Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-05-29
A SAILORS STRANGE STORY.

81 have had a pretty tough experience
since was last in this port" said Robert r.
Jehery, first mate of the brig Charles
Purves, which arrived at Almond street
wharf yesterday from Cuba. 81 have been
fighting natives III Patagonia and working
silver mines illegally. have been captur-
ed by an Argentine man. of-war and set at
liberty all within the last two years. 1t
happened in this way About two years
ago was in New York and met an old ac-
quaintance, Capt. CulIom. He told me he
had just purchased the brig Eliza Thomp-
son and was going to Patagonia to work
some silver mines which he had discovered
about year before. He asked me TO Join
| him. / knew where the mines were located
and went into the scheme without much
coaxing. He was then loading the vessel
with iron consigned 10 parties inRosarie, Bra
| zil We left New York the next week with
crew of seven men, for every one OF whom
we bad rifles and II brace Of revovers, with
| which to fight the natives We reached
Rosario without incident and discharged
our cargo. Five men were added TO our
crew at this port and we started for tho sit
yer mines with crew of twelve men, cap
tain and mate.
We reached the shores of Patagonia safely
and ten of US, including the captain, started
off to work the mines. They were found to
be full of silver. The men went 10 work
with will, the rich Jumps of ore seemed to
mpart new life to all of US and we began to
imagine ourselves millionaires. After we
had been there about week band Of ma
tives discovered us one day and attacked US
with poisoned arrows. Every man seized
his rife and we sent one volley at the saw
ages, which killed two Of their number and
put the others to flight. From that time on
there were scrimmages daily between our
men and the Patagonians. Mingled with
the silver we found great quantity ofnitre |
in the mines, and, after working fo theefm for
yideo with 200 tons of silver ..nd :rH'
tons of nitre. The captain disposed OF his
cargo at that place and cleared l,IOO over
all expenses, including the cost OF the brig.
after lying in port for several weeks and
stocking the vessel with provisions, we start
ed on second expedition. In this we were
not so fortunate. We had been at the mines
ONLY two DAYS when squad Of about thirty
natives surprised us. Before we could
reach our guns two Of the sailors,
Dutchman and Swede, both Of whom
had shipped at Rosario. were pierced hy
the poisoned arrows We had sharp light
after that and killed number of the natives
before we could drive them off, We took
our wounded board the brig, but they
died in short time. The poison went all
through them, and their veins swelled to
five times their natural size. After that
day we had a man on guard oil the time,
aud did not lose any more men in our
fights. About three weeks after we had
landed for our second cargo, an Argentine
man Of war swcoped down on US suddenly
and took us all prisoners. We were ia ken
to Buenos Ayres and placed in a fort.
Capt. Cullom received permission to visit the
American consul, and through him he fixed
matters somehow, and we were all released
the next day, which was the 18th of January
last. Lhe Argentine government, however,
sold the brig and received 81 900 for her.
"Captain Culom afterward learned that
parties in Montevideo, who had seen us dis
pose of the cargo, had informed the govern
ment officials, and that is how we came to
be captured. sailed for Cuba on the tirst
vessel out and then shipped on the Pur-
| ves.' s.'-Philadelphia Press.