2-995-693 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Massacre of a mission party of the "Alan Gardiner" by the natives at Woolya, Tierra del Fuego, 1860. Engraving after a sketch by Mr. Havers. In October 1859, the schooner Alan Gardiner, belonging to the Patagonian Missionary Society, returned some Fuegians to their native country, intending to '...bring back a further supply to be Christianised at the station upon Keppel Island (West Falkland)...the Alan Gardiner...landed some of the natives, who were searched before going over the ship's side, a proceeding that had on a former occasion given grave offence at Keppel, where the injured party vowed vengeance, made signs that they would cut the throats of some persons, and threatened to "put 'em in the ground'' some day...Many canoes were arriving daily (a very unusual circumstance), and by Sunday, November 6, the assemblage of natives - men, women, and children - amounted to near 300. Several of the crew...became uneasy and apprehensive at the threatening aspect and increasing numbers of the natives...seven of the Europeans were seen rushing out of the hut followed by natives, and the groups of natives outside joined in an attack commenced with stones, and quickly terminated by clubs and other weapons...'. From "Illustrated London News", 1860.