Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-14
REFUGEES FROM GUATEMALA
Tales Of Cabrera's Tyranny Told in
Mexico.
OLD TACTICS AGAIN EMPLOYED
GuatenaIan President Alleged 20 he
E~Heeuting or ImPrisoning his
ERemies and COnaseatinE
Their Property.

1APACHULA. Mex. June 2-The prin-
cipal gateway between Guatemala and
Mexieo is Tapachula. II Is to this place
that political refugees and malcontents
from Guatemala resort when they flee in
fear Of President Cabrera.
II 10 natural therefore. that Tapachula
should be a hOtbed for political discussion
and intrigues by the Guatemalan exiles
who have taken up their residence in
Mexico. New Additions TO the colony are !
made daily and each arrival has some
story to tell Of alleged atrocities committed
by the officials who comprise the Cabr era
administration
Careful Investigation leads to he belief
that many Of these stories are based on
mere rumors. but othe r accounts OF the
execution or Imprisonment Of alleged pollt-
icai offenders. OF the confiscation by the
government Of private estates and OF the
III treatment Of families Of exiles are re-
lated by persons who may be supposed
TO be familiar With the facts. In Tspa-
chuia today are men Of former prominence
and wealth who are now without a dollar
ana are forced to depend upon the charity
Of friends for. their support.
One Of the class is Miguel Baseola, who
arrived here q few days ago from his eof-
fee plantation. situated on the Chtxoy river.
He was forced TO travel at night and to
keep IN hiding during the day in order to
eYade arrest. He says that the only pos
sible offence that can be charged against
him Is that he was distantiy related to
one OF the students In Guatemala City who
were implicated IN the recent plot to take
the life Of President Cabrera.
Mr.. BaseoIa's home II In a remote part
of the country and he did not hear of the
attack upon Cabrera for several days after
1t was made. His first knowledge OF the
affair came when q secret message reached
him from a friend in Guatemala city tell
ing him that many arrests OF relatives OF
the military students we're being made
and that he had better leave the country
to avoid being thrown into prison and
probably put TO death.
Mr.. Baseoia paid little attention to this
first warning. He had never taken any
part In political affairs and believed that
he would not Be molested. He was subse-
qeuntiy summoned to appear at the town
OF Huehnetcnango and reply to certain
questions which the jefe politico desired to
ask. He obeyed this m ana was in
terrogatsd IN regard to his relationship
with the military student who was alleged
TO have been in the plot to assassinate
Cabrera
Mr.. Baseola answered all the questions
eandidly. He was advised that the tefe
politico would make his report to President
Cabrera and that future action would de-
pend upon the latterss orders. Then he re.
turned 70 bis plantation.
About ten days later a second secret
MESSAGE came 10 him from Guatemala
City saying that Cabrera had issued orde.s
for his arrest and imprisonment, on the
charge that he was connected with the
plot TO kin him. The message urged him
Is depart from the country Immediately.
He needed this second warning and takins
enough money to land him across the bor-
der he set out on the journey to Tapa-
chula-
On the second day he stopped at the
house Of a friend who told him that troops
were securing the country for him. He
was also advised that all his property had
been confiscated by the government. VIVA,
has bacome OF his family he does not
know.
II is stated by Luis saucedo. who reached
here a few days ago direct from Guatemala
City. that up to the time N took his de-
parture thirty members Of the most prom
inent families in the capital had been ex-
ecuted by order OF Cabrera and that sew.
eral men OF less prominence had also beer
put to death. The widows and orphans
Of some of those executed have been de.
prived a an their property. In some in
stances women have been imprisoned
Indignation has been aroused in Guate,
mala as well as In Mexico over the treat.
ment which President Cabrera is metins
out to Mrs JsssA COfina de Leon. widow OF
Emilio de Leon. who was formerly minister
Of foreign affairs in Guatemala
Dc Leon Incurred the nemlty OF Cabrers
about three years ago and he WAS charged
with being Implicated in a plot to XIII tn,
president He fled 20 Mexico and tool
up hi residence IN the City Of Mexico. Hi
wife remained in Guatemala.
About a year ago an attempt was mad
to kin Cabrera by a mine explosion in IN
street. Cabrera alleged that the plot wa
Matched in the City OF Mexico and Tapa
ehult and that Mr.. de Leon was one Of IN
prime instigators. He issued an order 70
extracition OF the Mexiean government
This demand was refused and for a tim
the relations between Mexico and Guate
maia we're strained.
Cabrera then confiscated the estate Q
Mr. de Leon. but later the property va
restored to Mrs. de Leon. Next Mrs. d
Icons brother. Jose Maria Cofno. wa
arrested at his home In Guatemala Cit
and thrown into prison. He has been cor
fined meommunieado IN a dark cen for
year. Anotnef pfotnef, feuro LoIino WI
owned a large coffee plantation. was AT
rested a few weeks ago. aud after heip
confined in prison Tor a few days wa
taken out and shot by order OF Cabrera
Then Cabrera had Mrs de Leon srTeste
and placed under guard al Antigua, WheT
she is not permitted to receive a oommunt
cation from any person. She has ten chi
dren. all 90 whom are said TO be under a.
rest and IN prison IN Guatemala City.
II is stated by c. n. Haveling. an En-
ishmsn who has arrived here from a ri
through Guatemala. that there are man
women confined 10 the prisons of the eouE
try and that they are IN an Instances, Z
far as he could learn. members OF n
higher eiazk Ihslr only offense Is thl
they are related to men who are allege
to have sought TO bring about the dow
fan Of Cabrera.
AR. Haveling says that the business
the county b prostrate. that a reign
terror exists and that the %tyTannical han
Of President Cabrera Is being felt ever,
where in the country. The reign OF te
ror Is not confined 10 the larger cities an