The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-02-02
JACKSON. OHIO. THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 2. 1888.

ural impulse to run to them, get into
one Of their boats, and make them
away, he was pinioned by three OF
four strong natives. Then few Ca
noes put out to cut off the boats
should they attempt to escape, and all
the rest of the fighting men, and
many Of the women, caught up their
long spears and ran towards their vic
Tins.
To Thorold's surprise, he was made
to run along with them. The whalers
men were intercepted before they got
off, and then it was the old ghastly
tale repeated; they were shot down to
man with the poisoned spears. All
the while the Fuegans who were hold
ing Thorold made him understand
that they wished him to watch what
was going on, by gesticulating and
pointing towards the slaughter.
After it was over they pillaged the
dead bodies and the boats of every
thing they had, and then threw the
corpses into the sea.
While Thorold was lying awake
that night, and brooding over the
horrible event, sudden inspiration
came to him that the object of the
Fuegans in keeping him alive was to
send him back to his people that he
might tell them how they would be
treated if they came to the land of the
Fuegans-to declare unending war
between themselves and the white
world; and though, of course, he nev-
er knew for certainty, yet the way
in which they made him watch the
slaughter Of the whalers' men, and
everything that happened before and
after, pointed to this explanation of
their conduct. From that night his
great fear and suspense were mingled
with this grain of hope.
The next morning the Fuegans col
lected their belongings, which consist
ed of nothing but spears and knives, a
few skins, and some utensils for hold
ing water, and marched inland, taking
their prisoner with them. They spent
about six hours day on the march,
over difficult mountain passes and
down into deep valleys, making fires
to sleep by at night, and living on
guanacos, which they occasionally
shot.
Thorold took little interest in OBJ
serving the nature Of the country, but
he reported it to be very similar to
that seen on the coast-bleak noun
tains, with occasional copses Of stunt
ed trees, and all else to be absolutely
barren and uncultivated. There is
little doubt, however, that it is trea-
sure-house of mineral wealth, for va
rious ores, including gold, are picked
up in plenty on the coast, and there
is every indication of coal. If coal
mine was once got into working order
here, it would be of inestimable value
for the ooaling of ships alone, as we'll
as for use in South America itself, for
coal is at present brought from En-
gland at great expense all the way to
Montevideo, and to Sandy Point, in
the Straits of Magellan, from the
north Of Chill.
On the fourth day of the march
they met another tribe, also on the
march, and the two bodies of men fell
to fighting at once, as their invariable
custom. After an hours fighting
there were only about fifty men left
Of the first tribe; these surrendered,
and became prisoners of war to their
conquerers, who had also sustained
heavy losses. The prisoners, however,
did not appear to be regarded as slaves
at all, but simply mingled with the
victorious tribe. After the battle the
prisoners spoke to their captors about
Thorold, whom they brought forward,
apparently explaining their object in
keeping him; and he lived with the
new tribe on exactly the same footing
as he had done with the old one.
Nearly six months Thorold spent
in this way. the tribe in which he
lived something's marching for five or
six days, and then settling down fe--
several weeks; sometimes they were
on the seashcre, and then he lived as
they did, chiefly on raw mussels and
other shellfsh; when they were in
land he lived Oh pieces Of raw guiana
co. which he grabbed along with the
others.
There is story current in Chill
that the Fuegans, when driven to ne
cessity, first eat their dogs, the only
domestic animal which they keep, and
when these are all gone, proceed to
devour the old women of the tribe.
Thorold saw no signs Of cannibalism,
but this was perhaps because no ne
cessity for it arose. He states that
the old women were treated with es-
pecial care; and it is doubtful whether
this affection arose from the hearts or
the stomachs Of their grandchildren.
Five times be saw a fight with an
other tribe; in three out of the five
his tribe was conquered, and he
changed hands, the prisoners always
appearing to explain to their eaptors
their object in keeping him.