Cemetery or tourist attraction?

May seem a bit dismal visiting a cemetery on our holidays, but the truth is that the Sara Braun Cemetery, in Punta Arenas, is a tourist attraction, actually is one of the most visited tourist attraction of the city, tourists from different  parts of the world enjoy visiting it, in an organised tour or individually.

The virtual site, Tripadvisor, ranked the Sara Braun Cemetery #2 of 19 attractions in Punta Arenas, and there are 206 reviews. Also 226 visitors rated it and the results are:
95 voted excellent
86 voted very good
23 voted average
2   voted poor

www.tripadvisor.com/attraction_review-g297401-d187

On December 7th 2012 the Sara Braun Cemetery was designated National Monument in the category of Historical Monument. The declaratory reads: "The historic value is evident in the set of influences of different nationalities of immigrants who arrived in the region in search of a better future and that created the Magellan culture. In this place rest the pioneers, settlers and traders who made the city a point of reference in southern Chile, providing History, tradition and legends."

Also it has been ranked by CNN as the top ten beautiful cemetery in the world.

The cemetery is located in the main road of Punta Arenas, Avenida Bulnes.
It boasts a solid material porch surrounded by walls of the same material. Inside surprises the visitors with a central square, long avenues of Canadian cypresses, magnificent mausoleums built in the early decades of 20th century, richly ornated in bronze, marble and iron, monuments and posthumous tributes that bring interesting stories about the people that colonised the region.
All that together form a strange but beautiful place that has achieved international recognition.

The cemetery was inaugurated on the 9th of  April 1894 replacing the small one.
The porch and the walls were built between 1919-1923 by the engineer Fortunato Circutti and the decorative elements by artist Pascual Borich, financed by Sara Braun and her father Elias Braun.

One of the most interesting stories about people buried in that cemetery is actually about Sara Braun, it is said that she gave everything for building the porch of the cemetery but on the condition that after her death, the central door of the place had to be closed forever. Although the local authorities have not confirmed if such clause exists the fact is that the central door was closed after Sara braun's funeral and has been kept closed until now, the public make their entrance by lateral doors. (see blog: "The colony became city).

The avenues of Canadian cypresses are what most impress visitors: 660 cypresses elaborately sculpted in form of chubby fingers, some of them already reach 12 meters high. Trimming is performed annually between the months of May and August, depending on the weather it could take 3 month of completion.
A team of 5 gardeners spend about 30 to 45 minutes to trim a tree, however the highest ones may take more than two hours. 2 men trim the lower branches of the tree and 3 the highest ones.
The management of the saint field pays close attention to maintenance and cleanliness of the avenues.

Also the cemetery is known because of its attractive stories related to the mausoleums and monuments that turn the place in a magical mystery environment. My favourite story is related to a mausoleum which is right of central square. It is a love story. An Croatian immigrant, Giovanni Perusovic, arrived to Punta Arenas in 1900 and opened a barbershop in the main street, Calle Boris. Shortly after he met a young woman from Venice, Juana de Polo, and fell in love with her at first sight and not lingered to marry. It is said when they had their first child, a boy, their happiness was completed.
However their happiness was short lived as Juana died few years later.
Giovanni could not find solace in the lost of his lover, so he embalm her body and built a mausoleum recording in the wall: "REST IN PEACE, JUANA." And weekly he use to come to the mausoleum to make up her and comb the hair of his beloved wife, thus keeping their eternal love.
Later their son moved to Buenos Aires and after the death of Giovanni the mausoleum was abandoned and in 1960 was sold and the words Giovanni had engraved on the wall were erased by a black painting.
To built a mausoleum in the main square of the cemetery was really an act of love for a barber shopper because it was too expensive, however he spent everything he had to build that place to give eternal peace to his lover. Her remaining was moved to other place of the cemetery.

Also as a custom in South American cemeteries this one has a display of popular religiosity. It is about an Aborigine that was murdered in 1930 in a confused episode involving marble mine workers in the Diego Almagro Island. The body was taken to the morgue of Punta Arenas for investigation however nobody claimed his body so the cemetery management donated a grave and buried him. Few years later candles and coins started to be placed around the grave also letters of gratitude for being helped by the indian. The belief that he granted miracles spread quickly, so the coins in a considerable quantity began to be regularly collected and donated to the Red Cross of Punta Arenas. Later a place of veneration was built and also a safe was place to facilitate the collection of the coins.

