Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-11-27
SANTA MARIA
STILL ERUpT|NC.
The City of Quezalteuango Has
Been Visited by Ruin.
LIES AT VOLCANOES BASE.
Damage Has Extended Far ana Wide,
Showing How Terrific the
Activity Was.

San Francisco Nov. 26.--The volcano
at Santa Maria was In violent eruption
when the steamer City Of Panama left
Champerico for this port nine days ago.
The City of Panama arrived from
Panama and way ports today, bringing
late news from the devastated region
While the steamer lay at Champerico
the mountain far away was spoutlng
ashes, smoke and pumicestone, the
flakes falling in showers all over the
country.
The city OF Quezaltenango, II Is re-
ported, has been visited by ruin. Quez,
alterango Is located at the base OF
Santa Maria, on the eastern slope, and
no fears have heretofore been enter
tanned for the towns safety All the
damage reported has been on the west
ern side. stretching from the mountains
to the seashore, nearly 40 miles away.
That the damage has extended across
The mountain is evidence Of the terri
nc activity of he volcano, Refugees
are making their way TO the seaside,
travelling either TO Ocas Of Champerico
and from these ports proceedings south
by steamer.
From the officers OF the City Of Pana-
ma II was learned that some OF the
planters are Of the opinion that the
ashes may be beneficial TO the soil and
the damage 10 the fincas may be only
temporary. Volcanic matter II Is ar
gued, is often good fertilizer, and the
rain of ashes may be blessing In dis
guise. Absolute ruin stares many OF
them In the face and the livelihood OF
thousands Of natives for many months
TO come has been shut of by the des-
tructlve work OF the volcano, The work
OF rehabiltating the fncas will pro-
badly be that OF other hands than the
present owners, for so great has been
the present damage that the majority
OF planters may never recover from
their losses.
NJ +. Otis of New York was pas
songer on the City of Panama, having
come through from New York. Mr..
Otis gives q vivid description Of the
appearance OF land and sea In the
neighborhood Of the spouting mountain.
CAS- far as the eye can reach from
Champerico," said he, there is moth
ing to be seen but ashes and pumice-
. stone. We sailed for miles through a
sea of ashes. From the sea to Santa
Maria the country looked as II visited
by a snowstorm and the mountain IT.
self looked like huge boiling caldron.
At short intervals the volcano vomited
smoke and ashes. At times the dis
charge would be carried up short dis
lance into the air when It would spread
cut like an umbrella and fall TO the
earth, covering trees bushes and hills
with a white shroud.
AT other times the discharge would
seem to leap high into the air as II
propelled by some gigantic force. Each
explosion was accompanied by q shock
HAT could be felt all the way to Cham
perico. Earthquakes were frequent
and the people felt that their country
rested on very uncertain foundation.
The people in Champerico seem unable
TO form any estimate Of the number
OF lives lost, but they all agree that the
work OF devastation, as far as the cof-
fee plantations are concerned, Is COM
plete. Without being familiar with the
country. / should say that this state
ment was not al all extravagant."
LA SoUFRIERE IN ERUPTION
Kingstown. st. Vincent, Nov. ga
violent eruption OF La Soufriere, the
fifth big outburst since the catastrophe
on May Z took place today George
town and the village Of Chateau Bel
alre, situated on ths west coast OF ST.
Vincent were egaln evacuated by their
inhabitants. Telephone communica-
ton in those districts Is interrupted
owing TO fierce lightning. Subterranean
rumblings can be heard and volcanic
clouds are seen from this city. The
crater has been smoking constantly
since the terrific eruption Of Oct. l6.