Intelligence has been received at Lloyd’s, under date, Stanley, Falkland Islands, Jan. 5, of a most daring attack on the ship Porcupine, of Liverpool, Millinger, master, by the Patagonians. It seems that in passing through the Straits of Magellan, on her way to California, the Porcupine grounded. Early the next morning the ship was surrounded by numerous canoes, full of natives. The captain, thinking they might be useful in getting the ship off, let some of the principal chief come on deck, when they offered to exchange a copy of “Johnson’s Comprehensive Dictionary,” signed on the flyleaf “John Badiam, January, 1851,” a Prayer Book, and other articles, evidently belonging to belonging to an English ship. The captain, now observing a fleet of canoes approaching nearer, many bearing lighted pine branches, gave orders for the crew and passengers, most of whom bad revolvers, to arm themselves, and a terrific conflict ensued; the savages fought desperately, and tried to burn the ship. After a severe struggle, and great slaughter, they were beaten off; and 300 bags of oats being thrown overboard, the ship floated. Two of the emigrants, George Rowsell and Henry Boyle, were killed, and several, several others severely wounded. The ship returned to the Falkland Islands terribly disabled.
The Manchester Times, Manchester, England, March 23, 1853