The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-04-23
AdViceS Are Meager, How
ever, and Worse lid
ingS May Come.
.oUEzALTENANG0 is IN RUINS
Second Nest Important City in the Re-
public Said to Have Been Completely
Wiped Out-something of the Forma-
tion Of the Country.

Dispatches were received at the State
Department today from Charge d'AHaires
Bailey, at Guatemala, announcing that
terrible earthquake devastated that coun-
try on April IS. almost entirely destroy
ing many cities and town and inaieting
losses of life and property that are as yet
impossible to estimate.
The only American reported to be killed
is Mrs Clara Kildare, but great uneasf-
ness is evidenced at the State Depart
ment, and every effort is being made to
obtain more definite information
The entire city OF Quezaltenango, the
capital Of the department of that name,
with its s5,00O inhabitants is in ruins
ouezalteuango is the second largest and
most important city in the republic
Guatemala City itself was badly shaken.
and the shoeks are continuing. Owing to
the limited means Of communication in
formation e.,neerning the situation is
most difficult to obtain.
Description of Guatemala.
Guatemala is one Of the most important
republic in Central America, lying be-
tween parallels L degrees and IS de-
grees north and meridians IS degrees and
90 degrees west Il is bounded on the
north by Mexico, on the east by British
Hondu1 as. and on the south coast by Hon
duTas and san Salvador. The area is es-
timated at 1890 square miles.
The topography OF Guatemala is in
completely known and the maps that ex-
ist are imperfect The main chain Of
mountains runs parallel to the Pacific
coast, only forty or fifty miles distant
Nearly parallel TO this and further IN
land is another series Of lower ranges
beyond which come the departments OF
Vera Paz and Peten, forming the north
ern half of the state, the geography OF
which is practically unknown The gen
eraI relief OF the country is picturesque
and varied There are no less than thirty
one volcanic SUBMITS.
The most famous Of these is the Vol
can de aqua. OF Water Volcano, which
destroyed old Guatemala with a deIuge
of water in 1871. It IS 1900 feet high
Capital of the Republic.
Guatemala Ia Nueva, the capital of the
republic, IS located on branch Of the
Montague River, at an elevation of 1892
feet above the sea It is laid out in regu-
lar streets and has extensive and beautf-
fuI suburbs As in all tropical climates
the houses are but one story high. with
large courts ard gardens and are soIidIy
built. The principal building is the ca
thedraI, simple and elegant in design,
built in 1850, and occupying a grand space
CT about 450 feet square. The educational
advantages are the best in Central Amer
tea. Water IS brought a distance Of eight
miles to the city, which is lighted by
electricity, has modern street cars and an.
excellent police force. Tie population in
1895 was $500 people.
Destroyed by Earthquake.
Old Guatemala, the former capital OF
the state, was located in the same valley,
about fifteen miles west OF the present
city. It was destroyed by an earthquake
in 1918. Before its destruction It was one
Of the richest and most populous and
most beautiful cities of Central America,
and had about 10000 inhabitants. The
place was seriously damaged by an earth
quake in September. 1874 a still older
Guatemala was washed away by the Vol
can de Aqua thirteen years after it was
founded