Also there are interesting stories about pioneers resting in that place.
The oldest grave is that of Margarita Vives Siel, who was murdered in 1894.
The first concrete grave built in the cemetery was also in 1894, Osvaldo Wehrharan.
The first mausoleum built belonged to Spanish Society.
And a curious Egyptian pyramid grave-shaped with the names of James and Donald Miller engraved in it.

Dr Thomas Fenton, from Ireland, was an inspired pioneer who came to Punta Arenas in 1875 as the Magellanic territory's first medical officer. Few years later, 1877, his medical skills were tested when he had to attend to the victims of a violent riot that left some of members the small population serious injured as Mrs Maria
Dr Thomas also personally managed his sheep-ranching business, actually in a letter to his mother he mentions the success of the business and his plans for moving away from practise the medicine in order to expand the business.
In his tomb there is a monolith that symbolises the gratitude of the people of Punta Arenas for services rendered by Dr Thomas fenton.

www.patbrit.org/eng/events/rr1885fenton.htm

Also there are interesting monuments that worth to know, for example the monument in honor of  Earl Maximilian Von Spee, German navy vice-admiral, in recognition of his bravery in a naval combat in Falkland Island during World War I. The story related to this monument is about the German cruiser SMS Dresden which was the only ship to escape destruction at the mentioned battle, when the British cruisers Inflexible and Invincible sank four of Von Spee's ships. During several months the Dresden avoided capture by the British navy seeking refuge in the network channels and bays in southern Chile supported by Albert Pagels, a local German fisherman. However when the Dresden put into an island off Chilean coast, in Cumberland bay, the British ships Kent and Glasgow found her. But once again the Dresden avoided capture, the captain Fritz Emil Von Luedecke managed the situation ordering his crew to abandon the ship and scuttle it.

www.subpacific.cl/Dresden.html

Another respectable monument is a plaque in memory of those who died after the screw sloop HMS Doterel exploded.
At about 10:15am on 26th April 1881, while the ship was at anchor off Punta Arenas, the accidental explosion occurred sinking the vessel in minutes causing 143 deaths, only 12 members of the crew survived, including the ship's captain. their remains were buried in the old cemetery but later transferred  to the new one,Sara Braun Cemetery.
The plaque records the names of the victims. Also a marble memorial tablet was placed in The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London.

www.patbrit.org/eng/cmy/dt.htm

Would you celebrate new year in a cemetery?
Well, Sara Braun cemetery is one of the Chilean cemetery that keep their doors open at 31 December- January 1,  from 11pm to 1am for those who want to celebrate new year, respectfully, in the grave of their beloved ones. Believe me, not few do it.

Beauty, History and architecture are some of the tourist attractions of Sara Braun Cemetery, unmissable, recommended.

to book a two hours guided tour, contact:
Regina Braga
phone: 957223458
e-mail: reginabjohnson@hotmail.com

the colony became city

The 125.000 inhabitants of Punta Arenas soon will celebrate 165 years since its foundation which was on 12 December 1848.

Since its foundation many foreigners came to the city attracted by the policy of colonisation that decreed Punta Arenas a "free port", which marked its economic development as the settlers set up all type of trade. Also the emergence of steam ships contributed to the increase in traffic through the Strait of Magellan which arose the interest of Chilean government to invest in that small colony.

We can relate the economic development to three remarkable characters: José Nogueira, Elias Braun and José Menendez, although not the only ones.

In 1874, Elias Braun, from Latvia, which at that time was ruled by Russia, arrived to Punta Arenas with his wife and four children, fleeing the persecution of Jewish population. The young couple supported by the Chilean government received a small land, material for construction, animals and food supply for six months.
Feel years later, the Braun family already controlled 1.300.000 hectares of land in the Chilean and Argentinean Patagonia, their farms produced millions of tones of wool, 700.000 kilos of leather and 2.500.000 kilos of lamb meet yearly.

In Punta Arenas, Elias Braun met José Nogueira, a Portuguese sailor, who had arrived to the colony in 1886 and was engaged in the hunting of sea wolf. Eventually he amassed a great fortune from the skin trade and invested in a variety of business in all  the Patagonia.

At the same time, in 1886, José Menendez, Spanish, arrived in Punta Arenas after acquiring the business trade of guanaco skin and ostrich feather that belonged to a Argentinean trader. Feel years later, Mr Menendez already was the most influential man in all the Patagonia, actually he became known as "the king of Patagonia."

