Evening star., 1898-09-30
Description of the Latest Revolution
in Guatemala.
IN INVASION OF MEXICAN BANDITS
Their Leader Had Hoped to Make
Himself President.
DISPERSED BY THE BRITISH
Special Correspondence Of Tie Evening Star.


TUMBADOR, Guatemala. September 5, '9s.
The annual scenic production of Guatema-
la, the only one. by the way, which at
tracts any audience in this country has
just been finished. 1t was not a success,
not having as long a run as was ex-
pected. The drama was something of a
circus. with an exhibition of clay figures
and water display combined. The trouble
with this war drama, for it was SUCH was
that the managers had not trained their
'supers' we'll The principal actor was not
equal to his part in the first place and did
not receive the support" which was ex-
pected of several leading characters. 1t
always spoils play to have introduced in
to 1t something unexpected, something
which has not been arranged for, and the
actors are apt to have a bad case of rat
ties Even If the audience is delighted
with the effect 1t is sufficient cause for the
piece to be shelved for all time. When the
unexpected something is an English gun
boat, with a full complement of officers
marines and such other properties as Max
i'm guns, 1t is certain that the stage will be
TOO small for the original production. 1t
was in this case. The leading man, the
whole company in fact. left without the
customary two weeks notice.
Ihe war drama, or perhaps it might be
better termed the opera bouffe production
was the annual revolution here. 1t began
the first Of the month. which was the
time for which it had been billed. 1t was
not known how long 1t would continue but
the English man-o' war Leander. summon
ed by the foreign residents of the port of
Ocos, which was held by the insurgents,
landed marines: her commander Capt Fe-
gan, gave the rebels fifteen minutes in
which to vacate the stage, otherwise the
port, without collecting their full share of
the box receipts They did not wait until
the quarter of an hour was over probably
tearing that the EnptShmap'c
nave fewer seconds to the minute than
thelr own The port was opened and the
stage cleared. The drama was continued
In few one-night stands with no success.
Leader of the Revolution.
Prospero Morales, with but three follow
ers, was captured by the government troops
a few miles from this place and died a
day or so afterward of meningitis" There
was no post-mortem certificate appended to
the government report sent out telling of
his death, and the cause He was the lead
er of the revolution, and, being such If IL
had been reported that his taking off was
due to the toothache, no explanation would
have been demanded.
This years revolution in Guatemala as
matter of fact, was not such. This has
always been the case previously, when the
rebellion has been carried on by residents
of Guatemala. This year it was simply an
invasion by Mexican bandits and cutthroats
of the worst description. The Guatemala
people assert that the invasion was aided
and abetted by the Mexican government
for they claim Mexico has always tried to
do the country as much harm as possible
In every previous revolution the defeated
insurgents have fed to Mexico and lived
without let or hindrance.
The election for president of the repub-
lie was to have taken place the 1st of Au-
gust, until which time the present eXecu-
tive. MANUEL Estrada Cabrera, was to serve
THAT is the way they do things down here
Inc party in power who which is the
president, Is always returned to power and
remains In possession until removed by &
bomb or gunshot, as in the case of Presi-
dent BarriOs, who was killed last year His
siX-year term would have expired August /
Of this year. The vice president Cabrera
became president and wished to hold the
job for six years more. Prospero Morales
who was minister of war under Barrios
wished also to have the place. He fled to
Mexico, and, not having supporters enough
among his own people to start the revoIu-
tion. interested the Mexicans who were
looking for any sort of trouble, by promises
of booty. Business in the looting line was
not prosperous over in Mexico, for there
are not wealthy coffee planters over there
who can be made to stand and deliver with
out Mexican troops being sent to ferre,
them out. over in Guatemala they knew
there is little fear of resistance, and when
they had tired of the fun they could sim
ply fit over the border and be good Mexi-
canos SO Morales secured a following
He knew there little show of success,
but hoped to make a lucky coup which
might bring things his way Such a thing
as English marines appearing on the stage
at a to him inopportune moment never en-
tered his mind.
nr