Documentos de Académico
Documentos de Profesional
Documentos de Cultura
1989 1990
MATEO MARTINIC B.
tardas no
siempre fidedignas. Volvimos sobre el
tema con posterioridad (Martinic, 1979, 1988) NUEVOS ANTECEDENTES
agregando antecedentes y consideraciones
otros
nocidio que habamos utilizado originalmente, realidad de antigua data, como que ha sido en
confirma nuestros datos sobre el armamento em mente al indgena que apareca como un fac
norma establecida defacto en el curso del proce obviarse cortando por lo ms sano: la elimina
so colonizador ganadero. cin fsica, especialmente de los varones.
cin que parece confirmar la vigencia de la se de una regla habitual que, adems, debe ser en
tendida concepcin
gunda forma. Para los colonizadores o sus em en la del darwinismo social
pleados, los agentes represivos direc
en el caso imperante en la poca de los acontecimientos.
tos, no cont mayormente consideracin huma En una revisin posterior del archivo episcolar
nitaria alguna, toda vez que estaban persuad -
los indios del sector de la sierra Boquern y, te En el documento, entre varias noticias, co
atenuante a tan reprobable proceder, cabe men pero pude suponer que no siempre han salido li
cionar que, de cualquier manera, su prctica bres. 8 de nosotros salimos de aqu
una noche y
habra disminuido un tanto a contar de 1895, viajamos al sur, pasado "Punta Mara", con un
poca que la comunidad magallnica, ya muy
en indio como gua y llegamos justo antes del ama
sensibilizada respecto de la cuestin indgena, necer al punto ms cercano al campamento
clamaba por la intervencin enrgica de las au indio, dejamos los caballos y caminamos una
toridades y de los tribunales de justicia para hora y 20 minutos a travs del monte y pillamos
poner fin a las tropelas y matanzas que tenan alrededor de 70. Voy a correr un velo sobre los
ocurrencia en Tierra del Fuego. siguientes 5 minutos y dejarlo que suponga el
Pero, si tal pudo suceder en Chile, en suelo resto 5 (Apndice II).
argentino fueguino imperaba una total libertad Con un testimonio as de elocuente -con su
de exterminio. All no haba poblacin, auto curiosa delicadeza que deja a la libre imagina
ridades ni prensaa los
que el desgraciado asunto cin el horror del drama acontecido- y que,
pudiera importar, a lo menos en grado de preo reiteramos, por razones comprensibles no ha
cupar a los inspiradores y ejecutores de las abundado, es
posible apreciar el grado de barba
caceras humanas. De hecho, all operaban al rie alcanzado y tambin inferir la realidad y pro
gunos de los ms duros e inclementes cazadores, porciones de los hechos de violencia que tuvieron
destacando el tristemente clebre Mac Lennan, ocurrencia en suelo fueguino.
administrador de las estancias de Jos Menndez. De los antecedentes consignados aparece ma
Inclusive la fuerza policial all establecida tena nifiesto un indudable nimo homicida que, sin
la misin especfica de combatir a los indgenas. perjuicio de su atribucin a los individuos que
Uno y otra fueron protagonistas de un episo asumieron como actores la cruel decisin, debe
dio de horror en la desigual confrontacin -si de
asignarse igualmente al principio inspirador de
tal puede escribirse-, hasta represin y que
ahora desconocido y la que el de conseguir
no fue otro
(propiedad deJos Menndez), a Albert H. fue un inmigrante que tuvo relevancia empresarial y
social
Maryon, un amigo residente a la sazn en
en
Magallanes. Fund un establecimiento me
Escocia ' talrgico que adquiri gran prestigio entre los del
y tuvo varios
.
ramo
negocios exitosos. Fue
otros
asimismo miembro
distinguido de varias institucio
3 Cfr. "Panorama de la colonizacin en Tierra del nes societarias y de beneficiencia de Punta Arenas.
1891 y 1900", pg. 47. 5 Destacado por el
Fuego entre autor.
