SANTIAGO
SANTIAGO
Vessel Type: Full-rigged Wooden Ship
Full-rigged
Nationality: Argentine Confederation
Sunk in unknown circumstances in May 1866 in the Falkland Islands whilst carrying a cargo of Saltpetre from Chile to a mystery destination.
Main Use:
Cargo
Years Active:
Power:
Sail
Built:
Size:
266 Net tons
(length, breadth, depth) metres
Design/Build:
Main Use: Cargo
Power: Sail
Size: 266 Net tons
The fully-rigged SANTIAGO was lost on George Island, part of the Speedwell Islands, due west of Bull Point, East Falkland. Her crew of 16 and one passenger were picked up from an open lifeboat by the Falklands schooner, FAIRY, which arrived in Stanley on 21st August 1866. It is believed she was carrying a cargo of Saltpetre from Iquique in Chile to either France or Argentina. Exact details are not known, because the wrecking occurred during a period for which there are no surviving Falkland Islands Company records and before any local press existed. An entry in the Shipping Register had Buenos Aires as the SANTIAGO’s destination but this was crossed out and Marseilles substituted. Could this have been done so that Britain feigned neutrality? At the time, Spain and Chile were in conflict – the Chincha Islands War. Buenos Aires was allied with Spain, and no ships allied to Spain could enter Falkland Ports whilst the war, which was about reclaiming former colonies, was ongoing.
The fully-rigged SANTIAGO was lost on George Island, part of the Speedwell Islands, due west of Bull Point, East Falkland. Her crew of 16 and one passenger were picked up from an open lifeboat by the Falklands schooner, FAIRY, which arrived in Stanley on 21st August 1866. It is believed she was carrying a cargo of Saltpetre from Iquique in Chile to either France or Argentina. Exact details are not known, because the wrecking occurred during a period for which there are no surviving Falkland Islands Company records and before any local press existed. An entry in the Shipping Register had Buenos Aires as the SANTIAGO’s destination but this was crossed out and Marseilles substituted. Could this have been done so that Britain feigned neutrality? At the time, Spain and Chile were in conflict – the Chincha Islands War. Buenos Aires was allied with Spain, and no ships allied to Spain could enter Falkland Ports whilst the war, which was about reclaiming former colonies, was ongoing.
