Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-01-03
GUATEMALA CITY
IS LAID IN RUINS
Capital of Central American
Republic Destroyed by
Earthquakes.
$4,000 ARE HOMELESS.
Shocks Began Christmns Dny and
Lasted until Saturday Nisht-City
Scene Of Many Disasters.

Washington, Dec. 30.-Guatemala City,
capital of the little Central American re-
public Of Guatemala has been laid In ruins
by a series Of earthquakes beginning
Christmas day and eliminating last night
in violent shocks which completed the
work Of destruction. A cablegram to the
navy department to-day said 125,0Oo peo-
pie were in the streets without shelter'
and that number were killed by falling
walls
Naval vessels in Central American wa
ters have been ordered to the stricken
city to render all possible assistance.
Following is the brief despatch which
brought the news of the catastrophe:
bad earthquake yesterday, finished the
work Of others. Everything In ruins ana
beyond description as a result OF last
nights shock. One hundred and twenty
five thousand people are in the streets.
Parts of the country are very cold ana
windy. Tents are needed badly. quite a
number killed yesterday by falling walls.
The shocks probably occurred between
5:57 and seven O'Clock last night. Violent
quakes were recorded at that time by the
sesmographs of the Georgetown Univer-
sity observatory and the distance was
estimated at 1900 miles from washington
Earthquakes have been prevalent IN
Guatemala since the day after Christ
mas, when shocks were general through
out the republic. With each recurrent
shock the damage in Guatemala city, the
capital of the republic, has grown more
extensive. Last Thursday 1t was reported
that from 10 to 40 persons had been
killed in the disturbance Of the previous
night, while dispatches of Friday ana
Saturday indicated that so per cent. OF
Guatemala city had been demolished ana
that thousands Of persons were homeless.
Martial law had been declared and good
order was said to be prevailing.
Guatemala has been the scene OF many
disasters, the results of earthquakes.
Since the settlement of the country in
1922 there have been more than so vol
canic eruptions and in excess Of 300
earthquakes. The original Guatemala city
was destroyed in 1541 and 5000 Of the In
habitants were killed by deluge of water
| from a nearby volcano. which was sent
| by an earthquake. The second capital
was destroyed by an earthquake in 1773
| The houses of the present capital were
| built low in consequence Of the liability
to earthquake.
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
old vice-regal palace, the cathedral and
archbishop's palace and government of.
fees. The capital is the center of the
trade Of the entire republic. which con-
ssts in the manufacture of musins, cot
ton yarns of fine texture, articles Of sill
yer and embroideries.
| Washington, Dec. 30-The machinery o
the American Red Cross has been set II
motion to relieve the earthquake sufferers
In response to an appeal for assistance
from Alfred Clarke, chairman Of the Re-
Cross chapter at Guatemala City,
preliminary appropriation of $4,000 ha
been authorized for the purchase of relic
supplies. Materials for temporary shelter
are being assembled, but mildness Of tn
climate in the devastated region minimize
fears Of suffering likely to be caused b.
exposure.
At gulf port large quantities Of flour
potatoes, crackers and other staple food
stuffs as we'll as disinfectants and store
Of galvanized iron for temporary building
already are being loaded aboard vesse
to sail for Barrios on the east coast o
Guatemala.