The Savannah morning news., 1900-11-04

IN the plaza while his people fed panic
stricken INTO the surrounding forest
DISCRETION OF the old City by the
kings order.
scarcely had another sun risen upon the
terrible scene. however. ana the dead been
dug on, Of the ruins and properly buried.
when there arose a ncrce controversy
whether the ruins should he abandoned
and another site selected or the city re-
built The plehcians. those who had moth
ing more 90 lose were FOR removal The
city Was accursed Of Cod. they said. lie
have ravaeed lt with plague aud poured the
ares Of His wrath upon a. To remain IN
the face Of such manifestations OF DIVINE
wrath would b. 10 court destruction. BODY
and soul But the priests and friars ana
wealthy families we're for remaining Inc
municipal authorities led the former party
and a site for new capital was selected
many miles away. on "A high table land
surrounded By deep ravines on the sup
position that the ravines would break
any future shocks That IS The present
city OF Guatemala. In due fife decree
anne from the King OF spain command
ing the regulation Of the old city 60 re-
move 10 the new site wthin one year ana
cave the old one totally abandoned Ihl0
settled the controversy but ~ hitter was
.he feeling on the pau OF the aristocrat1
Old families that rather than contribute
their wealth and influence 20 the nuiia-
ing Of the new city. they sough' volun-
hry exile IN neighboring countries. Years
afterwards many returned 10 tho homes
90 their fathers in the abandoned city 10
Hud the once magnihccm churches anu
.athedraIs despoilcd Of all their former
4piendof. and only great walls standing
8vergrown with brush and oriars Inc
Interior 90 the roofless cathedral Was
miniature forest OF trees and dahl,as, and
trc empty vaults where once rePosed enc
ashes Of the gay conquistador Alverado'
was but a yaWning chasm
Tho returning years gradually repaired
tld rebuilt some OF their property ana
.tbers came 10 work for them, or occupy
n4lf ruined houses. which belonged 10 no
one and oshers dug for treasure. or these
..ter n Is enid that there were fortunate
ones and there are well 90 do families
,ointed out whose fathers were poor and
where else could they have attained their
Easy circumstance r. asked, but by dis
.lvery Of some hidden treasure. Thus the
inv exists to-day bearing the Characters
u. name the Old One. counting popula-
zion OF 5000 souls where formerly there
lived between ffty and hundred thous-
and The hand about IL fertile. and there
no legends OF mines rich in gold ana
.iver that were worked. Numerous ltue
indian villages which supplied the Old
ity with It's labor are on all sides OF
some thirty ruined churches. converts
nd monasterios. some in heaps. some al
most intact occupied BY PIGS instead OF
PRIESTS. stin attest TO the greatness OF the
Ity before is destruction.
10 the explorer and siEhtseer the place
a veritable city OF entertainments.
tulrs that lie now as they lay when the
moi shock sent the people rushing forth
%, the refuge % the forests tempt one "a
Wander through the dark passages and into
,rdure-choked vaults The rooiiess ca
.hedral faces the great plaza and run
ing AZ right angles TO Il on the left Is
the old palace Of the Niceroy which was
restored ter years ago by President Barll-
as who made q movement TO rebuild por-
ions OF the city. The facade Of this