The record-union., 1898-02-10
No Details Of the Killing or By When the
Crime Was Committed.
Vice-Presidcnt Manuel Estrada Ca
brera Assumes the Reins OF
Government-Prosp Morales,
Leader of the Insurgents, Dis
claims All knowledge Of the As
sassination.

AflSd, the dudIefnaia Minister TO the
United States, this afternoon received an
official cablegram from the Minister
Of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala. an
nouncing the assassination of President
Barrios and the succession to the Pres
idency of Vice-President Manuel Es
trada Cabrera. No details whatever
were given
The dispatch came from Guatemala
City, the Capital, where President Bar
rios has lived and the Government de-
partments are carried on. II added that
entire calm prevailed.
This last assurance, coupled with the
immediate succession of the First Vice
President, in accordance with the
methods OF the country, is a special
source Of qualification to the Guatema-
Ian officials here, and TO some extent al
leviates the shock with which they re-
ceived the news of the tragedy.
The relations between the late Pres
ident and the Guatemalan Minister at
Washington, Senior Lazo Arriga We're
much more than of an official character.
They We're close friends, and the death
of the President at the hands of an as
sassin comes as a personal bereavement
to the Minister. Senor Arriga said
Senor Barrios was a man of wide attain
ments and marked executive ability. He
was ~ years of age. The six-year term
OF service for which he was elected ter
inmates March 10Th next, but the Ma
tiOnal Congressional Assembly had al
ready extended this term for further
four years.
The new President. Mr.. Cabrera, is
man of prominence in Guatemala, and
is one of two chosen by the Congress
to fill the Presidency in case of a va
cancy. The system of the country is
different from that in the United States,
there being no Vice-President elected
with the President. The duty of filing
the executive chair devolves upon the
Congr essional branches. Accordingly
two Presidents, First and Second
Nice-Presidents, We're selected some
time ago. When the excitement of the
tragedy has passed a Presidential cleo
ton may be held.
THE DEAD PRESIDENT
NEW YORK, Feb. General D.
jose Ma Reyna Barrios, President of the
Republic of Guatemala, was born in
San. Marcos in 1893. He was a nephew
of the former President. Justo Rufino
Barrios, who was killed in 1885. The
General was educated abroad, and af-
ter his collegiate course he made trip
around the world. In his ideas he was
always liberal, and when the Conserva-
tive party was ousted he was a close ad-
herent to his uncle's principles. In the
ensuing war of federation, the purpose
of which was the unification of the Cen
trail American States the General was
placed in command of Il division of the
Liberal troops.
During the war of 1885, when his un-
Gle, the President, was killed, the Gen
eral succeeded him as commander of the
forces. Later on, when President Barii
las was in control, he banished the
young General from Guatemala. and he
went direct TO California, residing in
San Francisco for about year
Nine years ago General Barrios was
Consul in Hamburg, Germany. In 1892
he succeeded Barillas as President his
term of office (six years. expiring on
March of this year. Last June he pub
licly declared himself Dictator of Qua
temala. His partisans say that under
his administration the country pros
pered and developed extensively.
THE NEWS AT SAN FRANCISCO.
SAN FRANCISCO Feb 9.-The news
of the ASSASSINATION of President Jose
Maria Reyna Barrios of Guatemala Gre
ated considerable excitement in this
city to-day, as both the murdered Pres
ident and his wife were well known
here, and also because a number Of San
Francisco merchants have extensive in
terests in that Republic
To the little colony of refugees who
fled from Guatemala some months ago
and located in this cit.' to escape the
rath of the dictator, the announce
ment was not surprising. as the insur-
gents threatened some time ago to kill
Barrios before the expiration Of his
term on March 10TH.
At the time of his election to the
Presidency, Barrios was residing tenn
porarly in this city. and during their
years residence here he and his wife.
an American lady whom he married in
New Orleans. made many stanch
friends. Mrs. Barrios was in San Fran
cisco also when her husband proclaimed
himself dictator in June last. ostensibly
en- route to Europe. but she did not
cross the Atlantic. and soon after the
news OF his proclamation had been re-
ceived here she returned to Guatemala
Private dispatches We're received here
to-day from Prospero Morales. formerly
leader of the insurgents in Guatemala
TO the effect that he was Ell route to this
city. He had been informed Of the
death Of Barrios, but disclaimed all
knowledge of the assassination.
ANNETTE ISLAND LANDS.