The San Francisco call., 1908-07-02
CADETS FIRE ON
GUAT[MALAN CHIEF
Executions Follow Seventh At
tempt to Kill President of
Southern Republic

Colonel Lorenzo de Clairmont. for
merly first lieutenant In the United
States army and now one of the prin-
cipal aids on the personal staff OF
President Cabrera, the much shot al
executive of Guatemala arrived here
yesterday passenger on the liner City
or Sydney. The colonel, who was born
IN this city, has come home to rest
after the strenuous days which fol
lowed the latest attempt to assassinate
his chief. Incidentally from De Clair
mont's lips come the first good words
FOR the president that have emanated
from Guatemala for many days.
DE Clairmont confirms the reports OF
the disappearance of many prominent
Guatemalans after the attempted as
sassination, but declares that many OF
them are still alive. They are in Jail
and held incomunicado. They are
well treated. he says, and If any OF
them are subsequently shot, it will be
only after q public trial
FIRED ON BY CADETS
The attempted assassination took
place near the entrance to the palace
at 2:8O o'clock on the afternoon OF
April 20, when the president was on
ms way TO greet Major Heimke. the
ne" american minister to Guatemala
De CIalrmont was an eye witness and
IelIs the following story of the tragedy:
Inc president stepped out Of his carriage and
advanced through two lines of cadets 70 on a
lre rue me cadets were standing at attention.
me president had been warned that an attempt
would be made by his cadet guard 10 kill him
uat week, but he refused TO credit it. When he
Ieached the colors he raised his hand in salute
Captain Maldonado. commander of the cadets
snouio then nave given the order to present arms
out instead gave the command to fire.
A t4fUavofp laff 81 - A..
color sergeant dropped the flag on Cabrera's head.
Inc pole smashed the presidents hat over his
eyes. The flag fell in folds over his face Among
tne cadets were 10 little chaps about L years
old. Instead Of obeying the order 10 fire, they
presented arms The others, however blazed
away. and why Cabrera was not riddled with
bullets is TO me an unanswerable problem His
nat was perforated half dozen times His
FIlnce Albert coat was shot into rags The only
through his hand when he raised it and ordered
me cadets 70 attention. 1 have seen men under
nre ID the philippines. but 1 never saw anybody
lace death so calmly as did Cabrera.
PLOTTERS TURN AND RUN
Capture them, but don't shoot" said the
president.
Cabrera hasn't escaped seven attempted assss.
sinations for nothing and he knew that dead ca
diets could give him no information. The cadets
dropped their guns and ran. Captain Msldonado
seeing the plot failure, pulled his pistol showed
II close 10 Cabrera's face and fred five times He
was so close that the presidents mustache was
singed and his face powder burned, but so rattIed
that every bullet went wild.
Maldonado turned and fed. but was shot By a
member Of the staff and fell on his face dead
The president withdrew 10 his palace and all
that night was busy. He took personal charge
Of the situation. He gave orders to the police
the military and the secret police and arrests
were made right and left.
Six political prisoners, who had been mixed up
in previous attempt, taken ont and shot
They had been found guilty before but sentence
had been suspended until another attempt shouid
be made on the presidents life.
LEADERS PUT TO DEATH