26 MATEO MARTINIC
Concluyendo,
los sucesos de violencia asesina APNDICE I
no fueron casuales, producto comprensible del
ardor del enfrentamiento entre cazadores de February 22th/94
hombres y predadores de animales, sino francos
y deliberados, cual caba a un
designio framente John Me Rae Esq.
calculado, con los resultados atroces que paulati Porvenir
na fragmentariamente han logrado conocerse y
y
cuya significacin en la disminucin numrica Dear Sir
de la poblacin selknam pudo tal vez ser cuanti
tativamente mayor que lo que alguna vez esti
Referring to the conversation that we had
mramos.
together regarding the Boquern Indians & con-
Vista de esta manera la situacin, cabe sidering that it is to the interests of both of us to
revalorizar el esfuerzo humanitario que signific clear them away as soon as possible I am willing
la extraccin fsica de parte de la etnia selknam, to contribute with two thirds of the expenses to
a la que as se la libr de una extincin pronta y that effect & request you therefore to make
cruel, no obstante que, a la larga, su fatdico arrangements at once to have three (ilegible)
destino no variara. men put there under you control given them the
Sin embargo de lo ocurrido y sus dolorosas con necessary instructions so that they are able to ca-
secuencias, al fin no fue una hecatombe,
pues rry out our wishes.
quedaron algunos grupos indgenas dispersos en Your faithfully
la vastedad de la gran isla fueguina. De hecho,
pasado 1900 cesaron las acciones de violencia en M. BRAUN
suelo chileno. Posiblemente se tratara de con
juntos familiares
a los
que se les permiti vivir de Folio 387, COPIADOR DE CARTAS N 5
la del guanaco o, tal vez, se les racion oca
caza
(Marzo 1893-Marzo 1895) ARCHIVO "MAURI
sionalmente. Slo as puede comprenderse la CIO BRAUN HAMBURGER", Museo Regional
presencia de algunos selknam como
trabajadores de Magallanes, Punta Arenas.
en
algunas estancias haciendo vida libre, a los
o
you left the Indians made a raid & stole 1,300 Andonio Diez, Becho Ken, San Gregorio,
sheep in one
jump & now
quite recently they Carlito, Albatros 300 tons, Keel Roy & now
have stole another 1.200, Mr Maclenna has had daily one is expected for Punta Delgada 300 tons
another arrow, this time in the centre of his back also. Now for the work on shore, there is a
very
owned by the
& as luck would have it I had surgical instru- good engineers shop & foundry,
ments of my own & took out of his back half a Germn watchmaker & another Germn called
Indians but they do the hunting around the fire. from B. Ayres with us, works there & anybody
The Indians have burnt down three houses in they can get hold of. They are making a new
fact have kept thing pretty lively, but you may ship of the "Cabenda" 20.000 dollars contract
suppose they have not got away allways free. We for hull & machinery, deck work extra. I can
left here one night 8 of us & travelled South past assure you, you can do much worse than strike
"Punta Mara" with an Indian for a guide, & Punta again for it is most certainly going ahead
arrived just before daylight at the nearest point fast. The Chief is in the Fovart, Larsen is
same
to the Indian camp left the horses & walked 1 Chief of "Torino" (?) who was in Cabenda, the
hour & 20 minutes through the Monte & just od fellow who carne out 2nd (engineer) in the
caught them sleeping about 70 in number. I will "Buni" is Chief of the "Albatross" & Cap.
draw a veil over the next 5 minutes & leave you to Williamson's brother is 2nd with him. Admiral
guess the rest: Another time we made a
big Mirain (?) is gone home could get nothing to do
circuit in the night & carne in at the back of a out here. I think he went a dotty.
