His story was, that after the boat in which they had left the shore on the night the Florida arrived, had drifted past our vessel, and they had found it impossible to make us understand what they wanted, they drifted on through the night, paddling as well as they could till they reached the Terra del Fuego shore, soon after daylight. There they attempted to land, but were prevented by a party of Indians, who fired on them, and wounded one of the soldiers. The weather then being calm, they paddled to the westward, and crossed the Straits again to Port Famine, the former site of the colony. There they had concealed themselves in the bushes, and for the last week had been living on nothing but roots, and were now in a state of starvation.
All this I gathered from my guards and visitors, after I returned to my room from my walk, in company with the mate, although we had never expected to see it again.
Capture of the Governor--His execution--I am led out of my prison--The burning of the bodies--Governor Gamero’s character--His intercourse with the native tribes--The Priest Acuna--Arrival of H. B. M. war steamer Virago--Mr. Dunn, the Secretary--Cambiaso plans the capture of the steamer--He fears her force and discipline--The officers invited on shore--No suspicions aroused--The Virago sets sail.
On the afternoon of the day of these executions, Cambiaso sent out two or three parties of soldiers, well armed, under one of the chief officers, and all on horseback, with directions to take the governor and his party, and bring them in, dead or alive. They had accurate information of their hiding place from the traitor, and by surrounding the bushes, and gradually beating in, they succeeded in capturing them, and about sunset brought them in, and they were soon heavily ironed.
I heard that they were terribly emaciated, and scarcely able to stand, from weakness, having lived for nearly a week on nothing but roots and berries. Cambiaso ordered them to be served with a good dinner, saying that they should go with a belly-full, and then thrust them into the calaboose, where captain Avalos and the other prisoners were confined. Captain Avalos told me afterwards that neither the governor or the priest showed any signs of fear, but when he asked them if they knew their fate, they answered coolly, “Oh, yes!” Cambiaso seemed to intend to surround this execution with all the pomp and solemnity that he could command. About nine, in the evening, there was a general rush through the camp. The bugles sounded the death march, the drums beat, the soldiers were all ordered under arms, and governor Gamero and the priest Acuna were led out of the barracks. All was still in the yard after they left, and in a short time I heard the report of their death shots. They were shot under the same trees to which Mr. Shaw and captain Talbot had been tied.