Volume 1 Number 6
November 25, 1996
ON EASTER ISLAND:
The Argentine ship, Presidente Sarmiento was the first to arrive to the scene, but found only two inflatable lifeboats with six of the crew on board, and hundreds of objects from the cargo floating in the vicinity. All of the rescued crew exhibited degrees of hypothermia.
The rescue ship remained in the area all day looking for the three missing crewmen. Also assisting in the search was a naval plane which observed floating cargo that included tanks of propane destined for the Island, wood, and two more lifeboats.
The Praga, built in Norway in 1960, has flown a Chilean flag since November of last year, and was acquired by Roberto Pena of Rancagua (Chile) and his Rapanui wife, Florencia Araki, to establish regular cargo service from the continent to the island. They had received a bank loan of US$ 150,000, but before then had rented it three times to carry cargo. Previously, islanders received only two shipments a year, and on occasions this led to problems of supply.
Included in the 263 tons of cargo (none of which was insured) was one vehicle. Pena has lived on the island for 23 years and owns a supermarket. Last month he said that they were about to test the market on the continent by shipping pineapples, avocados and bananas when these were out of season on the continent. He had been planning to change the ship's name to Rapa Nui 1.
- - El Mercurio de Santiago, 15 September 1996
- -El Mercurio de Valparaiso, 22 October 1996
At that time, Merlot and Company had a concession on the island and had ordered cargo from France which was being brought by the Apolline Emilie. Fourteen crew members survived, including three Germans, ten Chileans and an Italian, Rafael Cardinali. Ten others were lost in the shipwreck including the German captain and the pilot. Cardinali, who was born in Tuscany in 1873, elected to remain on the island. The rest of the shipwrecked crew were transported to Valparaiso on the Chilean boat Marjia Luisa. Cardinali ended up working for the Merlot company and became integrated into the island community.
Camillo Branchi, the head of L'Italia, a newspaper from Valparaiso, visited Rapa Nui in 1933 and contacted Cardinali who showed him his house from which flew an Italian flag. Cardinali had a daughter, Maria Angela Carmen, who was born in 1918. The Rapanui knew her as Carmela Pakomio. She married Alberto Paoa and had 3 sons and 4 daughters. After becoming a widow, she remarried and had four other children.
Alberto, the eldest, was born in 1933. He was a giant of 2 meters and resembled his grandfather with light skin, blond hair and green eyes. At age 23, he--together with seven other islanders--organized a tragic adventure: they attempted to reach Tahiti in a small boat. They were never heard from again.
A great friend of Padre Englert, Cardinali lived his last years in poor health. He was buried in the island cemetery, wrapped in the Italian flag as was his wish. The poet Guido Bonetta, of La Calera, exalted him in a poem. The name of the illustrious Tuscan was extinguished as he had no surviving sons but his descendants recognized him after his death. Samuel Cardinali, a former mayor of the island, as well as other members of the family, bear his name with pride.
- -El Mercurio de Valparaiso, August 1996
A port at La Perouse could receive boats of 1,000 tons at all times of the year. In actuality, the island needs an artificial port from which to receive cargo. The procedure today is to unload at Hanga Piko which only accommodates small cargo carriers. According to Minister Lagos, during the year activities are suspended for 150 days owing to the strength of the predominate northwest winds. In practical terms, this situation lasts from May to October, which means that cargo can be unloaded only in March and December. An additional element is that if this port is built, cargo from the island such as bananas and pineapple can be exported cheaply to the continent.
Equally, the preliminary estimates made by the Direction de Obras Portuarias states that cruise ships such as the Europa and Maxim Gorky could can unload passengers more safely than they now can at Hanga Piko.
The theme of the port for the island has been planned by diverse authorities as an initiative destined to be resolve problems and aid in the unloading of cargo, passengers and provide a safe harbor for fishing boats, factory ships and Navy ships.
Strong arguments against the port at La Perouse are the impacts on the environment and the certain destruction of archaeological sites. Despite these potential impacts, La Perouse continues to be the front runner for a port.
Twelve sites around the island have been studied for many years; these are, on the northwest coast, Punta Ana, Hanga Roa, Papa Haoa, Hanga Piko, and Mataveri Otai; on the south coast, Vinapu, Vaihu and Hotu Iti, and in the northeast coast, Anakena, Ovahe, La Perouse and Taha Roa.
- - El Mercurio de Valparaiso, 8 September 1996
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