Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1889-02-08
SCENES In CENTRAL AMERICA.
Among the Catacombs of Guatemala
For the GRAPHIC
CRY OF GUATEMALA, G. A. !
IAN = go

The old church Of San Francisco
is the most beautiful structure in
Central America, and beneath it
are seen some of the most dark
and dreary catacombs that per-
haps exist in any of the Spanish
American countries.
Having secured permit and
guide, we entered the old church
and turned aside, passed into a
small chapel and out into small
back yard partly occupied by old
trumpery, and inclosed by walls
about thirty feet high. From here
we descended long winding stone
stairway, and at the bottom we
entered an old iron bound door,
which seemingly, had not done
service since the last century. On
entering this our widest fancles
concerning catacombs were rea-
lized at first view. Before US there
were long tunnels; with others
extending from either side; these
in turn opened in the dark side
rooms, the walls of which were
set with shelves, upon which
hundreds of collins and old worm
eaten boxes were piled one above
the other, and all contained the re-
mains Of known and remembered,
CT unknown and forgotten dead.
Except in the main entrance we
could only grope among these
ghastly piles by means of candles,
but in places a candle would not
burn and what these places con
talned is, to us, unknown. In some
dungeon cell like places the floor
and shelves were covered with
bones, grave clothes and pieces of
the coffins all cast about in con-
fused heaps.
In other places we found old
boxes, disused vestments and
relics of the deceased whose names
and record have gone forever into
oblivion Every nook, corner and
unoccupied space was filled with
old cast-away cofiins, church fu nj
ture, broken grave stones, sacred
images OF patron saints, virgins
and old paintings, the names and
features OF which were hid be-
meath the mould and dust of per
haps more than a century. In
some very hard wood, but badly
worm eaten, chests we found
Crucifix, prayer beads, scapulars,
santors, mass-books with stole
and tunic, that the dead priests
used and wore. Here too were
old writings written by the sub
jects of Spanish Kings during the
Spanish occupancy. The mass
books were printed mole than a
century ago, and the language was
far more latin ttan is the modern
spanish, besides the raw-hide
sheep and calf skin binding tell of
the progress in book-making since
then. Thus after rummaging
among heaps of forgotten things
for nearly a day; we retired to
another dark dungeon where the
scent of foul air and the awful
silence and darkness was any
thing but pleasant.
The candles on entering began
to burn with sickley yellow light
and soon all our lights went out
leaving US in deep darkness among
the dead. But as yet we had
learned nothing Of our quarters.
Under Prof. butcher we learned
that foul air sinks to the lowest
level where it exists; SO we held
our candles high and re-lighted
them and all went well. Just be-
fore me, only about ten feet away,
an open coffin lay with dried
corpse within. There, with folded
hands and fearfully shriveled face
it lay.
We have but little faith in the
fears that haunt the night, or the
ghosts that guard graves or ghouls
that feed upon the dead; but just !
here we felt as if reproVed by the |
lorrid aspect before US. 1t seemed |
the realization of the awful things
children see in their dreams which
so often wake them up in spasms.
As our guide caught a glimpse
If it he remarked "Aya Maria que
Holy Mary how fright
,ull Examining this subject
more closely, we found it wound
n linnen bandages and the whole
.lothed in the garb of priest.
The form even to the skin and
part of the hair OF the head was
Iuite perfect in preservation. Re-
moving this coffin We found two
ther remains; also equally well
even to the gold cords
astening the Stole.
From here we retired after
pending day in these dreary ,
We felt pleased with !
ur researches, but left with no !
pecial desire to pass another day .
4 darkness with the dead. !