The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-06-01
TERROR REIGNS
IN GUATEMALA
Futile Efforts to Assassinate Cabrera
Followed by Secret
Executions.
VENGEANCE is MOST BLOODY.
Among Many Missing Men Are Rich
Planters Well Known in
San Francisco

San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO, May 23.--The re-
public of Guatemala, by the grace and |
weight of the big stick at peace with |
the rest of the world, is passing |
through reign of terror. 1t began |
with the attempted assassination on |
April 20 of President CABRERA by stu
dents of the Guatemala military aca-
DENY, his personal guard of honor,
and terror still ruled the land when
the Pacific Mail liner San Jose, which
arrived here yesterday, left the port
of San Jose de Guatemala. So real
is the fear inspired by Cabrera's whole
sale vengeance that passengers who ar
rived on the San Jose begged that their
names be withheld from publication
with the tale they told of medieval
persecution and wantOn assassination.
Among the victims of Cabrera's wrath
have been members of the proudest
and wealthiest families in the Central
American republic. Some of those who
have disappeared are well known here
and in all Guatemala there is hardly
a prominent man but is whispering in
fear and trembling, "Who next?'
Ever since the attempted assassina-
ton prominent men have been disap-
pearing They disappeared usually dur
ing the night Friends learned later
that government troops had visited
the home of the missing man and had
taken him away. Listeners outside the
walls of la Penitenciaria told of the
ominOus rattle of musketry heard the
morning after some well known figure
had disappeared from his familiar
/ haunts After the shooting a covered
cart could be seen carrying some silent
| burden to the prison graveyard and
1 Guatemala knew that Cabrera was
/ again clearing the land of his enemies,
COW SAVES CABRERA.
More than a year ago somebody
brera was to pass. The mine was duly
exploded but the president escaped
owing to the fact that a dawdlng COW
had compelled the presidential equip
age to turn aside before it reached the
danger zone. After this a presiden-
tial bodyguard was appointed from the
cadet corps of the Guatemala military
academy. These cadets were intensely
loyal to Cabrera until in his efforts
to reach the enemies responsible for
laying the mine the president impris-
oned and otherwise punished relatives
of some of the most influential stu
dents.
Loyalty changed to hatred and on
April 20 his student bodyguard Uried
to kill him. Three days after the at
tempted assination Cabrera an
nounceed that four of the cadets i:|'pll-
Gated in the attempt had been shot and
Guatemala supposed that the affair
was closed But Cabrera, who has
maintained his control in Guatemala
by brute force, was just beginning.
RICH PLANTERS EXECUTED.
One morning Juan and Adolfo Viteri
wealthy planters and relatives OF
George de Urioste, the well known
appeared Friends who took up their
trail found that it ended at La Peni-
tenciariad. They learned nothing more
but early one morning the sound was
heard of a firing squad at work. There
was one rattle of musketcy and then
silence. AS far as the Vlteris are con-
cerned that silence has not been bro
ken.
The Viteris were well known in the
local Central American Colony. They
used to visit this city at regular inter-
walls and were familiar figures about
the Grand and Palace hotels in the
days before the fire.
In the past when Cabrera caused the
t death of any Guatemalan, the sincerity
of whose friendship or loyalty he SUE
pected the body was turned over to the
family with the presidents comDIi-
ments or regrets, or whatever is Cen.
| trail American etiquette, in affairs Of
/ this kind. Up to the time the SaI
Jose left Guatemala, however, none q
S the missing men had been sent home
in this way. 1t was known, however
that many burials had taken place il
the penitentiary graveyard and Guat
@ emala could only surmise that Ca
70 brera's vengeance this time was t.
q take on darker tinge than usual
Manuel and Eduardo Prado, ais
y wealthy planters and prominent in al
s fairs of state, next disappeared an
once more there came the rattle O
rifle shots from inside the heavy wall
of La Penitenciaria. They, too, ha
r many acquaintance in San Francisc
l. which they often visited in search {
p pleasure after they had disposed of
n. | eaasoT,'e rich coffee prOp