Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-24
Panic Stricken Natives
Escaped Sea of Lava
to Be Preyed Up
on By Famine


NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 22.-The Plea
yune this morning prints the following let
ter:
PORT BARRIoS, Guatemala, Nov. Is
Refugees who have arrived here this
week from western Guatemala report a
terrible state of affairs as result of the
eruption Of the Santa Maria volcano.
The country for a radius of over thirty
miles has been made desolate waste,
and every vestigc OF life destroyed. The
loss of life is estimated at over 1000,
the great majority of the victims being
Indians Ten Indian villages each with
population Of from % to 5000 inhabitants.
were wiped out, the rude huts being
buried beneath tons Of volcanic debris.
Everything In Ruins.
All of the coffee plantations in the vol
canic zone are ruined and their owners
left penniless. The coffee plantations in
this region were the most valuable in tbs
country and their destruction is a severe
blow to the republic.
The government has been making the
most strenuous efforts to conceal the facts
concerning the catastrophe, but the facts
are gradually reaching the towns on the
western coast through the refugees who
are fleeing from the country. All cable
messages containing references to the
eruption of the volcano are vigorously cen-
sored and even the mails are closely in
spected by government officials. The
government hopes by concealing the facts
to prevent Guatemala's credit from being
damaged abroad.
The effort to minimize the disaster
abroad, however, has failed to relieve the
situation at home. The greatest distress
prevails throughout the central and west
ern portion Of the republic and even on
the eastern coast the effects are felt in
the scarcity Of money and the rise in ex-
change.
famine prevails at Quetzaltenango
and 10000 people are starving.
Revolution Possible.
Even in Guatemala City, the capital, the
inhabitants are suffering for food. Flour
is selling In Guatemala City for s25 a
barrel in gold and rice of an inferior quass-
ity is quoted at 20 cents pound In gold.
The government is utterly unable 10 re-
lieve the distress and suffering and the
people are on the verge Of revolution. The
only thing needed to start formidable up
rising is the appearance of leader.
Porfirio Herrera, who owned valuable
coffee plantation seven miles from the
Maria volcano was among the refugees
who arrived here today and sailed for
Nicarauga. Senior Herrera, in an inter-
view describing the situation, said:
IT was In Guatemala City looking after
my business interests when the terrible
shocks from the explosion were plainly
felt In the capital, causing great excite
ment among the people. The next dsy the
news OF the frightful havoc wrought by
the Santa Maria reached this city and
started at once for my plantation.
reached point four miles from my home
on November s, but / was unable to go
any further on account Of the sitting
fumes and gases from the volcano which
was still active and emitting huge coli
umns Of fire and ashes.
Great Loss Of Life.
''The eruption ceased on the morning OF
November g. when ventured to my plan
tation and found it buried beneath ten
feet of ashes, mud and sand hurled from
the volcano. Everything on the place
was In ruins. My residence was destroyed
and out of 112 laborers employed on the
plantation. all except seven persisted. The
seven who escaped happened to be visit
ing a farm eight miles further from the
volcano that day and hen they saw the
danger took refuge with a lot Of others,
in cave. My family was in Guatemala
City and therefore escaped the terrible
fate which befell those left at home. The
blast from the volcano destroyed the To-
Ifage on the trees. G. the trip to my
plantation I passed a number Of coffee
farms which had shared the same fate as
my own. Along the road were frightful
scenes. Dead bodies OF 1nulans ana AMI
mails who had been suffocated by the
deadly fumes were visible eyerywhere and
the stencil was awful. I passed through
one Indian village where over $50 had
persisted All of the bodies had their
hands to their nostrils, showing plainly
what caused death. The features were
horribly distorted and the suffering OF
the unfortunates must have been terrible.
Damage Beyond Repair.
'HThe damage to the country is beyond
repair.
"The new craters had been formed IN
the mountain side and were in eruption
at last account. Ma. years will elapse
before the land can be reclaimed and
placed in cultivation again. have given
up my estate and will try my fortune in
Nicarauga-"