Year 1851 - The Mutiny of Cambiazo

Lieutenant Miguel José, Cambiazo, arrived in Punta Arenas in 1851, and began his activities in the Artillery Company with displays of insolence and indiscipline. One day he raised his sword threateningly against Captain Gabriel Salas, who as punishment had him locked up in shackles. However, due to a regrettable error, he was placed in a dungeon with other soldiers, which facilitated his nefarious plans.

Cambiazo spoke to the sergeants and convinced them that they had to rebel against what he called the "tyranny of Captain Salas." Discontent spread among the troops and soon people joined Cambiazo. This was brought to the attention of the Governor, Don Benjamín Muñoz Gamero, through

from his Assistant, Nicanor García, and he considered it prudent to convince Cambiazo that he was on the wrong path, for which he invited him to lunch to discuss this matter. During this meeting, he raised the need for harmony to reign in the colony.

Cambiazo, who had drunk quite a bit, interpreted the Governor's words as weakness and insolently declared that he would carry out his plans, which would end in a mutiny. The mutiny broke out on November 17, 1851.

Cambiazo had Captain Salas arrested and sentenced him to death. A sergeant named Carlos González, who was guarding the prisoner, gave him some facilities, and for this reason, Cambiazo had him shot immediately. Governor Muñoz Gamero fled in the company of the parish priest, Father Gregorio Acuna, but they were soon captured and shot.

Thus begins an era of terror. A switcheroo. He has soldiers, settlers, natives and crew members of two foreign ships that he captures as they pass through the Strait killed. He seizes cargo and gold bars. He promotes himself to general and creates his own flag. His henchmen follow him, dedicated to pillage, crime and great banquets and drunkenness.

CAPTURE OF CAMBIASO – Year 1852

Lieutenant Miguel José́ Cambiazo guessed that the era of terror implanted by him in the Strait could not last; that he would soon be persecuted and punished. That's why he decided to flee, using two ships he had captured.

He embarked with the most adept people on the boat "Florida" and the rest sent it to the "Elisa Cornish". A ship that passed through Agua Fresca picked up two settlers who told what was happening in Punta Arenas. News soon reached the Government of Chile, which sent two ships to capture the mutineers, a Chilean ship, the "Meteoro" and an English one, the. 'Virago'.

When Cambiazo was on the high seas, heading to Montevideo, a counter mutiny aboard the "Florida" occurred. His dissatisfied officers took him prisoner and returned to Chile via the Cape Horn route, under the command of Captain from the ship, whom they freed.

In Ancud, the ship "Florida" met the "Virago", which had already captured the other ship in the hands of the rebels, the "Elisa Cornish". The prisoners were taken to Valparaíso, where they were handed over to the justice.

Cambiazo arrived completely annihilated. He and seven confessed soldiers were found guilty and sentenced to death. They are executed before a large crowd. Changed according to the severity of that time, he was horribly dismembered. Cambiazo was shot on April 4, 1852.

Meanwhile, Magellan's colony was a pile of ruins, with only a few people still hiding out of fear in the forests. The Government resolved to rebuild the city and populate it again. For this, he sent a ship to the Strait with the new Governor, Don Bernardo Philippi, who had accompanied Captain Williams on the trip of the schooner "Ancud" to found Fuerte Bulnes.