The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-11-20
First Of Refugees Arrive From
Island Of Guatemala.
A LAND OF DEVASTATION
Victims for Most Part Were Indians,
and Thousands of Them Were
AsphyxIated or Buried
In the sand.

San Francisco, November 19-The first
Of the refugees from the devastated lands
of Guatemala arrived today on the Paci-
flc mail steamer City of Para. They
came from the districts of the inland
sea, and travelled over a country laid
waste by sand. ashes and pumice, before
reaching a lellroad station. From the
latter places they made the journey by
rail to Champerico and there took the
steamer to San Francisco. They sailed
on November 7, when the volcano was
still smoking and the rumbling of thun-
der and flashes of lightning gave evidence
of more eruptions to come. These people
fed from their plantations In fear for
their lives. They escaped to the seaside
with little more than the clothing they
wore transportation being so difficult as
to preclude baggage. The refugees con-
firm stories of loss of life. They say
that the victims for the most part are
Indians. They had not heard of any white
persons being lost. Thousands of Indians
were asphyxiated or buried in the sand.
Miles OF plantations are under ashes and
absolute ruin is the lot of many planters.
One refugee comes from within a half
hours ride of General Barillos home, and
brings information that the general and
his family are safe.
A cablegram received here when the
first eruption occurred, stated that Cen
eral Barillos had been asphyxiated. The
refugees say that 1t is not the crater
of Santa Maria that is in action, but
a smaller mountain, rising from one of
the western slopes of Santa Maria, called
Ell Rosario
Refugees Being Robbed.
Bands of robbers are now swarming the
desolated sections, robbing and numbering
refugees on the road and looting the
abandoned and desolate plantations.
Those left behind on the plantations, 1t
is said, are in danger of death from star
walton, as the food supply has been cut
off and there is no way to send supplies.
The steamer City of Para met evidences
of the volcanic eruption soon after leav-
ing Ocas. Great quantities of pumice
were found floating on the water and
some of the pieces were about the size
of a mans head. The sea was covered
with the stuff. When the vessel got up
off the coast of Guatemala, the shore was
seen to be covered with a light ash. At
Ghamperico there was about half an inch
of ash over the roofs of the houses and
the ground was covered as though there
had been a snow storm. Ashes were then
falling, although 1t was sixteen days af-
ter the first eruption. During the night
of November g. just a few hours before
the City of Para sailed out Of the port,
loud rumblings Of the aerth were heard
\ # 4efo M f1441r1d lar
came from the direction of the volcano.
New Crater Opened.
Word has been received from Maza-
tenango, on the outskirts or the ruined
territory, stating that Friday, October
a. at o'clock in the evening, Santa
Maria opened a crater on the west side,
near its base, and not far from Nell
vetta, and all that night it belched forth
volumes of ashes and lava. On Saturday
morning it was noted that several more
craters In the neighborhood of the noun
tain had opened up, and they were all
spouting volcanic debris over the plan
tations of the district These fresh craters
were further to the west and for over
twenty-four hours they were IN constant
eruption. The earth was in continual
commotion, shaking down buildings and
causing much destruction from the shak-
ing. All the territory about Palmer, San
Felipe, Pueblo Nuevo and Retalquien
were buried under ashes Many of the
plantations were buried under from five
to seven feet of debris, and all hope
Of ever retaining them had been given
up.
The whole neighborhood for miles was
a burning wilderness. At Mazat enango,
on the north side of the volcano, only
ashes had fallen, and not to such
great depth that 1t was not possible to
save SOME of the plantation property.
News from that town said hundreds of
refugees were collecting there, and many
more were pushing on to places farther
away from the volcano, fearing further
destruction. Many of the refugees were
without bread or shelter, and their con-
dition was pitiful. At that place most
of the buildings had been badly dam
aged, II not completely destroyed by tho
earthquakes. When the last word came
from Mazatenango, fifteen days after the
first eruption OF Santa Maria, the earth
had been In constant trembling.
At Champerico a modest estimate of
the loss Of coffee crop places it at 100000
quintals.
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