The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-20
Plantations Buried Under the Ejecta
OF the Volcano and Indian La
bOrers Crushed to Death.
STONES FELL IN SHOWERS
AND DEMOLISHED THE FRAIL
HOUSES OF THE NATIVES.
whole NeighbOrhood for Miles De-
scribed as n Burning Wilderness
Big Coffee Crop Lost.

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 19.-The first of
the refugees from the devastated lands of
Guatemala arrived to-day on the Pacific
Mail steamer City of Para They came
from the district from the inland sea and
Travelled over country laid waste by sand.
ashes and pumice before reaching a rail-
way station. From the latter places they
made the journey by rail to Champerico
and there took the steamer to San Fran
CISCO They sailed on Nov. Z, when the
valcano still smoking, and rumblings
of thunder and flashes Of lightning gave
evidence of more eruptions to come. These
people fled 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 confirm 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 Thou
sands of Indians were asphyxiated or
buried in the sand. Miles of plantations
are under ashes and absolute ruin is the lot
of many whose all was invested in planta-
tions One refugee comes from within q
half an hours ride of General Barillos's and
brings the information that the general and
his family are safe. A cablegram received
here when the first eruption occurred
stated that General Barillos had been as
phyxiated
The refugees state that II Is not the
crater OF Santa Maria that is in action,
but smaller mountain rising from one of
the western slopes of Santa Maria, called
FL Rosario.
Bands OF robbers are now swarming the
desOlated sections, robbing and numbering
refugees on the road and looting the aban-
doned and desolate plantations Those left
behind on the plantations, il is said, are in
danger of death from starvation, for the
food supply has been cut off and there is no
way to send in supplies TO the afflicted dis
tricts.
On the City of Para came the Bardwell
family and Miss Fiorissa Nero. The Bard
well family consists of Ferdinand, his
mother. his sister Julia and brother Albert.
Another brother, Augustine, remained be-
hind to save. If possible. some of the coffee.
ton near LArgentine.
The steamer City of Para met evidences
OF the volcanic eruption soon after leaving
Ocos. Great quantities OF pumice were
found floating in the water and some of the
pieces were about the size of mans head
The sea was covered with the stuff. When
the vessel got up off the coast of GuatamaIa
the shore was seen TO be covered with
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 were then falling, although 1t was
sixteen days after the first eruption. Dur
Ing the night of Nov. 6, just few hours
before the City of Para sailed out of the
port. loud rumblings Of the earth were
heard and heavy reports, as of distant
thunder, came from the direction of the
volcano.
Word has been received from Mazete-
mango, on the outskirts of the ruined terri
tory, stating that there. Friday. Oct. "a.
at about o'clock in the evening. Santa
Maria opened a crater the west side
no a 70
and all that night 1t belched forth volumes
of ashes and lava On Saturday morning
II was noted that several more craters in
the neighborhood of the mountain had
opened up and they were all spouting vol
canic debris over the plantations 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
from the quaking. All the territory about
Palmer. San Felipe, Pueblo and Retalquien
was buried under ashes. Many of the
plantations were buried under from five to
seven feet of debris and all hope of ever
reclaiming them had been given up. The
whole neighborhood for miles was a burn
At Mazetenango on the south side of the
volcano, only ashes had fallen and not to
such great depth that it was not possi-
BILE to save some of the plantation prop
erty. News from that town said that hun
dreds of refugees were collecting there and
many more were pushing on TO places
farther away from the volcano, fearing
further destruction from 1t. Many of the
refugees were without bread or shelter and
their condition pitiful. At that place
most OF the buildings had been badly dam
aged. If not completely destroyed, by the
fierce earthquakes that accompanied the
eruptions OF the volcano. When the last
word came from MaZetenango. fifteen days
after the first eruption of Santa Marie. the
earth had been in constant trembling.
At Champerico. modest estimate of the
loss 10 the coffee crop places II at 100000
quintals.