Frank Parish to Dr. Don Antonio Malaver, January 11, 1872

Tandil Massacre.

Sir: I regret to have learned through private sources, as well as through the miscellaneous and official accounts which have been published, of the horrible massacre of foreigners which has been perpetrated by some bands of Gauchos near the Tandil, that among the unfortunate victims were two British subjects, Mr. Gibson Smith and his young wife, to whom he had been very recently married, the painful nature of whose case contributes, if possible, additional horror to this terrible drama.

In connection therewith, I feel it my duty to address your excellency, relying upon your excellency being able to afford me some official information as to the origin and nature of the circumstances through which the lives of these unfortunate persons have been sacrificed.

At the same time I cannot but give utterance to the general feeling of anxiety experienced by my countrymen, on a par with other foreigners settled in the distant parts of this province, respecting the insecurity of their position, and the constant exposure of life to which they are subject from the number of outlaws and criminals who roam with impunity throughout the country.

Conscious, as I am, that your excellency’s government must be fully alive to the dangerous results of the repetition of crimes such as cannot but infuse terror throughout the whole country, I feel that any official instigation on my part would be unnecessary to induce your excellency’s government to adopt such measures as will insure the speedy and condign punishment of those who have committed these acts of savage cruelty, as without some severe example there can be no assurance that the lives of unoffending persons will not remain exposed to the attacks of ignorant and unrestrained bands of malefactors.

I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,