Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-03
THE STRAITS OF MAGELLAN.
A Quarter of the World Seldom Visited by
Travellers.

An interesting place in point of
scenic beauty, yet comparatively I'M
known to the ordinary traveller, is the
Straits of Magellan, lying at the South
ern end of Patagonia.
I met in one of the uptown hotels
last evening a gentleman who had
Just returned from trip through the
straits, and who described some of
the wonders of its scenery to group
of interesting listeners, says writer
in the New York Herald.
Upon entering the straits from the
Pacific side, !" he began, ga more barren
and desolate place could not well be
imagined. Gigantic rocks, bleak and
bare, rise to towering heights on
either side, and threaten to topple
over into the water at any moment.
Here, too, is the home of the albatross.
and thousands of the birds. with their
tremendous expanse of wing, are ever
lowering about in search of food, yet
never seeming to rest. Other sea
birds abound in millions. The air is
black with them.
"As YOU steam further inland the
straits narrow down, in some places
being less than one-quarter of a mile
in width. Strange forms. utterlng
sharp. quick cries, dart about the
water in all directions. These are the
penguins, which standing along the
beach, look like row of large nine
pins. Seals, sea offers, and other am
phibious animals are also seen in
countless numbers on every side. Al
though this is veritable sportman's
paradise, but little hunting is done.
1t is too wild and inaccessible.
GAS the straits narrow down the
mountains become higher, and rise
behind each other higher and higher III
endless succession. There is but little
vegetation, nothing but jagged rocks
meet the eye, and no sound is ever
heard but the squawks and cries of the
aquatic birds. Huge glaciers of a
beryl-like blue descend from the
mountain sides to the waters edge,
glistening in the sunlight with dazzling
brilliancy. 1t is altogether scene of
wonderful and indescribable grandeur.
occasionally canoe-load of Pata-
gonians is met-an uncouth-looking
lot, whose respective sexes are indis-
nguishable. They all dress alike,
with one rough garment of fur thrown
across the shoulders, and live by hunt
ing and fishing. 1t is said they are
! cannibals, and they look as if they
might be. There is one settlement in
the straits, Punta Arenas, a Chilean
convict colony. The town consists of
a rude log fort and a number of wretch
ed huts. Just how the inhabitants
manage to live l couldn't ascertain. I
went on shore there. We had come to
anchor for an hour or two. A more
abiectlv miserable lot of human be-
ings l never saw.
81 saw number of small shaggy
ponies ridden bareback man fashion
BY women, who carried with them
some queer cOntrivances called 'bolas,
for lassoing cattle. If there were any
cattle to lasso [ couldn't find them.
''Furs of all kinds were offered for
sale by the natives, as well as albatross
skins, emu eggs, curious shells, and
| other articles of like character I
| bought fine sealskin in the rough
for $3.50,
Patagonia is what you might call a
Godforsaken country. No nation on
earth wants it. At the same time,
| though, both Chill and the Argentine
confederation claim it as part of their
territory. and while neither country
has any use for it each resents any
intrusion by the other on Patagonia
soil.
81 was glad enough to get out of
the straits, l can tell you. Plenty of
mountain scenery and all that, but
hardly worth, in my opinion, travelling
eight thousand or more miles to see."