It´s interesting to say that none of these three men had a significant initial capital but they took advantage of every and each business opportunity open to them. Also their business and their family intertwined, José Nogueira  married Elias Braun's daughter, the young Sara. Mauricio Braun married José Menendez's daughter, Josefina, merging the three great fortune of the region.

After feel years married, José Nogueira died from tuberculosis, being Sara Braun his only heiress, which fortune she managed successfully despite her young age. In 1910, she already managed 2 million hectares of land and 1 million head of cattle, also managed business of shipping trade and industry. An impressive power for a young woman from 19th century, actually there are contradictory opinions about her personality, some say that she was an open minded person and generous but eccentric in some ways. Others say she was cruel with her employees and took her life very lonely. However she certainly was the most influential woman in all the Patagonia.

Meanwhile, Punta Arenas was no longer a colony of small wood houses, but a elegant city of the belle-epoque with petite-hotels and triumphant immigrants educating their children that eventually became remarkable celebrities as politicians, doctors, writers, executives, farmers, etc.

In 1895, Sara Braun inaugurated her palace which construction had been projected by J Nogueira two years before his death. The mansion was designed by the french architecture Nuna Meyer and constructed in a privileged area, in the same heart of the city, which has a elegant facade and a conservatory of metal structure in which is still cultivating a centenary foliage. Also the furniture and decorative elements were within the current vogue and art noveau. The set, mostly composed Renaissance style, Louis XV and XVI. The ornamental statues of marble and bronze, lamps, vases and utilitarian items all were brought from Europe, mostly from France and England.  The paintings were bought in Paris with themes focused on nature and from traveller artists passing through Patagonia.

In 1955, in hers 93 years of age Sara Braun died, she left no children then her fortune was inherited by her nieces and nephews who sold the mansion to a group of local residents who were interested in preserving the history so to accomplish this purpose they founded "The Union Club of Punta Arenas".
Then 4 December 1981 the palace of Sara Braun was declared National Monument.

Today the palace is a show of the belle-epoque in the Region of Magellan and receive many visitors all year. Also in the mansion the exclusive hotel José Nogueira is in function with 22 rooms keeping the architecture of 19th century. A bar, Shackleton Bar, which preserve most of the memorabilia of the residence. Also a underground pub, La Taberna, a interesting area which meet local residents and tourists. The glass house is today a restaurant that present a singular atmosphere.

www.hotelnogueira.com

When Sara Braun left her homeland, Talsen, she was 12 years of age, she never imagined she would be so rich being so young. No doubt she made history in the Patagonia.
As a benefactor one of her outstanding works is the Sara Braun Foundation which gives economic support for university students that have excellent academic performance. Her foundation benefit yearly students from every part of Chile.
Also she made good donations for the city, for example the build in which works the Red Cross of Punta Arenas and the arcade of the cemetery of the city which bear her name, it is  her most popular donation. It is said that when she donated the arcade she requested that only her body would make entrance from the main door of the cemetery, actually that door has been locked after her funeral and never open again as the entrance to that place is by the side doors.
Her mausoleum occupies a large extension in south wing of the cemetery and, how she wished, a remembrance of her homeland, Russia.

Tourist attraction: Sara Braun Palace, Muñoz Gamero Square

Entrance of the mansion

Entrance of the pub, La taberna

Restaurant Hotel José Nogueira

Entrance Hotel J Nogueira

Tourist Attraction: Cemetery Sara Braun /Mausoleum Sara Braun

Recommendation: Book- Palacio Sara Braun, Icono Patrimonial de Punta Arenas.
                                       (Sara Braun Palace, Heritage Icon of Sand Point)
                            Author: Mateo Martinic and Dante Baeriswyl
                            Edition: Club de la Union, Punta Arenas

The book brings together in a single document all about history, architecture, decoration and the art gallery of the mansion that belonged to Sara Braun. It is a two hundred pages book with wonderful photographs, both current as of time, that makes manifest the importance of this heritage asset.

Croatian inmigration in Region of Magellan

 

Chilean Croats are an important ethnic group in Chile, actually Chile is the second ranked country in the world for number of Croatians descendants. The number of Chilean Croats is estimated to be 380.000, the equivalent of 2,4% of the population, although some authors claim the number is equivalent to 4,6%.

The first Croatian immigrants came from Dalmatia, mid 19th century, escaping from war or philloxera plague that wiped out vineyards of  the islands in the Adriatic sea. However the first Croatian registered in the country was Arturo Zivovic, who arrived in the 17th century on an English pirate ship belonged to Sir Francis Drake. Zivovic abandoned the ship in Chile and stayed on land for the sake of love, it is said that he fell in love with a Chilean woman.

The Croats that arrived in Region of Magellan were mostly from Brac and Split. In 1843 three Croatian sailors were hired by Chilean Navy to travel to Strait of Magellan in a supply and relief mission at Fort Bulnes, a settlement founded that same year. Later 1880 to 1890 Croatian immigration increased significantly mainly due to economic crisis after the devastation of crops of grapes in the islands in the Adriatic sea and also escaping from Austrian Empire oppression, and in the other hand attracted by job and enrichment opportunities in southern region of Chile opened for all hard working people. By the end of 1890 there were more than 2000 Croats in Punta Arenas.

And they were hardy worker indeed. They discovered rich auriferous deposits. they were pioneers in the Magellan region shipping industry, they were successful livestock farmers, prominent in politics, science and literature. They engaged in trade, construction, sawmill, hospitality, among others activities.
Some of them were high considered in the daily chores of the colonial territory of Punta Arenas, even their names are well remembered in the region, such as Tafra, Mimica, Boric, Martinic, Goic, Bonacic, Peric, Kusanovic, Vilicic, Yutronic, among others. Actually Croatian immigrant was the ethnic group that better adapted and lived in harmony with the natural elements of the southern region of Chile.

Interestingly various institutions created by Croatians are still in operation such as,
Dalmatian Mutual relief Society, created in 1896.
Croatian Mutual relief Society, 1900.
4th Fire Station of Punta Arenas, founded in 1902.
Croatian Social Club of Punta Arenas, 1915, where there is a restaurant in functions which is considered one of the best in town.
Sokol, 1912, which is a successful sport club.
Croatian Ladies Social Comity, founded in 1917.
Croatian Club of Porvenir City, tierra del Fuego Island, 1926.
Republic of Croatia School, 1956.

The cities of Sandy Point and Antofagasta are sister cities of city of Split in Dalmatia.

Tourist Attractions related to Croatians in Punta Arenas: Croatian Square and Croatian Neighbourhood.

The Croatian Square:
Monument to Croatian immigrant: this monument is a symbolic representation of a Croatian family lifting     their Chilean-Croatian descendant up in their arms.
The obelisk is 14,5mts high, built in white cement and stone.The figures in bronze are 3,50 mts tall.
It was inaugurated in 1970 by the sculptor Mdrag Zuvkovic.

Statue of Croatian Coat of Arms: this monument was built and donated to punta Arenas city on 30 September 2000 by the Croatian Mutual Relief Society to celebrate its 100 years in functions and the 13th anniversary of independence of Republic of Croatia.
It is 2,50mts in granite.

Bust of  Mark Marulic (Split, 18 August 1450- 5 January 1524): he was a Croatian national poet and christian humanist, known as the Crown of Croatian Medieval Age and The Father of Croatian Renaissance.
He was also the first who defined and used the notion of Psychology.
The bust was erected on 23 November 2004.
It is 2mts high in concrete and bronze.

The Croatian Neighbourhood: it is one of the oldest district of the city, 1880, therefore saves valuable architectural evidence of the golden age of the city.
The name Croatian has been taken because that was the numerous ethnic-group in the neighbourhood, however it is true that the area received English families, Greek, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Chilean families that came from Island of Chiloé. All these races together led to an urban space where various culture and tradition coexisted and great diversity in work activities.
Next some pictures of typical houses of Croatian neighbourhood.

www.barriocroata.cl

www.inmigrante.cl

The colony of Punta Arenas

The colony of Punta Arenas was founded 18 December 1848.
During its difficult foundation years the colony of Punta Arenas was a tiny penal colony; dangerous offenders rebel militarists and political prisoners were sent to that remote location in order to contribute to colonise the  region and so reinforce Chilean sovereignty over Strait of Magellan, at the same time solving the difficulties the government en Santiago de Chile faced with severe overcrowded prisons due political conflicts generated by independence war.

Although the president of Chile, Manuel Bulnes, made the decision to turn the colony of Punta Arenas into a penal colony, his proposition was to give the convicts the chance to be settlers. "A city with convicts but not of convicts". In any case, those first settlers constructed the first roads, cut the local abundant vegetation, built the first houses, the government building, the school, the church, the port, the small hospital. They made great improvement in the colony despite their position; they had no spirit of pioneers, they were there serving condemns.

