I thought that I would share this in an episodic format. Offering it as an interesting piece of family history and as a fascinating period piece.
From the 'Buenos Aires Standard' April 19th, 1881.
Terrible Murder in Entre Rios
Two Scotchmen Assassinated.
Two Scotchmen Assassinated.
It is our gloomy task to report the murder of two much respected Scotch sheep-farmers, at a place on the Eastern Argentine Railway, called Naranjito.
The unfortunate victims were Mr. Charles Macdonald and Mr. Arthur Guthrie, who had just rented a piece of land there, bought a flock of sheep, and started as sheep-farmers. The country thereabout is well settled on, and there are Estancias and sheep-farmers on all sides, the camps are very fine, with rich pasturage and abundance of wood and water.
Mr. Macdonald some few months ago returned from England where he leaves five children to mourn his untimely loss. For many years he was engaged in Salto B.O. on the Santa Rosa Ry., and had a wide circle of friends in this city; his friends here state that he had just invested up there about 6000. Pat's in sheep.
Mr. Arthur Guthrie was from Dundee and was partner of Mr. Macdonald. Mr. McCorquodale, who resides up there, has written down to friends here, giving the following hurried particulars of this truly barbarous crime, the details of which intensify its atrocity.
It seems that on the evening of the murder two men, Gauchos, rode up to the rancho and asked leave to rest and pass the night; they were invited to dismount and given their dinner: these villains, after tying their horses out and pretending to make the usual arrangements for passing the night, entered the house, and whilst poor Guthrie was in the act of preparing a bed for one of them the double dyed villain stabbed him in the back, and he fell dead. The noise of the fall attracted the attention of Macdonald, who rushed at once to get his revolver to defend his life as dearly as possible, but he was soon overpowered, stabbed to death and then both their throats were cut in a most barbarous manner; Guthrie's wife, a native woman, it seems escaped and rushed off to a neighbouring rancho; there were six men accomplices outside.
The rancho was sacked from top to bottom, and everything that could be carried off was taken away, trunks broken open, clothes, house linen &c. It is quite evident that the murderers counted on finding a sum of money in the house as Macdonald and Guthrie were buying stock, and it was supposed that the money might still be there.
Yesterday the friends of these unfortunate countrymen waited upon the British Minister, Sir Horace Rumbold, and we trust that he will call the attention of the Government to the matter, and the necessity of taking the most immediate steps to catch the assassins, and execute them.
This horrible crime comes at a time of increased significance. Dean Dillon leaves to-day on a special mission to foment British emigration to this country, and President Roca, as is stated in the papers, is about to propose to Congress the Abolition of Capital Punishment. The credit of the country is at stake in this matter. If the villain who seeks hospitality and in return murders his host is to escape Capital Punishment, then at least it will be well to acquaint the people of Europe with the fact. We reserve the matter for further comment.
The unfortunate victims were Mr. Charles Macdonald and Mr. Arthur Guthrie, who had just rented a piece of land there, bought a flock of sheep, and started as sheep-farmers. The country thereabout is well settled on, and there are Estancias and sheep-farmers on all sides, the camps are very fine, with rich pasturage and abundance of wood and water.
Mr. Macdonald some few months ago returned from England where he leaves five children to mourn his untimely loss. For many years he was engaged in Salto B.O. on the Santa Rosa Ry., and had a wide circle of friends in this city; his friends here state that he had just invested up there about 6000. Pat's in sheep.
Mr. Arthur Guthrie was from Dundee and was partner of Mr. Macdonald. Mr. McCorquodale, who resides up there, has written down to friends here, giving the following hurried particulars of this truly barbarous crime, the details of which intensify its atrocity.
It seems that on the evening of the murder two men, Gauchos, rode up to the rancho and asked leave to rest and pass the night; they were invited to dismount and given their dinner: these villains, after tying their horses out and pretending to make the usual arrangements for passing the night, entered the house, and whilst poor Guthrie was in the act of preparing a bed for one of them the double dyed villain stabbed him in the back, and he fell dead. The noise of the fall attracted the attention of Macdonald, who rushed at once to get his revolver to defend his life as dearly as possible, but he was soon overpowered, stabbed to death and then both their throats were cut in a most barbarous manner; Guthrie's wife, a native woman, it seems escaped and rushed off to a neighbouring rancho; there were six men accomplices outside.
The rancho was sacked from top to bottom, and everything that could be carried off was taken away, trunks broken open, clothes, house linen &c. It is quite evident that the murderers counted on finding a sum of money in the house as Macdonald and Guthrie were buying stock, and it was supposed that the money might still be there.
Yesterday the friends of these unfortunate countrymen waited upon the British Minister, Sir Horace Rumbold, and we trust that he will call the attention of the Government to the matter, and the necessity of taking the most immediate steps to catch the assassins, and execute them.
This horrible crime comes at a time of increased significance. Dean Dillon leaves to-day on a special mission to foment British emigration to this country, and President Roca, as is stated in the papers, is about to propose to Congress the Abolition of Capital Punishment. The credit of the country is at stake in this matter. If the villain who seeks hospitality and in return murders his host is to escape Capital Punishment, then at least it will be well to acquaint the people of Europe with the fact. We reserve the matter for further comment.
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