The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-02

navar orncers In Punta Arenas m&k4 I
practice 10 board entering vessels, u
them against the Indians. explain 10 1nI
what precautions to take, and the4 r
iure the captain that II he sees 1 ~
bearded man who, despite his dirt
rars is plainly white man. plsrno r
shoot him dead, as he is the worst ~
derer in Terra del F'uego.
The most vivid and intimate recea s.
,erience with the Terra del Fosre
with the exception of the experienn r
az those who have not lived to ted d
tale) was that OF Capt. Slocum. d 8
spray. In his voyage around the WI
single handed. He found Il very har1
get through the Straits. and indeed ~
two voyages through them In his II
ship, for when he had traversed ~
onre gales blew him so far south b
he would have been blown clean ~
around the Horn had he not run 81 p
southern entrance to the Straits and -
begun all over again.
He was warned most earnestly b 4
chilean naval officer. who Is detailoa ~
port captain in Punta Arenas. and ~
urged to wait till a gunooat shout
through. as 1t could tow him and ~
protect him from the Indians. Hx r
sailed alone, and had half a dozen uoE1C
escapes. Less than fifty miles from pnn
Arenas the signal fires OF the Terf8 ~
F'uegians began TO start on headlA1o e
ter headland as he sailed along. nu(
long canoes came in pursuit. and un<1
pretense OF begging the occupants ~
to get close enough TO board. F1a1
Capt. Slocum fired a shot across thu III
of the nearest which turned out N(&
ward to be that of Black Pedro.
In Thieves bay, an antly named -
the captain had to anchor for q MI
Following advice which had been On
him In Punta Arenas. he scattered 01zj
lacks all over the deck before he tnr&
In. About midnight he was awakened
howls OF pain. and just as he feof&
the deck he saw the last OF tho ~
footed pirates jumping overheard. IT.
had ieaped right into his lacks.
On his second entrance into the 8d1
he found himself logged near Caps N
ward by two well-manned canoes. n
occupants were all armed with bows RI
arrows and spears They were 80 eeU
and so evidently determined TO board ~
Siocum found 1t necessary TO hau II
anchor short, Just enough to bFU
ground and run for It. which he ala
The next attack was made furthef &
toward the entrance into the Pacloe II
the lee of Great Charles island. A.
band WAS led by Black Pedro He nu|
aged 10 get on deck and tried IN evGl
possible way to catch Capt Slocum e
his guard. In which case. II was evloG1|
he intended TO let him have Il with t(
heavy spear which he carried. Bul ~
captain did not take his eyes from III
or turn his back to him or fail to IT.
the muzxles OF revolver and n repmt1(
iiiie pointed toward him. II was inbeo
pitahie but effective. Mr. Black Fto(
left In n hurry. But he did not giys n
tho attempt TO win the little ship. a
the next night he was on hand &x4|
In the anchorage In Tortescuo bay, Mn
score OF canoes filled with his co1u
rades. Again the rifle and the revolv1
kept them on. Here tho Columbia .
New York. a magnificent steamship whiel
has been lost since. anchored near u
Spray, and all night long she had \
keep n watch on deck to prevent the a.
ing thieves from boarding and luok1rl
her. big and heavily manned AS she w
Two days afterward, while sailing n
heavy gale near Bonet island, on TIL
the surf was breaking with thunder. r
nal fircs suddenly spran9 up everywh(4(
and the next instant arrows came ralnlrl
on deck. Luckily they did not strike "
captain. though two stuck quiverin6
the mast. Had he been injured and ~
abied, nothing could have saved IN
Spray. and Black Pedro would have ~
her bones after ALI. But. IA II was. IN
captain reached for his rife. which \
kept on deck. and began 90 bombard n
cover ON shore with excellent resulsa n
scattered the hidden saynges cffectuall|
enough to enable him 10 draw on sheel
sufficiently 10 escape further attantjoMl
This was HIS last adventure Muck T.
his relief. he entered tho open Facl
the next day and escaped.