Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-20
REFUGEES BRING WORD
Describe Devastation in Guatemala from
Vo!cano'I Eruption.
MANY LOCAL INDIANS LOSE THEIR LIVES
Destruction of Property Worse Than
Reported, CoHee Plantations BeinE
Buried Under Many Feet
of Ashes.

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 19.-The first Of
the refugees from the devastated lands Of
Guatemala arrived here today. They came
from the inland sea and travelled over a
country laid waste by sand, ashes and
pumice before reaching the railway.
They sailed on November Z, when the
volcano was stiT smoking, and the rumbling
OF thunder 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 sea-
side with little more than the clothing
they wore.
They confirm the stories of lost lives,
saying the victims for the most part we're
Indians. thousands Of whom were asphyx-
lated or buried In the sand. Miles OF
plantations were under ashes and absolute
ruin was the lot Of many planters whose
all was invested in the hncas
They state that It was not the crater
OF Santa Maria that was in action, but a
smaller mountain rising from one Of its
western slopes called FL Rosalo.
Robbers Loot and XIII.
Bands Of Mexican robbers were swarming
the desolated regions. robbing and muir
dering refugees on the road and looting
the abandoned and desolate plantations.
The people left behind we're in danger Of
death from starvation, for the food supply
had been cut of and there was no way
to send in supplies
The steamer City Of Para met evidences
OF the volcanic eruption soon after leav-
ing Ocos. Great quantities Of pumice were
found floating on the water, some Of them
being about the size Of a mans head The
sea was covered with II. on the coast OF
Guatemala the shore was buried with a
light ash. At Champerico 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 snowstorm. Ashes
we're then falling, although It was sixteen
days after the first eruption. During the
night Of November 9. just a few hours
before City of Para sailed out Of the port,
loud rumblings of the earth we're heard
and heavy reports as Of distant thunder
came from the direction Of the volcano.
Word had been received from Maza-
tenango, on the outskirts OF the ruined
territory, that on the evening OF October
26 Santa Maria opened a crater on the
west side near its base and not far from
Helvetia and all that night belched forth
volumes Of ashes and lava over Folhu. On
Saturday morning it was seen that several
more craters had opened and all were
spouting volcanic debris. These fresh
craters were furthef to the west and for
over twenty-four hours were in constant
eruption.
The earth was in continual commotion,
shaking down buildings and causing much
destruction.
No Hope for Plantations.
All the territory about Palmer. San
Felipe, Pueblo Nuevo and Retalquieu was
buried under ashes and all hope of ever
reclaiming them, had been given up. The
whole neighbqrheod for miles was burn
ing wilderness,
At Mazantenango. on the south side Of
the volcano, only ashes had fallen and not
to such great depth; consequently it was
possible to save some of the plantation
property. News from that town said that
hundreds of refugees were collecting and
many more were pushing on to places fur
ther away. Many we're without bread or
shelter and their condition was pltiful.
At that place most Of the buildings had
been badly damaged II not completely de-
stroyed by the earthquakes that accompa-
MED the eruptions. When the last word
came from Mazantenango, fifteen days
after the first eruption Of Santa Maria, the
earth had been constantly trembling.
At Champerico a modest estimate Of the
loss to the coffee crop places It at 400, 900
centals.