bit
tribe that was
driving 235 sheep they had stolen Morris Brown's sister Mrs Nogueira has her
& we allowed them to come upon us within dis grand house finished & quite puts Menendiz's
tance of 100 yards. We were hid in a small patch house in the shade. The Government House is
of monte. the time Mac got the arrow,
This was finished & the Church in the Plaza & where the
also the Chief of Plice got one in the neck, the od Quartel used to be the whole side of that
both of them had a very narrow
squeak. We are block is made into barracks & is a
big building,
now
just where we were when you finished in fact quite a
grand Plaza, Menendiz has the
bringing sheep last year, we have lost all the Theater up & that also is a fine building, I thik
increase of the past year. that was commenced before you went away, it is
Radesky (Radeke?) had the sack out of the in front of the Convent 200.000 dollars, I was to
"Amadeo" just bought
after you left, a schooner die at his house in Punta & I quite enjoyed
in conj (?) with Jacobbs (?) went to Gallagos & myself you may suppose. Mrs Nogueria has
lost her the first trip & is now bumming around bought the land between San Sebastian Bay &
Gallagos so I here. Cape Sunday & has an estancia there now, so
Carlos is still on board, Chief (Engineer) & it from Punta Arenas to here we have the mail
Indians stole 1.200 sheep from him two weeks settling up the other day & was paid L 12.0. Od
ago, I am thinking of putting (in) another year & per month but expected to get 15 so what he is
then trying something for myself in Punta. going to do now I don't know, I went by the
Ethel is still in the Falklands, Walter is at "Amadeo" & carne back by horse & the Amadeo
school in Punta, Herbert is still at Correa y de runs well & knocks spots out of Fovart (6 tons per
Brymi's, Tooky is here bothering
my life out day).
while I am writing this & Mrs Robins is sitting I have
just sacked Ernesto Buschenhagen the
beside the fire reading, she is very well I am glad storekeeper for good conduct, during my
to
say. absence to Punta Arenas, & the 2nd manager, so
Punta Arenas is going shead very fast there is I am quite alone now, they had a good od time
in the line, Amadeo, Bunte, Fovart, themselves with all the
now steamer ta men
helping them,
2S MATEO MARTINIC
the job & it will not take much for me to move a) Inditas
also, it is a big responsibility for to run this show Copiador de Cartas N 5 (Marzo 1893-Marzo
it is getting more & more all the time, it is only 1895), Archivo "Mauricio Braun Hamburger".
the 25 pounds that keeps me. As soon as Ethel Museo Regional de Magallanes, Punta Arenas.
Board of Trade allright as you told me you was des". En O. Nordenskjld, Svenska
at school
preparing. I don't know of any other Expeditionen Till Magellanslnderna,
news that would interest you, so I think I BD. I. N: 05, pg. 109-173, Stockholm.
now,
had better stop before you get tired of reading MARTINIC B. MATEO. 1972 "Panorama dla
colonizacin Tierra del Fuego
this. hope reply will be full f
I You en entre
your news.
said you sent some papers but I did 1881 y 1900". Anales del Instituto de la
not
get them.
The only sure address is c/o Don Jos Menediz Patagonia, vol. 4(1-3): 5-69, Punta Are
this is sure to reach all times, Mrs. Robins
me at nas.
& Tooky is playing that game we used to play on 1978 "La poltica indgena de los gober
nadores de Magallanes 1843-1910".
board with the buttons & dice & using
are the
Anales del Instituto de la Patagonia, vol.
same one you made with the same shaving
od
soap box & are grumbling & saying each is
10:7-57, Punta Arenas.
1982. La Tierra de los Fuegos.
cheating, so you see how Tooky is getting on, by Municipa
lidad de Porvenir, Punta Arenas.
this means she is learning to count & read. I
really must stop now as they are saying "going to 1988. Magallanes, al sur de Amrica.
have game Da". Mrs Robins & Tookey says my
a Cape Horn Methanol -
Museo Chileno de
best love to Mr Maryon. I must say good by od Arte Precolombino, Santiago.
shipmate & may you never find a worse friend &
well wisher than yours truly. Good by once more
& mind I am ever thinking of you & wondering
whether you are keeping straight.
Yours as ever
James C. Robins