The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-18

the first CULVER tiles Jew from the roofs
of houses like straws blown about in a
gale OF wind. the bells changed In the
belfrys and the water was spilled from
the fountain bowls. The solid domes OF
churches split. many Of the great eccle-
sidsticai edifices were shattered and
praying monks were buried beneath tho
walls. Earthquakes followed earth
quakes, and on the 18th of December.
l773. the work OF destruction was termi-
mated by final shock so violent that
nearly all the buildings which had With
stood hitherto came crashing down.
That night the archbishop slept In hts
carriage In the plaza, while his people
fled, panic-stricken. into the surrounding
forest.
Scarcely had another sun risen upon
the terrible scene. however. and the dead
been dug out of the ruins and properly
buried. when there arose a fierce contro-
versy whether the ruins should be aban-
doned and another site selected or the
city rebuilt. The plebeians. those who
had nothing more to lose, were for re-
moval. The city was accursed Of God.
they said He had ravaged II with
plague and poured the fires OF his wrath
upon II. To remain In the face OF such
manifestations OF divine wrath would be
70 court destruction, body and soul. But
the priests and friars and wealthy fami-
lies were for remaining. The municipal
authorities led the former party and
site for a new capital was selected many
miles away. on a high table land sur
rounded by deep ravines ON the supaosi-
ton that the ravines would break any
future shocks. That Is the present city
Of Guatemala. In due time decree
came from the king Of Spain command
ing the population OF the old city 10 re-
move to the new site within one year
and leave the old one totally abandoned.
This settled the controversy. but 50 bit
ter was the feeling on the part Of the
aristocratic old families that rather than
contribute their wealth and Influence 20
the building Of the new city. they sought
voluntary exile IN neighboring countries
Years afferward many returned to the
homes az their fathers IN the abandoned
city to find the once magnificent churches
and cathedrais despoiied of al their for
rner spfendor and only great walls stand
ing. overgrown with brush and briers.
The interior 81 the roofess cathedral was
n miniature forest of trees and dahliaS,
and the empty vault where once re-
posed the ashes % the gay ccnqulstador.
Alvarado. was but yawning ehasm.
The returning people gradually repaired
and rebuilt some ~ their property and
others came 10 work 'nr them or occupy
haff-rutDel houses, Wn+rb belonged 10 no
one, and others dug for treasure. or
these latter Il Is said that there were
fortunate ones ana there are wcii-to-t1
families poin;ea out whose fathers swcre
roor: and where else could they have
attained their easy circumstances, =
asked. hnt W discovery 81 some hidden
treasurer TsGa tho city exists today bear-
ing the characteristic nsroe the ola One.
counting = population ~ s.etsa seals where
formerly there lived between TO- 30 and
10000 The land about = fertile. ard
there are Legends ~ mines rich ia FsSa
and silver that were worked Numerous
lM&ie Indian villages which EHErliea the
Oh elite With "a labor. 4re on aW siaes
~ n. some thirty fUined churches. con-
vents md uatraatsrfes. sone in heaps.
some almost intact, oergried - aigs In
stead ~ PRIESTS. asfii attest 10 tire great
ness OF the city before SO destruction.
To -he explorer and slghtseer the place
"a a xeritahie city % enchansTnenss Ruins
that We now as they lay when the nnai
shock cent the pe1rie rushing forth 20
the refuge II the forests temp. one -
wander through the dark passages snf
into the verinEs-cheked vaults. Tho root.
lsss cathedral faces the great plaza sn1
running a right augiss 20 q on tho left
Is the old naiacc of the vireroy which
was restored ten years ago hy President
Rarilias. who made movement TO re-
build portions OF the city. The facade