THE HISTORY OF REBEL PATAGONIA

IN 1921, IN ARGENTINE PATAGONIA, AROUND 1500 STRIKERS WERE

SHOT BY THE ARGENTINE ARMY IN THE EVENTS OF TRAGIC PATAGONIA OR
PATAGONIA REVELDE
ONE OF THE CHAPTERS OF THE FIRST PRESIDENCY OF IRIGOYEN THAT CANNOT BE
OVERLOOKING THE EVENTS OF PATAGONIA WHOSE FULL EXPLANATION WAS NOT AND IS NOT EASY BECAUSE OF THE
INTERESTS THAT WERE AT STAKE AND THAT PRESSED FROM THE BIG PRESS AND FROM THE GOVERNMENT SPHERES MAYBE
WITHOUT AWARENESS OF THE FINAL CONSEQUENCES. IN 1920 IN THE FULL POST-WAR, THE PRICE OF ARGENTINE WOOL, LIKE
THAT OF THE WORLDWIDE, BEGAN TO FALL TO A THIRD OF ITS VALUE AT WHICH IT WAS LOCATED AT NORMAL LEVELS OF NON-
WARM TIMES, THIS PROCESS CAUSED A FALL IN GLOBAL DEMAND. GREAT CRISIS FOR THE FARMERS THAT EXPLOITED THE
PATAGONIAN SOIL THROUGH LIVESTOCK BREEDING. THE SITUATION OF ARRIEROS OR LIGHT WORKERS OF THE PATAGONIAN
STAYS WAS PENOUS AND ALIEN TO EVERYTHING, IN PART THEY WORKED FROM 12 TO 15 HOURS DAILY AND THE WAGES WERE
LOOSE AND MANY TIMES PAID IN DOCUMENTS IN FOREIGN CASH IN FOREIGN CASH .
PATAGONIA REVELDE FRAGMENT. "WE WANT TO ACHIEVE THE FIRST AGREEMENT OF
RURAL WORKERS TO KEEP ASKING THEM LIKE BEASTS
AND THAT THE PATTERN WILL BE PRESENTED, THEN DIEGO CONDITIONS
FIRST THAT THE CABINS ARE ABOLISHED, SECOND IN EACH HOUSE OF PEONS
THERE WILL BE A LAVATORY FOR HYGIENE TO WASH, THIRD THE LIGHT WILL BE BY THE EMPLOYER A PACKAGE OF CANDLES
MONTHLY FOR EACH WORKER, EACH ROOM WILL HAVE A BOTIQUE WITH INSTRUCTIONS IN SPANISH AND NOT IN ENGLISH
FIFTH MINIMUM SALARY FOR SHEEP CAMPAIGNERS AND ARREADORES
IT IS ALWAYS FAIR, NOT WHAT IS PAID NOW, SIXTH TO PROMOTE THE INCREASE OF THE POPULATION, PREFERENCE WILL BE
GIVEN TO PEONS WITH FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
AND NOT AS NOW THAT ONLY THE SINGLES WERE COUNTED, THE SEVENTH STAFF SHOULD RECOGNIZE AS THE SOLE
REPRESENTATIVE ORGANISM OF THE WORKERS THE WORKERS FEDERATION OF VARIOUS CRAFTS OF RÍO GALLEGOS ADHERED
TO THE FORA, THAT IS ALL
THE SPECIFICATIONS WAS REJECTED BY THE RURAL SOCIETY INCLUDING A SUBSEQUENT ONE WITH
LESS CONDITIONS, THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES RESPONDED TO THE ORDERS AND
WISHES OF THE GREAT LATIFUNDISTAS AND THEY DEPENDED ON THEM MORE THAN ON THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT ITSELF,
IN 1918 RÍO GALLEGOS WAS FOUNDED IN 1918 A MISCELLANEOUS WORKERS 'SOCIETY THAT MANAGED TO SET UP A SMALL
PRINTING SCHOOL AND PUBLISHED ITS FIRST NEWSPAPER ON THE FIRST NEWSPAPER OF MAY. THE STAYS WERE DELEGATED TO
THE FIELD FROM RÍO GALLEGOS AND THE LABOR LITERATURE BEGAN TO DISSEMINATE TO ENCOURAGE THE LABOR
ORGANIZATION. ONCE AGAIN THE COMPANY WAS CLOSED AND ITS MEMBERS AND OFFICERS IMPRISONED.
