The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-28
STRANGE STORY DENIED
THREE HUNDRED CHILDREN NOT
KILLED In GUATEMALA.
Minister Cabral's Explanation of an
Been GrOtesqueIy Twisted.

CITY OF MEXICO. March 27.-President
Diaz to-day received at the hall OF the am
bassadors the new minister from Guate-
mala, Manuel Cabral, distinguished law
yer and statesman of that country. The
new minister made an excellent impression
at the ceremony, which is always an inter-
esting one. Minister Cabral was inter-
viewed in regard to the extraordinary story
which has been published by FL Porvenir.
a newspaper of Cartagena, Republic of Co
lombia. Ell Porvenir states that a festival
was organized in Guatemala I'm honor of
the termination of the scholastic year in
the public schools; that temporary struc-
ture was erected on the grounds represent
ing the temple of science, in the center OF
which was a platform with the figure Of
Minerva upon it, impersonated by one of
the school children, surrounded by eight
vestals, also impersonated by girls from
the public schools; that during the exer-
cises the whole corrugated iron work fell
down. striking in the face the child who
was impersonating Minerva; that this Incl
dent gave rise TO some confusion. the
parents of the child rushed to the spot
where she had fallen 10 see how seriously
she had been hurt, and in the same way
the parents of other children struggled 10
get to the front in order to see IL their
young ones were safe; that President Es-
trada Cabrera and his guards, who were at
the moment some distance of, mistook the
disturbance, and, thinking that IL was a
popular tumult and that the Presidents
| life was in danger, Estrada Cabrera or
dered the soldiers to fire on the crowd.
which they did. with the result that over
three hundred young children were killed.
The clerical press of Colombia intimated
| that the whole affair was a punishment
| from heaven for the representation at a
festival of a pagan deity.
Minister Cabral denied the story and gave
! the following version: A sheet of the roof
| ing OF the temple of science did, IL Is true,
| fall. due either to the high wind or faulty
construction. In falling the sheet struck
| not the child who was representing Min
erva, but a woman OF the common class.
The incident naturally caused some confu-
sion, and the President, who was just then
partarking of refreshments with his party
| in pavilion on the grounds, came out to
see what was the matter. and on learning
| the particulars sent his own physician to
| care for the injured woman. who was sent
either TO a hospital or TO private resi-
| dence There the affair terminated.
Mexicans and others who have arrived
here recently from Guatemala are unaware
| Of any such happening as the shooting
down of school children Minister cabrai
| says the enemies OF the President of Gaute-
/ mala wish 10 make him out TO be a san
! culinary monster, even worse than Nero.
! The report gained credence on account ~
| the reputation that Guatemala gained dur
| ing the presidency OF Ruaran Barrios. who
| arrested some of the principal ladies Of the
! city and tied them up in horse stalls, be-
| sides committing other high-handed acts.