In 1851, year that left its mark on history of the colony, which population was 500 inhabitants, among civil and military authorities such as the governor, policemen, soldiers, some settlers and the convicts that lived freely without trespass the established limits of the settlement. In that time the colony of Punta Arenas was under administration of its forth governor, Benjamin Muñoz Gamero, who seemed to have lost control of a population which, indeed, was not easy to govern with a limited number of soldiers.

In that year , lieutenant Jose Miguel Cambiaso, 26 years old of age, were sent to Punta Arenas to serve his sentence after being convicted of murder. He was arrogant and insolent but charismatic, very able to persuade others to follow him in a mutiny against the local authorities. So he managed to lead a bloody riot that erupted on 21 November 1851.

As a result of the mentioned riot, the governor Benjamin Muñoz gamero, the chaplain, foreigners and settlers were killed, and the whole settlement burnt to the ground. Cambiaso made himself ruler, formed cavalry, artillery and infantry regiments out of the convicts and succeeded in maintaining himself by horrible cruelties for several months. Also he captured two merchants vessels: the schooner Florida of New Orleans and the Eliza Cornish of Liverpool. Also he took hostage the English captain, John Talbot, and his companion, Mr Dean, but both were killed later. In the same way he took the American schooner which had been hired by the Chilean government to move 66 political convicts from Valparaíso to Punta Arenas. Later the captain Brown was forced to move Cambiaso in his escape to Argentina, leaving the others mutineers stranded.
Finally, Cambiaso was captured and sentenced to death penalty. In 1853, he was shot in Valparaíso in front of 50.000 people and later his body was dismembered.

Note: Today the main square of Punta Arenas is named after governor Muñoz Gamero in his honour and memory.

Recommendation: Book: "Insurrection in Magellan, narrative of imprisonment and escape from the Chilean convicts", by Captain Chas H Brown, 1854 edition.

The book tells how events unfolded, the horror and excesses perpetrated by Cambiaso and the role played by captain Brown in finally subduing the mutineers.

www.patlibros.org (after choosing English version click travellers and then click 1851 Charles Brown).

Unfortunately that was not the last riot in town, in November 1877 another violent mutiny rose again in Punta Arenas which delay once again the economic progress of the area. But this time the mutineers were the artillery regiment soldiers who were unhappy with the harsh disciplinary regime imposed by the regimental commander during the tenure of governor Dublé Almeida. Also some convicts who were serving their sentences joined the rebels in the revolt that broke out at 1:40am taking by surprise all the inhabitants that slept that moment, the population was more than 1000 people.

They mutilated their captain Pio Guilardes in the most horrible manner. The governor was knocked in the head and left insensible. He, however, recovered after some time and managed to escape, also his family and some settlers escaped almost naked to the woods. They committed incredible excess of killing, burning and sacking public and private properties. It is estimated that at least 50 people were killed and many dead and wounded were burned in the buildings, actually the hospital was burned with 4 wounded men inside.

After an unbridled orgy the mutineers planned to escape to neighbour country, Argentina, but without success, some of them died in the way, others were captured: 9 were condemned to death penalty and 22 to life prison.

www.patlibros.org/clip/txt/CL033.htm

Then gradually the colony of Punta Arenas entered a period of decline and became an unattractive place to live in. Who would dare to build something in a place that soon or later would be destroyed by rebels?
Who would dare to risk their lives living among violent people?

Eventually the president José Joaquin Peréz took steps to reverse such difficult time for Punta Arenas. Shortly the congress approved an extra found for reconstruction. Also the status of penal colony was removed, no convicts would be sent to Punta Arenas to serve their sentences, instead a new immigration agreement allowed people from different parts of Europe to come to town attracted by reports of great economic opportunities. Also the gold rush brought a huge number of Croatian, Spanish (mainly from Asturias and Galicia) and British immigrants. Also came families from France, Switzerland and Germany. Different economic activities were developing successfully such as agriculture, livestock sheep, sea lion skin marketing, gold panning, exploitation of coal, maritime trade, port service, etc.

One of the most interesting tourist attraction is the Remembrance Museum or Memorial Museum, which was founded by initiative of a Croatian descendant, Historian Mateo Martinic.
In 1968 he founded the Patagonian Institute and later it was incorporated to the University of Magellan. From the 70s descendants of pioneers have been donating objects that belonged to the first years of the city.
A visit to the museum transport the visitors to pioneer days. The visitor can appreciate the interesting collection of antique farm and industrial machinery imported from Europe, typical houses of he settlers, a wooden-wheeled trailer that served as shelter for shepherds, a carpentry, the bakery, the grocery, telegraph room, dentist room, a clock collection, a collection of luxurious chariots (XVIII century) and the first cars (XIX century). Also a library that display historical maps and photographs.

