Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-24
RUINS IN MEXICO
Effect Of Earthquakes and
Volcanic Eruptions
FIFTY MILES DISTANT
YET THE DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS
WAS EXTENSIVE.
Ashes Fell in Some Places to the Depth
Of Ten Feet-One Ameri-
leans Experience.
FIFTY MILES DISTANT
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.


Overshadowed by the Martinique disaster.
the destruction of Quesaltenango was al
most unnoticed last year. Two earth
quakes a few months apart and an erup
ton of the volcano Santa Maria wiped out
a city of 60OOO. the second city in Guate-
mala. Today the city is deserted, mass
of ruins half concealed by volcanic ashes
six feet deep. the tombs Of how many thou
sands no one knows. Some escaped the
first time. Survivors of the first and sec
ond disasters left as it became possible.
The volcano buried the city and destroyed
the vegetation of the surrounding country,
Its source of supply. The first earthquake
occurred January IS of last year and wars
unreported, the loss of life was slight
and earthquakes are numerous. The sec
ond earthquake occurred April IS and prac-
tically destroyed every house. 1t was then
the serious loss of life occurred. but the
government of Guatemala suppressed the
facts for the reason that fiesta was going
on In Guatemala City and it was not pru-
Adent to Interfere with the enjoyment Of
the people. Many other towns were de-
stroyed. Almost every finca reported the
loss Of a dozen or more people, and the
grand total is a matter of conjecture. 1t
is sad enough to say that a city of 60O0O
the second city in Guatemala no longer
has an existence, destroyed in a single
year.
Extent of the Ruin.
In Tapachula, fifty miles distant from
Quesaltenango. the cathedral lies mass
of ruins. not. building is unscathed. and
the streets are partially filed with debris
Towers are leaning. walls are broken: an
other trembler may work greater injury
All about are half-ruined towns and vii
lagos. and it is only to the north and west
that great damage is not apparent
The eruption of Santa Maria, October "a
completed the ruin of many towns. The
mountain is 1900 feet high. The side was
blown out at a height Of 5000 feet. on the
north. The towns to the south escaped
somewhat Those on the north and west
suffered most Ashes fell on the isthmus
Tapachula the fall was S1a inches. In
other places 1t was ten feet. Rocks fell
only distance of thirty miles, corrugated
iron roofs within that area look like used
up targets for heavy guns. Miraculous
escapes under them are as numerous as
they are marvellous. No lava flowed. How
many million tons of rock were deposited
on the entire area affected 1T is hard to
estimate. The air was filled with powder
ed rock and volcanic ashes For fifty
miles about there was total darkness for
fortyeight hours, dense was the cloud
of volcanic dust filling the air Immense
quantities of steam formed clouds and
mingled with the dust. An object an inch
distant was not visible. The dust, besides
was binding and suffocating. Roofs fell
with their accommodating load and those
beneath were killed outright Or slowly suf-
located. The deaths were scattering No
record was made of them and the number
is unknown. Rains are washing the ashes
into the sea- The fields are looking green
again. but plainly visible, steaming sui
lenly, Santa Maria looks down.
An Americans Experience.
An American who has coffee finca few
miles nearer the volcano described his ex-
perience: Friday morning took 200 men
out to work the coffee. We left the house
about daylight. Three hours later we no.
ticed a heavy cloud in the east. I feared
rain and hurried my men. The cloud looked
OminouS. 1t was not natural in color nor
shape, 1t seemed like black wall ap-
preaching The men were alarmed and
one by one quit work Then 1t grew dark
and we laid off. 1t was three hours before
the dust fell upon US. but in a moment we
were in impeTetrable darkness. For forty
eight hours this continued. On the second
day was aroused to the necessity of action
by the falling of the barn roof on the twen-
~ horses under cover and their frantic eff
forts to escape The men were huddled
about in terror. I got them at work and
dug out some of the horses alive the lam
terms scarcely giving light. put the men
not Daralyzed by fear on the roofs to shovel
OF the ashes and save the other buildings
The cook had fed the day before We had
nothing to eat. Sunday morning I was sit
ting In my house. the door open There was
no sound but the crashing Of the limbs AZ
they fell from the trees weighted down
with ashes. A swinging lamp near the door
lighted the room. Suddenly there was a
crash and the light was eXtinguished
Something struck my chest forcibly and
clutched at my breast dashed # aside
and lighted light. 1t had fallen upon the
bed 1t was huge bird. driven from fall
ing limb. attracted by the light. Thus Sum
day wore away knew the day only by the
clock. Since Friday there was no other
way OF reckoning time. Sunday afternoon
there was distant crash and the clouds of
Dust seemed to glow with a weird light
GRADUALLY 1t grew brighter, and I looked
our on the earth covered as with a heavy
snow Then the rains came and washed
away my crops. The ashes 1oated. half
M mud and carried everything before them
The desolatfon was COMPLETE"
Ruins Will Remain.
The marks of ruin in many instances re-
main On the fincas the rains are doing
much to repair the damage and the soil Is
not injured. The next crops will be about
as usual The ashes are slightly saline
out not Injurious to vegetation except as
II smothers 1t. The destroyed towns Will
always be ruins and the ruins In the par-
TALLY destroyed towns will always remain
There is no enterprise such as in America
and ruin Is almost always abandoned
The owner, as rule, is unable to rebuild
The substantial buildings are ancient. relics
OF former greatness. The modern civiliza-
ton takes to shacks of bamboo with
matched roofs. Tradition says it is a
hundred years since Santa Maria belched
before. 1t may not do so for another hun
dred years. In the meantime the new
buildings necessary for commerce will be OF
modern architecture and the poems will live
In their huts 1t is changing civilization
In which the earthquake and the volcano
are playing part.
Life in Tapachula goes on as usual
Across from the ruins of the ancient cathe-
oral Is the well-swept well-kept plaza. It
was carefully washed and the tropical
vegetation preserved. The payements are
OF cement, the plants and trees numerous
and thriving and the fountains flow in
the center is newly painted pavilion
from which music is regularly discoursed
for the entertainment of the promenadine
public. There is little caste. as every one
is more or less related, but there Is a great
variety OF costume. Barefooted or san
dalfooted men are In the majority, and
they mingle with the well-dressed men and
women. 1t is a thoroughly democratic
go-as-you-p please promenade. The music is
excellent, but UNIQUE. The instrument ia