FOR THE FIRST OF OCTOBER OF THAT YEAR AN ACT AT THE END OF
REMEMBER THE LIFE AND WORK OF FRANCISCO FERRER EXECUTED IN BARCELONA- IN 1909
PASSIONATE ADVOCATE OF EDUCATION, THE POLICE PROHIBITED THE ACT WHEN ALREADY
THE PREPARATIONS WERE MADE AND THEN AS AN ACT OF PROTEST
DECLARED A GENERAL STRIKE FOR 48 HOURS, THE SECRETARY OF THE
THE COMPANY AND THE SAME PREMISES CLOSED UNTIL A LEGAL JUDGE REVOKED THE DECISION AND GAVE AUTHORIZATION
TO CELEBRATE THE PROJECTED ACTS WITH WHICH THE OCTOBER 2 STRIKE WAS ENDED. TO COUNTER THE GROWING
INFLUENCE OF THE LABOR SOCIETY OF RÍO GALLEGOS, THE LEAGUE OF LARGE TRADERS AND LATIFUNDISTS WAS FORMED,
WHICH WITH THE RURAL SOCIETY INITIATED AN OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE LABOR ORGANIZATION. WORKERS IN THE SEPTEMBER
PROTESTS STRIKE AGAINST THE
EXCESS OF POLICE AUTHORITIES, FOR ITS PART THE WORKERS 'SOCIETY DECLARED
BOYCOTT AGAINST THE THREE TRADERS OF THE LEAGUE IN RETALIATION FOR THE BOYCOTT MENTIONED TO THE NEWSPAPER,
THEN THEY WANTED TO GATHER THE WORKERS AND THE AFFECTED TRADERS TO THE POLICE STATION TO IMPOSE AN
ARRANGEMENT IN ANY WAY. THE WORKERS REFUSED TO SPONTANEOUSLY GO TO THE
CITATION OF THE COMMISSIONER AND THEY WERE DETAINED AND HOSTED IN JAIL, THEN
THEY WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE ACTING GOVERNOR FOR DEPORTATION.
THE WORKING SOCIETY THEN ADDRESSED THE WORKERS IN THE FIELD WITH A
COMMUNICATION: THE POLICE HAS ARRESTED A GROUP OF WORKERS WHO REFUSED TO RELEASE OTHERWISE DESPITE IT IS
ORDERED BY MR. LEAVE YOUR JOB AND COME TO THE CAPITAL AS AN ACT OF SOLIDARITY AND UNTIL OUR COMPANIONS
RECEIVE THEIR FREEDOM. THE MANIFESTO IS DATED ON OCTOBER 21, 1920, ON THE 30 OF THAT MONTH EIGHT OF THE
ARRESTED WERE RELEASED BUT STILL REMAINED TWO MORE WHO HAD BEEN ABUSED AND AS THEY WERE NOT RECOVERED IN
THEIR FREEDOM THE STRIKE WOULD CONTINUE. OBREROS DE LAS ESTANCIAS BEGAN TO ARRIVE IN RÍO GALLEGOS,
RESPONDING TO THE WORKERS 'SOCIETY REQUEST FOR SOLIDARITY, OF THE LABOR COMPANY, IN THE OPPORTUNITY OF A
GOOD NUMBER TO FIND A GOOD NUMBER, A DOCUMENT OF CONDITIONS WAS DRAWN UP TO RESUME WORK AND IT WAS
PRESENTED TO THE ESTANCIERS IN THE AREA. A SERIOUS CRISIS WAS IN THE MARKETING OF WOOL AND THE LANDLORDS
REFUSED THE ADMISSION OF THE CONDITIONS CLAIMED BY THEIR WORKERS. WORKERS IN THE LAKE ARGENTINO AREA AFRAID
BY THE POLICE TROUBLES RESOLVED TO GROUP AND START TO SEARCH FOR PROTECTION IN RÍO GALLEGOS, IN THE PLACE
CALLED EL CERRITO THEY WERE TAKEN BY LAKE AND THE ARGENTINE POLICE FOLLOWED BY LAGO LES. HE STARTED TO MEET
FROM THE GALLEGOS RIVER. THOSE WHO HAD WEAPONS RESPONDED AND BOTH PARTIES WERE DEAD AND INJURED. FACTS OF
THIS
NATURE ENCOURAGED THE CAMPAIGN THAT HAD BEEN MADE FOR A FEW MONTHS AGAIN BY THE MAJOR PRESS OF THE
COUNTRY WHICH FILLED THE PAGES DAILY ON THE SOUTHERN BANNERS, A NAME WITH WHICH THEY WANTED TO COVER THE
CLAIMS OF THE PATAGONIAN WORKERS. THE STRIKERS UNDERSTOOD THAT THEY HAD NO MORE DEFENSE THAN THEY COULD
ARTICULATE THEMSELVES. IT WAS THEN WHEN THE PRESIDENT OF IRIGOYEN RESOLVED TO SEND COLONEL HÉCTOR VARELA IN
JANUARY 1921 TO PATAGONIA WITH FORCE OF CAVALRY AND SAILORSHIP. THE SOCIEDAD OBRERA DE RÍO GALLEGOS
PUBLISHED MANIFESTS SHOWING THE CONFIDENCE WITH WHICH THEY RECEIVED THE NATIONAL TROOPS. ON JANUARY 16, A
MANIFESTO SAID TO THE PEOPLE AND THE WORKERS "THE ARRIVAL OF THE ARMY AND NAVY FORCES RETURNS US TO
TRANQUILITY AND THE GUARANTEES THAT THE POLICE ATTACKS HAVE REMOVED US TODAY WE ARE SECURED OF OUR
CITIZENS. TO BE RESPECTED BY THE PRESENCE OF THESE FORCES AND THEREFORE, WE HAVE MAINTAINED THE DECREATED
STOP WITH MORE ENERGY THAN TO DATE ”. IN MID-FEBRUARY 1921, NEW GOVERNOR IGNACIO ISA RETIRED ENGINEER
CAPTAIN ARRIVES. LIEUTENANT COLONEL VARELA'S TROOP DISEMBARKED IN PUERTO SANTA CRUZ BUT ON WARNING THAT
THE AXIS OF THE MOVEMENT WAS IN RÍO GALLEGOS, IT WAS MOVED TO THAT CITY. THE NEW GOVERNOR COMMUNICATED TO
VARELA THAT THE DISSOLUTION SHOULD BE PEACEFUL AND THAT IT SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT BOTH THE RIGHTS OF THE
EMPLOYERS AND THE RIGHTS OF THE STRIKERS. THESE CONDITIONS WERE IMPOSED ON THE WORKERS: DEPOSITION OF
WEAPONS AND DELIVERY OF HOSTAGES. ACCEPTED UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, THE WAY IN WHICH THE RESUME OF WORK
WOULD BE DISCUSSED. THE DELEGATES OF THE CAMP WERE TO TELL THEIR COMPANIONS OF THE POSITIONS OFFERED, THE
GREAT MAJORITY SOME 550 STRIKERS VOTED IN FAVOR AND A MINORITY WITH SOME DISTRUST OPTED TO WALK AWAY TO
THE CORDILLERA. PATAGONIA REVELDE FRAGMENT: "45 DAYS OF STRIKE, WE WON AND NOW THEY WANT US TO EXCHANGE
WEAPONS FOR A PAPER"
BEFORE THE TROOPS RETURN TO BUENOS AIRES, AN ASSEMBLY WAS HELD WHICH GATHERED HACENDADOS WITH THE
PRESENCE OF THE BRAND NEW GOVERNOR ISA. THERE THE ESTANCIERS APPROVE A NEW SPECIFICATIONS AND ELECT THE
GOVERNOR HIMSELF AS ARBITRATOR OF THE CONFLICT. THE TROOPS FINALLY RETURNED TO BUENOS AIRES IN MAY 1921.
THE TROOPS JUST LEFT THE SOUTH OF PATAGONIA, STRENGTHENED THE LABOR MOVEMENT BY THE EVENTS AND THEIR
DISMISSAL, THE EMPLOYER REACTION OF THE SOUTH PORTS AND IN THE INTERIOR STAYS BEGAN. THE POLICE WAS
REINFORCED BY THE SO-CALLED ARMED WHITE GUARDS WHO WORKED WITH PERFECT AUTONOMY FROM THE NATIONAL
AUTHORITIES. A WORKERS 'DEMONSTRATION FROM THE GALLEGOS RIVER WAS IMPROVISO ATTACKED, LEAVING A
DEAD AND FOUR INJURED AS A BALANCE. THE PORTS OF DESEADO, SANTA CRUZ, SAN JULIÁN AND RÍO GALLEGOS WERE
STOPPED IN AUGUST DUE TO A GENERAL STRIKE. THE STAYS STOPPED, HOSTAGES WERE TAKEN, A PANIC SPREAD
THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY AND THE GOVERNMENT HELP WAS REQUESTED TO FACE THE DANGER REPRESENTED BY THE
NEW TACTICS USED BY THE WORKERS. THE AMBASSADORS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND THE US PRESSED THE GOVERNMENT TO
TAKE MEASURES IN DEFENSE OF THEIR INTERESTS IN THE SOUTH. IRIGOYEN SOLVED THEN THE SENDING OF CAVALRY TROOPS
TO THE SOUTH. AGAIN VARELA ARRIVED IN PATAGONIA AND DICTED A NOTICE ON AN ACCOUNT AND SIGNED IT, PUTTING THE
TERRITORY OF SANTA CRUZ- ON THE FOOT OF WAR. HE DID NOT RECEIVE PRECISE INSTRUCTIONS ONLY THAT HE SHOULD
FULFILL HIS DUTY AND PACIFY THE SOUTHERN TERRITORIES.
THE NOTIFICATION THAT HE DICTATED SAID: "IF YOU AGREE TO UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMIT AT THIS MOMENT BY HANDING ME
THE PRISONERS OF ALL THE HORSES THAT HAVE IN YOUR POWER BY PRESENTING YOURSELF WITH YOUR WEAPONS, I WILL GIVE
YOU A FULL KIND OF GUARANTEES. WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO AGAINST THE AUTHORITIES AS WELL AS ADDRESSING THE
LIVING SITUATIONS FOR WORKERS IN GENERAL. IF WITHIN 24 HOURS OF RECEIPT BY YOU THIS COMMUNICATION I DO NOT
RECEIVE ANSWER THAT YOU ACCEPT THE UNCONDITIONAL PERFORMANCE OF ALL THE STRIKERS RAISED IN WEAPONS, I WILL
FIRST SUBMIT THEM BY FORCE ORDERING THE OFFICIALS OF THE EROJES TO MAKE THE OFFICIALS OF THE EROJES TO MAKE THE
OFFICIALS OF THE EROJES TO MAKE THE OFFICIALS OF THE EROJES THEY CONSIDER ENEMIES OF THE COUNTRY IN WHICH THEY
LIVE, SECOND, TO MAKE THE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LIFE OF EACH OF THE PEOPLE WHO AT THESE MOMENTS KEEP WITH YOU
BY FORCE IN THE FORM OF PRISONERS AS WELL AS IN THE DISABILITIES THAT MAY OCCUR IN THE POVERTY THAT COULD OCCUR
THOSE THAT WILL HEREBY OCCUPY, THIRDLY, EVERY PERSON WHO ENCOUNTERS WITH WEAPONS IN THE
HAND AND DOES NOT HAVE A WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION SIGNED BY THE SUBSCRIBER WILL BE SEVERELY PUNISHED, FOURTH
ONE WHO FIRES A SHOT AGAINST THE TROOPS WILL BE SHOT WHERE HE IS FOUND, FIFTH IF TO SUBMIT THEM IT IS NECESSARY
TO USE THEM ONCE PER PARTY IN COMBAT THERE WILL BE NO PARLIAMENT OR SUSPENSION OF HOSTILITIES "
