New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-20
VOLCANO REFUGEES CONE.
REACH san FRANCISCO AND TELL
STORY OF DEVASTATION.

San Francisco. Nov. 1s.-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 districts from the inland sea
and travelled country laid waste by sand,
ashes and pumice before reaching railway sta
ton
They then made the journey by rail- to Champer-
leo and there took the steamer to san Francisco.
The refugees sailed on November :. when the vol
cano was still smoking. They escaped with little
more than the clothing they Wore.
. The Guatemalans confirm stories of the loss Of
life They say that the victims for the most part
we're Indians. thousands Of whom were asphy Xiated
or buried in the sand Miles of plantations are
under ashes. and absolute ruin is the lot Of many
planters whose all was invested in the Fincas.
one refugee comes from within half hours ride
Of General Barillos. and brings information that
the general and his family are safe
Bands of robbers swarming the desc
lated sections. robbug and numbering refugees on
the road and looting the abandoned and desolate
plantations The people left behind on the planta-
tions it is said in danger of death from star
walton for the food supply has been cut off and
there is no way send in supplies the afflicted
districts.
Among those who came the City of Para were
the Bardwen family and Miss Florissa Nero. The
BardweIIs owned the Magnolia plantation, near
TArgeutina and about thirty miles south of Quezal
tenanso
The steamer City of Para met evidences of the
volcanic eruption after leaving OdOS- Great
n
water When the vessel came off the coast Of Qua
temala the shore was seen TO be covered with light
ashes. Al Champerico there about half an inch
of ash over the of the houses. and the ground
was covered by snowstorn-
Ashes were then falling although il was sixteen
davs after the first eruption Of the mountain. Dur
ing the night Of November 8, a few hours before
the CITY of Para sailed out of the port loud rum
bigs of the earth were heard and heavy reports as
of distant thunder. from the direction of the
Word had been received from Mazatenango on
the outskirts the ruined territory that there, on
FRIDAY October %. at about o'clock in the even
ing Santa Maria opened 4 crater on the west
side near its base and not far from Helvetia. ana
and lava over Tolhu II was noted on Saturday
norDins that several more Craters in the neigl-
borhood of the mountain had opened up, ana al!
were spoutug volcanic DEBRIS over the plhtaIloll9
of the These craterS were further
TO ths west and for more than twenty-1our hours
they were in constant eruption. Inc EARN was IN
causing much destruction. All the territory about
Palmer San Felipe Pueblo Nuevo and Rettlqules
We're buried under ashes MANY OF tIe a. lS
buried under from I'VE TO seven Ieet or depr1S
and all hope of ever reclaiminS them had been
given up The entire ueighborhood for miles was
AZ Mazatenango, on the south side OF the vol
cano only ashes had fallen and not TO such great
depth that 1t not possible 10 save some Of the
that hundreds of refugees collecting there
and many more pushing On to places further
from it. Many of the refugees we're without 5Ssad
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 Mazate-
mango fifteen days after the first eruption of Santa
At Champerico a modest estimate OF the loss 10
the coffee crop places IL AZ 10000 quintals.