The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-02

uhue u VI tue human soul let MIN TehG the
stories Of white traders among red buyers, and
there see portrayed in heightened colors the
humiliation to which all traders must submit
for the sake Of gain.
TASKEE GAVE IT uP.
In modern times-rather in the nineteenth
century. two efforts TO convert the Patagonians
to Christianity have been made. one Of which is
Of especial interest To American readers because
undertaken by q citizen Of New York at the be-
hest Of the American Board Of Christian Mis-
sionaries of Boston. One Capt. Benjamin Nor
rell had been on = sealing voyage along the
Patagonia coast. through the strait and up the
Chill coast. and on returning had brought an in
t~eresting story about the aboriRines. The mis-
sionary society determined. in 1893. TO send out
a couple Of missionaries to look over the region
and the people Morrell had described. and Mr..
Titus Coan. then a student at the Auburn Theo-
logical Seminary. and a Mr. Arms of Andover
were selected. A sealing schooner took them to
the Strait Of Magellan. and on Nov. IA. 1888. at
the beginning Of the warm season there, they
landed. That they were kindly received and
well treated scarce need be said. They brought
a tent and a variety Of articles which we're Of
the greatest value TO the Indians, but they
were never robbed. On the contrary. they
were freely supplied with the best the
Indians had. In return the missionaries did
some work. such as sharpening knives. making
wooden spurs. &c. They remained among the
Indians until Jan. o5. 1884, and then got away
in another sealer. They had had enough OF life
with a nomadic race on a stormy desert like
Patagonia. Horsefeeh was not suited to their
stomachs nor tent life to their inclInations. The
Indians had told them plainly that no mission
AIRY could succeed who would not live Indian
fashion, and that settled II. Men with the self
sacrificing spirit OF Falkner are rare-so very
rare that none has been found since his day.
The Catholics OF Buenos Ayres built a station at
Santa Cruz River some years ago. but the priests
could do nothing from q station because the In
dians would not and could not stay at IL. The
Indians had 10 keep moving to live. Coan went
to the Sandwich Islands. where he succeeded well
according to the missionary standard OF sue
cess. but when he had gotten back from his
journey TO the Magellan region. he says. "our
report was unfavorable to the present establish
ing Of q mission In Patagonia"
Brief as are the stories TO be had Of the Pata-
CONAN tribes, from the days OF Magellan down
TO the reign OF Dictator Roca Of the Argentine
Republic. the history OF these nomads Is. on the |
whole. about the brighest-it Ia the most cheer
full reading TO a humanitarian-of all the histo-
ries Of American tribes. not even excepting the |
Greenland Eskimos. The Eskimos have, in
deed. lived in peace since they came under the |
rule Of the Danes, because the Danes have not
forgotten their duty toward their wards as all
other nations have. But the Patagonians lived
In peace. not by favor Of q white race. but by the
might OF their own manly qualities. Not on y |
did they hold their own territory, defining
the frontier line between themselves and
the whites, but they exacted such large
tributes OF horses and cattle and sheep
the latter supplied enough wool TO furnish
every Patagonian with a poncho, while the
hnRGAaA and RaNfIA - Ill l. -. /
TO this day, though in reduced umbers OF late
years because OF the enormous increase in the
number Of pumas that eventually followed the
of domestic animals.
OF the influence Of the Welsh and the Pata-
gonians each On the other enough has been told
In the story Of Chubut, but to illustrate desert
taste IL may be said that an Argentine ex-
plorer has placed on record that after the Welsh
had come he found better tea among the
OF Patagonia than he could buy in
Buenos Ayres.
As was said, for $50 years after MageIan's
famous disregard OF the rights Of man the In
dams Of Patagonia In their conflicts with white
aggressors held their own. 1t was a pity in the
eyes Of a humanitarian that there should have
been conflicts. for all were utterly needless. but
On the whole the Patagonia day was bright.
Then came the setting Of the sun. The day OF
the Patagonian Indians was ended. The prog
of civilization" demanded the extermina-
ton OF the desert races. The pressure OF Chris
iian owners Of cattle and sheep for new pastures
that the best of the hunting grounds
of the Indians be taken. The frontier OF settle
had to be extended 10 the Rio Negro be-
'ause cattlemen wanted the land. and the
cheapest way 70 make the extension was by war.
In these matters the civilized people Of the
have been as much like the civilized
1annlR nf NhA IFnfNkd ANaNAa - aV2nI .I Al. a.
'ne mould.
IScIDESTs or THE WAR OF ExrERMISArIos.
This war Of determination cannot be described
lere' but two features OF IL may serve 20 give
he reader some idea about its general chArAc-
~eristies. Lieut.. John Wilson of the Argentine
but formerly Of Alexandria, Va, while in
Command OF a squad OF sailors on the head
OF the Rio Negro. found an Indian baby
hidden In the bushy top OF q willow tree. The
'ursuit Of the Indians had been so severe that
he Indian mothers. though unusually Affection
lie mothers. had hidden their offspring that
heir flight might not be impeded. This Child
vas saved. | saw IL a. q lad OF IA at Port De-
Ire where Lieut. Wilson Was In command, bat
Is certain that every other baby hidden along
hat bushy stretch Of the Rio Negro starved 20
because the soldiers and sailors held il
gainst all attempts Of the Indians TO return,
nd even drove the Indians still further away.
TORTURED TIE INDIANS TO DEATH.
II was not uncommon for the soldiers 20 take
stalwart Indian prisoner. and after tying him
D that his struggles would be unayailing, TO
ut bis throat slowly with a duh knife.
Il have often seen them hAggle away At a
-throat-haggls and saw while he
rTithed and begged for the stroke OF grace for I
I'VE minutes before the artery was severed
nd his life blood made 10 squirt out on the sand. /
nd while they tortured each victim thus they J
ould turn 70 any one not Of their nationality I
nd SAY, By way OF apology for their cruelty; I
" He Is no Christian" I
50 said a German 10 me IN Buenos AyreS =
AN who had been with both OfRoeA's eXpe- /
JiOns and Of whose yeracity there need b. no /
lubt whatever Z
sA.ckIng as WA lie crn.lLK maL.d OFT 70 tha