The Voyage of Magellan - The Atlantic 4

The loss of seamen did not end with the executions. Several more froze to death while wintering in Patagonia. The victim of Anton Salamon threw himself into the sea overwhelmed by shame and the ridicule of his shipmates. Many more seamen were frostbitten. The misery in the Atlantic culminated when the Santiago was pounded to pieces in the surf while searching for a strait near the southern end of the South American continent. Early in June, about a month after the shipwreck of the Santiago, on the shore of San Julian, they encountered with Patagonians. They were huge, clad in a cape made of stitched animal skins. Some were allowed aboard the ships, fed with square meals, and given some gifts of combs, knives, mirrors, and rosary beads. One of them was even taught to say the words, Jesu, Pater Noster, and Ave Maria and to recite simple prayers. When he did them with gusto, he was baptized with a Christian name, Juan. When he left the ship, he was showered with more gifts of a cap, jacket, trousers, and other trinkets. The encounter with Patagonians was not all peaceful. There were skirmishes and bow-and-arrow fights on the shore when the crew attempted to capture a few. They could capture two of them, who after days of resist adapted to shipboard life. With little hope to find a passage to the west, Magellan decided to winter at Santa Cruz, where there was an abundance of fish, seals, shellfish and seabirds, which would be smoked and stored to augment the dwindling food stores.

On October 18, satisfied with the replenished food supply, Magellan ordered to weigh anchor to resume the search for a passage. The four ships resumed the southwesterly sail. Three days later, the lookouts spotted a large opening in the coast. The fleet sailed into the opening, hoping to find a way out to the opposite exit. But that took more than a month, as the seamen continued to fight storms, mountainous waves, gales, and bitter cold while searching for the exit. Inside the strait was an island named Dawson Island. Confronted by the splitting of the channel, Magellan dispatched the San Antonio to explore the waterway leading east and south. The intimidating landscape with glacier-covered mountains dominated the horizon. Gomes, an experienced pilot, seized the opportunity to escape to Spain. He convinced most of the officers in the ship, tried to convince Mesquita the captain of the ship. When he refused, a brawl erupted between the two, but Mesquita was stabbed and overpowered. Gomes the piloted the ship back through the strait and headed back to Guinea Coast and then Spain. The ship arrived in Spain on May 6, 1521 with 55 seamen aboard.

When it was all clear that the San Antonio and its crew deserted the journey, Magellan was dismayed, but still determined to finish what he had begun. Magellan again headed up the strait with the three remaining ships. Nearing the opposite end of the strait, Magellan's sailors heard the sound of booming surf. Their ears did not deceive them. They began to feel, faintly at first, but with increasing strength, the long Pacific swells rolling into the mouth of the strait. On November 28, 1520, they finally sailed into the great ocean. The ocean was spreading before them in such glorious weather, Magellan was inspired to name it "Mar Pacifico."