF Magellan by when
means all classes OF sailing vessels sirng to pass from
ocean to might with perfect SAFETY, be to"ed
through said strats thus in comparatively fe" hours
without She slightest danger. being able 20 accomplish
wha now requires weeks, and sometimes Inonh' d
most difficult aud hazardous sailing In furtherance OF
the vi VS. then conceived, opened correspondence
win the Gillian Government. which claims tha portion
Of tagonia in which situated tne countries al
Iuded to. TIE Government OF Chlli very pronp' ana
kindly referred my correspondence TO the Governor =
The Colony Of Magellan. and placed the result In my
possess on, all OF ich reported by me 10 the 7ae
Department I'm Washington, and nay be found published
Part OF Reports OF Foreign Re atiOna OF TIC Ohteu
States for 1873. To verify Orherwis" the opinions
entertained BY the Governor OF Magellan, accepted
the kind invitation " the then Minister OF
Foreign Affairs OF Cnili 70 visit the Straits OF
Magellan with him. during which visit learned that
there was no suitable place for rendezvous Tor sahhs
vessels the western entrance OF the Straits put thA
very I'm harbpr might be found AZ the northern en-
trance OF Snyths Channel which leads Into the straits
Of Magellan at Cape Tlmar about sixty miles from the
western entrance OF the Straits. in Latitude about 03
The entrance 10 Smytns Channel from the Paclnc
Ocean between latitude 47o and 40 from the Gull OF
Penas very easy for all classes OF vessels ana tAe
navigation OF thi5cuaunel can be performed win per
feet safety al the present time Oy small steamers ana
when a few hidden rocks In The English NaTroWs are
marked with proper buoys (Which may have been done
A.. nr he
ellie Steam Navlation Company. all classes Of vessels
ear pass vi h PEI feet safety.
Another Important matter how yer, desire u
urge upon only al COWmcrcia governments Dut all
huInantarians ami C0r,stan phiani hsOpsts, namely,
the extromc necessity OF opening commuuica-
ton VITA the inhabitants OF tie Island Of
Terra del Firgo TINS l.r2e island contains few hun
died mis- ia'y Il aud clothed .ln ia ''n-a' supposed
capable OF civilization and most dang rous to e.
among. The Hcto. Low N'r are simply as IOlIo"s'
These Indians as cap ul, OF clyIaz ton and en-
lghtcnmcnt - any OF the tn'n races lAeY are muGh
sut. Ter than tne Phag1uan Indians VINO I'VE eHtr'P
L.rtA Of jne straits oi Magellan, and who are large,
nOolc-oohing men lhring ht HiFS rrnpl. no" Hn tnt
face 81 tHy c.rh though not c-s a;ilV' or NlekeNt
by nature deadly feld * IT. hei|ern thrsr W."
tribe =" iIat there IS no COMMUNICATION "HdltYe! pc
tween tEcm except 70 1e mat oi Wat whenever lh''
meet. So poor are these pooo" That IT IS ut
terry im"osshle Tor III ih 10 a-'.S' any human
being, thrown upon th,r coasts, ana sh"uId
on nn.r shores n - not lmuro5abc that their rois
sou, ratcn. But 40 nor believe, from All the fict'
lcoud gtNner tom many e'ji'r-, mat Lacy Nold aI
Gc.ih is CERTAIN To "ycr"Bc Whoever apply -
~ viii Ina, be- seen iat ,-c.iy t tr ok ~ one Il
t large routes OF commerce of tue world aud IN tue
mar .,. yl,u are Wrecked m t.es Nni.rs c ud
q ..I 5tajc.l nt bc made %! to iun"eT o. vain b
,',rriy strrvn 100, tl.-c Wild ,lo.c--lt voad be
i.rl,. IAN people. among tDe'l tire bishops, VIZ ~
Inct several imrs, | shout state tua, t ca. tim, tu
,I.t made BIZ y at