ON NOVEMBER 22, VARELA MADE A NEW COMMUNICATION IN PRINTING THAT SAID: “THOSE WHO WILL NOT SURRIVE
THEMSELVES AT THE FIRST INTIMATION OF THE MILITARY FORCES OR WERE SURPRISED BY THESE WITH WEAPONS IN AN
ATTITUDE OF RESISTANCE”. THE EVENTS OF PASO IBÁÑEZ TODAY, KNOWN AS COMMANDER PIEDRABUENA, WHERE A COLUMN
OF 900 STRIKERS ARRIVED AND OCCUPIED A VILLAGE, REMAINED IN MEMORY. THEY WANTED TO TALK TO VARELA AND THEY
SENT EMISSARIES FOR THIS PURPOSE, IT WAS ANSWERED THAT THEY MUST SURRENDER UNCONDITIONALLY WITHIN THREE
HOURS OR THEY WOULD BE SUBMITTED BY FORCE AND PASSED BY ARMS. WITHOUT GUARANTEE THE STRIKERS DELIVERED THE
HOSTAGES AND FLEE TOWARDS RÍO CHICO AND TO THE ESTANCIA DE BELLAVISTA. ONE OF THE AVENDAÑO OFFICERS
PROBABLY SURRENDERED HIMSELF WITH A VIEW TO NEGOTIATING THE SURRENDER AND HE WAS SHOT IN RÍO CHICO, THEN
THOSE WHO WENT TO CAÑADÓN LEÓN WERE PURSUED AND 480 STRIKERS, FOUR THOUSAND HORSES, TWO HUNDRED AND
NINETY EIGHT WEAPONS OF ALL KINDS AND CALIBER AND FORTY-NINE REVOLVERS, WERE TAKEN. MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE
WHO HAD SURRENDERED WITHOUT COMBAT WERE EXECUTED AFTER CAÑADÓN LEÓN WHERE THE ESTANCIA DE BELLAVISTA
VARELA WAS GOING TOWARDS THE ARGENTINE LAKE WHERE THE ANBRITA TAKEN THE STANDS OF THE 80S WITHOUT
RUNNING THE ANBRITA IN WHICH 500 GOT THE 80S OF THE ANBRITA KILLED. ESTANCIEROS, ESTANCIEROS DE ESTANCIES,
MANAGERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND POLICE OFFICERS. UNDERSTANDING THE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED AND THE METHODS OF
MILITARY REPRESSION, THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO RESISTANCE AT THE TEHUELCHES STATION, WHERE TWO SOLDIERS WERE
INJURED AND SEVERAL LEADERS OF THE STRIKE JOSÉ FONT AND JOSÉ PUEHUELO, JOSÉ FONTRE, AND TEHUELCHO, FONT, JOSÉ
FONTRE, AND TEHUELCHO STRIKE FELL IN OTHER TEHUELCHES FULLY ANNIHILATED. HUNDREDS OF WORKERS WERE ARRESTED,
PULLED AND RECLUISHED IN DANTESC DEPOSITS WITHOUT THE LOWEST FORM OF PROCESS, OF THEM WHO WERE CHOSEN
WHO THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMPANIES WERE APPOINTED AND TAKEN THE FIELD TO SHOOT THEM. SOME WERE
DONE THEIR OWN GRAVE AND THEN THE BODIES WERE INCINERATED. MANY WHO DID NOT APPROVE THOSE METHODS TO
RESOLVE LABOR DISPUTES SHUT UP AND KEPT SILENCE BUT THAT DID NOT PREVENT A CONDEMNATORY SENTENCE ALSO IN
THE RADICAL CIRCLES OF THE GOVERNMENT SPHERES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. VARELA RETURNED TO GOOD
AIRES LEAVING 200 MEN IN THE PLACE. TWO YEARS AFTER THE EVENTS THE
LIEUTENANT COLONEL WAS KILLED BY THE BROTHER OF ONE OF THOSE WHO SHOT
DECLARED TO HAVE DONE IT TO AVENGE HIS MURDERED COMPANIONS, SUCH WAS THE
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE FACTS THAT ARE REMEMBERED UP TO A HUNDRED YEARS LATER.