The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-11-27
VOLCANO
ERUPTION AT SANTA MARIA is
DESCRIBED.
Ashes Thrown Up and Spread Out
Like Umbrella.

San Francisco Nov. 26-The volcano
of Santa Maria was in violent eruption
when the Pacific mail steamer City OF
Panama left there for this port nine
days ago.
The City of Panama arrived from Pan
anna and Way ports today, bringing late
news from the devastated regions. While
the steamer lay at Champorico the noun
tain far away was splitting smoke. ashes
and pumice stcne the flakes falling in
showers all over the country.
The city of Quetzaltenango. it is re-
ported, has been visited by ruin. Quez-
altenango is located at the base of Santa
Maria, on the eastern slope and no
fears have heretofore been entertained
for the towns safety. All the damage
reported has been on the western side
reaching from the mountain To the sea-
shore, thirty miles away That the dam
age has extended across the mountains
is evidence of the terrific activity of the
volcano.
Refugees are making their way to the
seashore, travelling either to Oeas Ut
Chanporico, and from these ports pro-
ceeding south by steamer
From the officers of the city of Panama
it was learned that some of the planters
arc Of the opinion that the ashes may be
beneficial 10 the soil and that the dam
age TO the F.ncas may be only temporary.
Volcanic matter. il is said. is often a
good fertilizer and the rain of ashes may
be a blessing in disguise. Absolute ruin
stares many of them in the face and the
livelihood of thousands OF natives for
T0any months 70 come has been shut off
by the destructive work Of the volcano
The work of rehsbilitating the F1ncas
viii probably be that Of other hands
than the present owners, for so great has
been the damage that the majority Of
planters may never recover from their
losses
u. T. Otis. Of New York, was a passen-
ser on the city Of Panama. having come
through from New York. Mr.. Otis gives
a vivid description Of the appearance Of
the land and sea in the neighborhood OF
the volcano.
As far as the eve can reach from
Champerico" said he there is nothing
10 be seen but ashes and pumice stone
We sailed for miles through a sea Of
ashes. From the sea 70 Santa Maria the
country looked as If visited by a snow
storm. and the mountain itself looked
Ike huge boiling caidron. At short in
tervals the volcano vomited smoke and
ashes. At times the discharge would be
carried up short distance into the afr
and then it w~ld spread out Ike an
umbrella and IAN 10 the earth. covering
trees. bushes and hills with a white
shToud
At other times the discharge would
seem 10 leap high into the air as II pro-
relied by some gigantic force Each ex-
ricsion was accompanied by shock that
could be felt all Tire way % ChamDe-ico. !
EARTHQUAKES were frequent ard ne peo-
rle felt that their country rested on a
very uncertain foundation. The people /
L. Champ rico are unable 70 form any IS /
trnate u the number Or lives lost. bat /
they all sEree that The work of dcvzsta- /
tion. IS far as the coffee Plantations ara |
concerned. IS complete Without having 4
Z msl.ar kHowIedge q ere country 7 I
should say that this statement was rot AZ /
al exsgEerated