Year 1877 - The Gunners' Mutiny

Punta Arenas was still a penal colony, where all kinds of individuals came to purge their crimes, from bad conduct to the most common criminal. Life there was hard, due to the climate, the isolation and the lack of means. That is why the prisoners always conspired against the established authority, eager to escape from this exile. It was in this environment that a new mutiny broke out in November 1877. It was during the government of Don Diego Dublé Almeida and went down in history as "The Artillerymen's Mutiny."

INFORMATION Learn the story of the Artillery Mutiny, a play https://youtu.be/_tKJuB3FgSc

At that time, the Magallanes garrison was covered by an Artillery Company with one hundred men. The barracks were located opposite the Government House, on the current Magallanes Street, on the eastern side. The revolt broke out at midnight, with rifle shots, troops running, riots and general alarm.

From the barracks, artillery pieces were brought out into the street, while the sergeants called for arms in the darkness.

Governor Dublé Almeida woke up surprised, hearing shouts against him and cheers for the Argentines, which were intended to disconcert him because they had nothing to do with the mutiny.

When he realized the situation, he rescued his wife and children and, taking up arms, tried to contain the rioters. But it was useless, because the soldiers were mostly drunk and, encouraged by their leaders, they fired shots without control, even against the civilian population.

Dublé Almeida recalled that the corvette “Magallanes” was in Skiring Bay, under the command of Don Juan José Latorre, carrying out a hydrographic survey and going there in search of help. Wounded, he had to walk to Cabo Negro, where he obtained a horse, and reached the place where the ship was anchored. Informed of the events, Commander Latorre ordered the anchors to be raised and the corvette arrived at Punta Arenas, when the gunners had already committed the most ruthless crimes. The sailors restored order; all those accused of crimes were taken prisoner, but many fled to the Argentine pampas, where they later died.