 

The Fort Bulnes

During XVII and XVIII centuries the flow of vessels grew considerable through the Strait of Magellan. In fact, not many places in the world can exhibit such number of expedition in History, but also the flow of navigators originated an appreciable number of shipwreck.

www.caphorniers.cl/magallanes/naufragios.htm

During those centuries the Spanish kingdom experienced economic and military decline while England and Holland started to surge in the world scenery as maritime powers. Large number of scientific expeditions, merchants, explorers, corsairs, traders, privateers, buccaneers and famous sailors navigated through Magellan Strait; familiar names are captain John Strong, Jacques Braunchesne-Gouin, Jacob Mahu, Simon de Cordes, John Narborough, the brothers Bartolomé and Gonzalo de Nodal, and much more.
All of them contributed to elaborate maritime letters of Region of Magellan, actually Holland explorers were the first in elaborating a nautical letter and a navigation map which were used by navigators of all nations for more than two centuries.

During XIX century Spanish colonies in Southamerica were in their emancipation process.
The General Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile, deposed in 1823, from his voluntary exile in Peru emphasised the importance of Chilean control over Strait of Magellan and urged Chilean rulers to take decisive measurements, fearing an occupation by Great Britain or France.

The introduction of steam navigation, the English occupation of Falkland islands (Islas Malvinas) in 1833 and the intention of France to establish a port in the strait coastline opened President Bulnes mind and in 1843 he ordered an expedition in order to take possession of the strait and found a settlement in the region. Then, 21 September 1843, the schooner Ancud, under the command of commander John Williams Wilson (Juan Guillermo), arrived in Punta Sant'Ana  where took possession of Strait of Magellan on behalf of Chilean government.

Few weeks later, 30 October, 263 years after Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa took possession of the strait on behalf of Spanish king Felipe II, John Williams Wilson founded the Fort Bulnes, named after Manuel Bulnes, President of Republic of Chile. A settlement around the fort would be built to colonise the region.
Interestingly, it is known that, twenty four hours after the foundation of Fort Bulnes the French schooner Phaeton arrived to Magellan Strait in order to build a French port in the same area, Punta Sant'Ana.

However Fort Bulnes did not flourish. Due to the hard weather conditions and desolate area Chilean government struggled to establish a settlement around Punta Sant'Ana.
Eventually in 1848, a new governor, Jose dos Santos Mardones, moved the scarce population of Fort Bulnes 60 km north, near a river, in Punta Arenas where the city was founded leaving behind 5 years of hardship.

Finally, the Fort Bulnes was abandoned and destroyed in fire set by lieutenant Cambiaso, head of a mutiny against the governor of Punta Arenas. But between 1941-1943 a replica of the fort was built and in 1968 was declared National Monument.

Today, the Fort Bulnes is part of History-Patagonia Park giving to visitors a good idea what life was in the first 5 years of colonisation in Region of Magellan. Also the park offers trails and lookouts from which the visitors can have a magnificent view of Magellan strait and its surroundings.

www.phipa.cl

Recommendation:
Book: The Captive Boy in Tierra del Fuego, by Phebe A Hanaford, published in 1877.
The book is a life story, an authentic narrative of the wreck of the ship "Manchester" and the survival of Thomas Coffin, a 11 years old boy, and his ordeal among the Aborigines who lived in Great island of Land of Fire.

Bibliography:
John Williams Wilson  was also known as Juan Guillermo, his Spanish name.
He was a Chilean sailor born in Bristol (1798) to a family with a long seafaring tradition. He arrived in Chile in 1818 and few years later entered the Chilean Navy rising to the rank of lieutenant. He participated actively in political affairs of the republic and became known in Chilean History in the event of taking possession of the Strait of Magellan and adjacent territories on behalf of Republic of Chile.

In his honour Luiza Port, in Navarino Island, was rebaptised Williams Port, which is the southmost city of the world and mayor hub for scientific activities associated with Antarctica and Land of Fire Archipelago.

Tourist Attractions:

Martin Gusinde Anthropological Museum: it hosts artefacts, maps and photographs related to Yagan people.

Omora Ethnobothanical Park: www.omora.org

Birdwatching opportunities

Cycling along the cost road

Trekking: Dientes de Navarino circuit:  www.mountainphotographer.com/dientes-de-navarino/