Year 1850 - English Missionaries

Capitán. de la Real Marina Británica, Allen Gardiner

The publication of the voyage of the "Beagle" by Parker King and Fitz Roy, and the news of the Indians of Tierra del Fuego, aroused interest in England. Captain Allen Gardiner of the Royal Navy, retired from active service to become an Anglican missionary, formed the Patagonian Missionary Society with three kindly co-workers.

In 1844, Gardiner arrived at the Strait of Magellan on the sailing ship "Rosalie" , which left him in Oazy Harbour in the company of a catechist, who would help him convert the Indians. When the Tehuelches arrived and saw them alone, they began to rob them and harass them, so much so that the missionaries thought they would kill them. Fortunately, the schooner "Ancud", which sailed through the Strait, passed by and took them on board, then transferred them to the "Ganges", which took them to the north of Chile, from where they returned to Europe.

In 1850, Aller Gardiner returned with the help of the same society, but went to Tierra del Fuego in the company of other missionaries and a doctor. The sailing ship "Ocean Queen" landed them on Picton Island with two iron boats.

There were six men in all. Gardiner hoped to find Jemmy Button, the Tierra del Fuego Indian who civilized Fitz Roy.

As soon as the ship had left, they realized that they had forgotten to bring gunpowder for their rifles. Soon the Indians arrived with hostile intentions. They attacked them several times to take their provisions and clothing. The missionaries could not defend themselves because their weapons were useless. The natives did not want to know anything about religion and only asked for food and useful objects.

In order to get out of the reach of the savages, one day they went to Puerto Español, in the southern part of Tierra del Fuego, leaving a message for the ship to return for them.

Months later, a ship arrived with relief supplies and found the six missionaries dead. Their bodies had been eaten by foxes. They left their last written impressions, saying that they were dying peacefully, confident that their mission would be continued by others.