Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-31
Guatemala City in Ruins and
Many Thousands OF Resi-
dents Homeless.
MOST PUBLIC BUILDINGS
AND DWELLINGS WRECKED
American Legation and Consular
Buildings Destroyed-Martlai
Law Declared, Looters Shot.

NEW YORK, December 3l.-An esh-
mate of 1000 persons dead in the ear1h-
quake ruins at Guatemala City IS con-
tanned in telegram received here from
the Central and South American Tele-
graph Company's manager at san jose
Guatemala, who returned to san Jose
from Guatemala City yesterday after-
noon. The message reads:
"The legation and American con
sulates are badly wrecked. Forty per
cent of the houses in the city are de-
molished; most of the others have col
lapsed and are uninhabitable. The peni-
tcntiary, asylum and ministerial build
ings are all wrecked. The post ONCE
and large churches are demolished.
MARTIAL law has been declared and
several looters have been shot. The
president Of Guatemala has ordered the
inhabitants of the city to leave. Terrific
earthquake shocks continue at intervals
of about five minutes. The death toll
is estin ated at one thousand. All tele-
graph wires in the interior are again
SILENT
Details Of the Disaster.
By the Associated Press.
SAN SALVADOR, December 31.-Gua-
temala City, capital of the republic of
Guatemala, has been completely de-
stroyed by an earthquake. Many per-
sons were killed in the disaster, some in
their homes and others in the streets.
The Colon Theater, which was filled
with people, collapsed. There were
many casualties among the audience.
Various hospitals and asylums and the
prisons were badly damaged and many
patients and prisoners were killed.
The railroad depot, sugar mills post
Office, the American and British les1-
tioss. United Staten eousdls1s md u
the churches in the city have been
levei.ed.
Deep assures opened in the middle Of
the city.
The Inhabitants in panic have fed
from the capital More than 10000 per-
SONS are homeless. The stock of provi-
sions in the city is scant and aid is re-
quired promptly
The Salvadorean government has sus
pended the official New Year celebration
and entered into mourning in sympathy
with Guatemala
Scene of Many Disasters.
Earthquakes have been prevalent in
Guatenlala since the day after Christ
mas. when shocks were general
throughout the republic. With each re.
current shock tho damage in Guate-
mala City, the capital OF the republic,
has grown more extensive. Last Thurs
day it was. reported that from ten to
forty persons had been killed IN the
Disturbances Of the previous night.
while dispatches OF Friday and Satur-
day indicated that 30 per cent Of
Guatamala City had been demolished
and that Thousands OF persons were
homeless. Martial law had been de-
clared and good order was said to be
prevailing.
Guatemala has been the scene Of
many disasters. the results OF earth
Quakes. Since the settlement OF the
country In 1522 there have been more
than f1fty volcanic eruptions, and in
excess OF 800 earthquakes. The original
Guatemala City was destroyed in 1541.
and 5000 OF the inhabitants were kill
ed by a deiuge of water from a nearby
volcano, which was rent by an earth
quake. The second capital was de-
stroyed by an earthquake in 1878. The
houses OF the present capital were
built low in consequence of the 1iAbil-
ity to earthquakes
Guatemala City has a population of
nearly 100000. 1t Is situated on a
plain at an elevation Of 1850 feet above
sea level. In the great square stood the
the old vice regal palace. the cathe-
dral and archbishop's palace and gov
ernment Offices. The capital 10 the CEN
ter OF the trade Of the entire republic.
which consists in the manufacture OF
muslins. cotton yarns of nne texture,