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Gold Rush, Tierra del Fuego 1880--1914
"British" Presence

Assembling a gold dredge in Tierra del Fuego

Tierra del Fuego, in common with other gold rush areas, was remote and effectively ungoverned. For this reason, the names of most of the early miners and prospectors have been lost. Although the largest group was Croat, many other nationalities were represented, including New Zealanders. Very few are positively identified in locally published material that I have consulted, so any additional information would be most welcome. Some other candidates of "anglo" surname are included below.

For a description of working conditions on the gold dredge "Progreso" [installed by the “Compañía de Dragajes del Río Progreso” in 1907 on the Chorrillo Progreso, Cordón Baquedano, near Cerro Sombrero], see this 1908 article from The New Zealand Mines Record.

For a brief account of an unsuccessful mining expedition, see this 1904 article from The New York Tribune.

Here is a list of some people who sold mining rights in Punta Arenas in 1904.

Region not specified

North Coast (Strait of Magellan)

East Coast (Atlantic)

Southern Archipelago

New Zealanders in the Tierra del Fuego Goldfields

Background note: The "Grey River Argus" newspaper (published at Greymouth, New Zealand), September 3, 1908 edition, stated "There are about fifty New Zealanders in Tierra del Fuego, mostly connected with the gold-dredging industry". For further information on gold dredging in New Zealand, see "The Speculators' Dream: Gold Dredging in Southern New Zealand", T.J. Hearn and R.P. Hargreaves, Dunedin, 1985; and "A History of Otago", Erik Olssen, Dunedin, 1984.

"New Zealand Dredgemen at Tierra del Fuego" (1908)

News has been received in Lawrence, Otago, that Mr Norman Wakefield, who accepted an appointment a few months ago as a dredgemaster in Tierra del Fuego, has reached his new sphere of labour, and is in charge of the dredge "Progresso" [sic]. The men (chiefly foreigners) who were intrusted with the erection of the dredge were not equal to their task, and could not get the machinery to run. Mr Wakefield, with the help of two of his crew (Messrs. Burton and Silk, Otago men, who went over with him under engagement), set to work, pulled down the greater part of the machinery, re-erected it, and soon had everything going properly. Up to the time of writing Mr Wakefield had not an opportunity of prospecting the claim he is in charge of, but as the gravel showed freely he was in hopes it would turn out all right. Coal, landed at the dredge, cost about £.6 per ton, and it was estimated that it would take about 35 oz. of gold per week to run the dredge, the expenses being so heavy. The nearest dredge at work is about twenty miles away. There are six dredges on the field, and it is understood they were all doing well. The "Progresso" dredge's claim is well supplied with water, a snow-fed mountain-stream, carrying about fifteen heads, passing through it. On one part of the claim there is an immense peat-bog and the company had a number of men at work there cutting out peat for dredge-fuel. There was no bush or scrub in the neighbourhood, and the country, which is somewhat mountainous, was very dried-up-looking, with a cold climate, clear and bracing. There was no mist or fog, and very little rain, there being only five wet days during the previous year. There is plenty of wind in the daytime during the summer months, the nights being calm, and in the winter-time the frosts are very severe and hard. Mr. Wakefield was well satisfied with his quarters, and had the feeling that the claim he was in charge of would turn out to be a good one, with a very long life.

Ref: The New Zealand Mines Record, March 16 1908, 11, 8, p.349

Nova Scotians Lived on Shellfish in Terra del Fuego (1904)

San Francisco, Jan. 17 [by telegraph] -- On the German steamer Mera, which arrived to-day from southern ports, were M. McManus and C. Thompson, of Halifax, N. S., returning from a search for treasure in Terra del Fuego. They passed through exciting experiences, but return without treasure.

With eight companions, they sailed from Nova Scotia on March 17 last for Terra del Fuego in a small schooner to look for treasure in large quantities which Captain McLeod, of the schooner, said was to be found there. The schooner was five months in reaching the island and in a storm one of the party Ashley Cooper, was washed overboard and drowned. The vessel finally reached False Cove, Terra del Fuego, but went aground in trying to land. Then McManus and Thompson quarrelled with the others, and, taking their belongings, set out with Indians on an expedition into the interior. For several weeks, the two young men lived on shellfish only, and endured great hardships while tramping over the country looking for signs of gold. They had to take turns standing guard at night to prevent being murdered by the natives.

On striking the coast again they learned that their companions had got the vessel off the beach and gone to some other place. They then procured a small canoe and made a voyage of 125 miles by sea, almost to Cape Horn, in a vain search for treasure that Captain McLeod had said existed there. From this hunt they returned to the Straits of Magellan, and at Punta Arenas took passage on the Mera for this city.

Ref: New York Tribune (newspaper), 18 January 1904

Thanks: Nicholas Twohill for drawing my attention to the National Library of New Zealand's "Papers Past" website, and supplying additional information (IV/VI/XI-2009)
Additional source: "La Minería Aurífera en la Región Austral Americana (1869-1950)", Mateo Martinic Beros, 2003
Last updated: 3-II-2012