New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-08
INCIDENTS OF A GILLIAN REVOLUTION
REMINSCEycE OF THE LATE cAPTlr
RcHAhDs's EXPERIENCE.

|
RICHARDs's EXPERIENCE.
New-London. Conn. Nov. (speciaD.-The des,s 4
Captain Nathaniel Richards. which occurred In tss T
| Last Sunday, removes another OF the few who IN
prominently identified with the early whaling lndutr
| Of the place. Captain Richards was exactly nineu
three years and seven months old the day he died xs
| in his time made many voyages and passed thwsa
some trying experiences, most prominent among visa
was his escape from captivity In Chill In I-2i. rs
incident In his life that remained clear n u
| memory and frequently referred 10 By HIN n sas
| life. IL In July, 1921, that Captain Riclxr,
then a stripping young seaman. sailed In stonarsi
brig on a sealing voyage 20 the South shetiands -
trip was a most successful one, 10000 fur sasths
being obtained and shipped home. The BRIG "a
unued around Cape Horn and began sealing o. n
coast Of Chilli When they had made a catch Of slsa
5000 hair seals and had the skins PACKED away iAr
prepared 10 depart for home. The vessel had her
supplies on board and only awaited ne presence Of
the last boat load from the shore TO weigh anchor and
be or with the first favorable wind On the bng ve,
the captain mate and cook. and the rest Of the crew
was about TO depart from shore when party OF about
thirty Gillian soldiers, armed 10 the teeth rusfn down
upon the crew. Resistance was useless. The sailors
had nothing TO defend themselves with and all were
captured. except the three on the brig. Tie sah'
were stripped Of all but the ghtest clothing and
do duty As soldiers. They had fallen into the hands
the Royallsts and the country in the midst OF
revolution, insurgents attempting 10 overthrow TIE
Government. Food was scarce and in their light ~
tire the captured sailors suffered greatly. They served
the Royallsts for several months and were put %
variety Of empoyments shortly after they were ns''
prisoners the Chlans captured a Northern brig 20
loaded with arms. Captain Richards ana hs
fellow-captives helped To remove the arms. An Es
lish vessel was also captured. and In handling her -
run ashore. The captives, being active saln
and well versed in such labor, were set TO WON
get her of. and here came their first opportunity ~
escape long desired by the homesick Americans 10
whalcboats belonging to the brig had been taken. az
when the mon were sent down Ia get the Engisan'-
of the shore the boats were found there They neS
somo repairs before being put into service, ana -
was done by some Of tho Yankee crow At night F"
Chillans slept in huts and kept the oars By ms
One night Captain Richards and his companions -
cceded in obtaining possession OF the 0ar N'h'.
disturbing the sleeping Chilians, and carried Two
the boats to the waters edge. When all was rad
embark Captain Richaris took an axe ana spis !"
other boats so that they could not again. be ue@
The noise aroused the Chans, but the Yankee @Ao
pushed out into the breakers before they ooua
taken. Captain Richards had the steering oa U .
boat, and the foremost OF the guard managed 10 %,
tho blade, but Captain Richards. who was nsa "
great strength. made IL lively for the CHILEAN VA
soon let 90, and the escape was safely made -
fleeing sailors knew the coast pretty well, saa w
headed for Valparaiso, which was 3oo !, ~.
away, as the first safe port for them u enter "a
n long battle with wind and tide, ana Nas spe,-eIl
with scanty provision Of which hsh Wa u,.,,ss
diet. They were forced ID make frequent b'e-r
and the two boats became separated. VE. IL
landed at place where boat was bing tli- ID
"a plain Richards and his companions kePt o1 I.
they rounded into the harbor Of Valparaiso, -
their great Joy, saw at anchor there Ilsas "a
the American nag. They made for the mssc, ~
found her to be the Constellation, cJnli1lnr
Captain Bainb.fdge. They were welcomed Vn -
and provided with the hrst hearty meal uS -
enjoyed In many months. ..,.
In july last when the United states sn@I'
Constellation was In New London lIarbor. t0e wi a
Captain Rlchardss capture In Chill AMI his sa1sssrI
arrival board the Constellation In the hAeo' "r,ss
pal also came ID the knowledge NJ her ohSfs. ~
sent Captain Richards polit, invitation S.cs,.sla
honor OF his presence at dinner on b)sr' s,y "a
Richards, despite his ninety three ycan $50 IA
invitation and taken cut To the Coas,e.-s IN
of the ships boats. The Officers sA' 80 s,ny
every attention. and heard from his own up 'ssuts
OF his CHILEAN experience. and the part the 49, ~
played In his escape. When Il time 10 osP's ss
compliment was paid him OF plp.ng al. Gno...l.1s
him ~ over the sid. Tie visit q the oDus..s,ks
one OF the happy incidents OF the lat n~ vs.
of his life. Though seventy years had ~ ~
his head since he boarded her in The hasD1 I. "a
parako. he had not forgotten how she p9asa ~
then or 10 note the Improvements modern oe"A''~
mad her