The San Francisco call., 1898-02-04
THOUSANDS OF REBELS
 IN MEXICO Guatemalans w aitinq for a Good Chance
 at Barrios. Rifles and Cannon Suff1- cient to Equip a Strong
 Army. Story of an American Carpen- ter Who Recently Made
 His Escape.
SIX WEEKS IN A DUNGEON.
John F. Conway Says the Revolution Down There Has Only Just
 Begun

The most thrilling story of the hor- TOTS of a Central American revolution that has yet reached this city comes from John F. Conway, an American carpenter, who recently succeeded in escaping from Guatemala and made his way to home and friends in spite Of the efforts of desperate Guatemalans to take his life before he succeeded in communicating his kno wledge to the world.
 Conway's life was in constant danger for months up to the time the steamer on which he sailed was in blue water and beyond reach of the Guatemalans, and though he lost his all at the hands of the savage natives he vows never 10 return, but to take his chances here after beneath the protection of the Stars and Stripes
 He tells of American Consuls who admitted their inability to save those they are paid to protect from degrada- ton and death, and of American citi- Zens disowning their country and claiming to be English in order to save themselves from further imprisonment or ignominious death from rife bull let
 The most important part of his story, however, does not relate to what has passed, but more to what may be eX- pected in the near future. According to his story the rebellion started by Gen eral Manuel FuenteS- -Barrios, brother in-law of the present dictator of Qua temala, is in it's incipiency and must inevitably end in the defeat of the self constituted president. He tells of thou sands of stands of small arms, thou sands of eager revolutionists, rapid fire and Calling guns and competent leaders collected across the Mexican border and only awaiting an oppor- tunity to swoop across the boundary and drive BarrioS from the soil he has uSurped.
 NO one has any idea of the horrors of a Central American revolution un- less they go through the actual expe- rience as I did during the last three months" said Conway.
 T left San Francisco, which Is my home, two years ago on the promise of receiving large wages at my trade in the cities and plantations of Guatemala I wound up in a Guatemalan jail as political suspect, and in the end be- came a revolutionist, more to get re- venge on those who had wronged me than for any other reason. Guatemala has been and is now hotbed of reyo-
 
 have been there can understand
 "The revolution which is now smoldering started in San Marcos, the home of Manuel Fuentes-Barrios, the brother-in-law of the President, and that accomplished scoundrel at once assumed the leadership of the reyolu- tionary forces which consisted of few thousand assorted peons and coffee pickers, most of them well armed. but the large majority ignorant of the workings and uses of the modern rifle.
 From San Marcos to QueZaltenango is only a short distance, and when his standard was raised Fuentes-Barrios at once made for that place. knowing that the cathedral there was rich and that large tribute could be levied Ii the place could be captured. At that time Juan Aparicio and sixteen other wealthy Spaniards, who were suspect ed of having aided the revolution with money and men, were in Jail at Que zaItenango, and word was sent to Fuentes- -Barrios that if he fired sin gle shot on the town there would be bullet put through Aparicio's heart
 'He fired on the town from the Sur- rounding heights, and Aparicio, who was a brother of the wealthy Aparicios of New York. was taken out in front of the cathedral with his sixteen com panions and shot to death.
 "The man who slew him, an officer of the Government troops. met with speedy retribution. for as soon as the news of Aparicio's death reached his vast estates his superintendent, Fer mine Piales, armed himself, and, hunt ing down the assassin of his employer shot him dead after explaining his reason for committing the act. Piales followed Fuentes-Barrios into Mexico with the intention of killing him also. but the willy ex-rebel had made good his escape to San Francisco before his implacable foe could reach him.
 Once in possession of Quezaltenango Fuentes- -Barrios began preparations for taking everything in sight The venerable Bishop who had charge of the cathedral was told he must pro- duce $50. 1000 within twelve hours, and when he stated that such a thing was impossible he was taken out to the place where Aparicio was executed, and a file of soldiers with loaded and cooked rifles lined up in front of him. In this position he was given the high wayman's old alternative, money or your life
 Forty thousand dollars was the amount he succeeded in getting and he was given an additional two hours to get the remainder. He must have suc- ceeded, for he was not shot.
 There was reign of terror in Quezaltenango while Fuentes- -Barrios and his men were there. As the reyo- futionists marched into town after driving out the handful of Government troops they saw gang of American carpenters working on the Govern ment hospital building. In pure want onness the rebels began firing on them. and before they could escape Jack Aul and Patrick OShaughnessy, the two San Francisco carpenters. were killed.
 There was nothing to stop Fuentes- Barrios had he chosen to advance. but he was not in mood to go ahead until he had cared for his treasure He sent 13S mules loaded with silver across the Mexican border and when the Gov ernment army arrived retired and left the country. footing Las Mercedes of $5000 as he went
 When I reached Quezaltenango on my way to the outer world I found Jack Cummings. a San Francisco plumber; Dr. Bragg. an EnRlishman: