Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-04
FIGHTING IN GUATEMALA TOLD
IN LETTER TO D. C.. MAN
Popular Demonstration Follows Declara-
ton That President Cabrera
Is Insane.

Stirring days and nights in Guatemala,
following the revolution which began in
the Central American capital April 8
last and resulted in the downfall Of the
Cabrera government. are described in a
letter received by Rafael A. Castillo, a
native of Guatemala, who now lives at
iii Riggs place, in this city.
The story OF the revolution as re-
ceived by him. is. in brief. as follows:
On Thursday. April S, the assembly
met for the first time since March IS.
and after pronouncing Estrada Cabrera
insane and declaring his office vacant
elected Carlos Herrera provisional presi-
dent This announcement was the sig
nal for a popular demonstration and the
new government was given temporary
quarters in the Mexican legation.
Cabrera Hesitates.
Cabrera hesitated as to what course
he should follow. not being willing to
accept the guarantees given by the as
sembly and the diplomatic corps. The
principal garrison, with 300 men and
quantity Of munitions surrendered to the
new government, bursthe forts remained
under control of CabrSaa. On the even
ing Of April the f6ff OF Matamoros
Lueu ohe Suol WWk4l StFuctt near tne
Mexican legation; and another toward
the headquarters Of the unionfst party,
which controlled the new government
During the night details of unionists
patrolled the streets. though only a few
had firearms.
Early the following day Gems. Chacon
and Reyes left Matamoros. at the head
OF about 500 men. but were repulsed at
La MERGED and lost a number Of ma
chine guns and rifles, as well as a num-
Der Of men. who deserted the Cabrera
ranks
Prof. Castiilos correspondent says
that only the vacillation Of Cabrera
prevented him from taking the city
of Guatemala. for the unionist forces
could not have resisted an attack at
several points simultaneously had the
old regime acted with vigor. But
militia and arms soon arrived from
the suburbs, making it possible for
the Herrera troops to occupy the
castle OF San lose.
Description OF Fighting.
The fighting which resulted is de-
scribed as follows:
Cabrera bombarded the city with
all the artillery he had It La Palms.
but could do no more than destroy
the suburbs Of Cementerio and Reco-
Ieccion, the victims being chiefly
women, children and old men, since
all the able-bodied men were in the
ranks Meantime from San Jose, La
Estacion. Barranquilla and Urbana
murderous fire was directed at La
Palma, targets being made of the
soldiers who made up the outer line
of defense and bullets being scat
tered all over the presidential man
sion.
Cabrera asked time after time for
an armistice. negotiating through
Echeverria with the diplomatic corps.
The latter ended by warning him that
IL he did not suspend the ubiquitous
bombardment Of the city they would
break of relations. and this made
him somewhat more careful. The en-
tire republic meanwhile was rising
against the Cabrerist regime, sending
men and stores Wednesday,, the 18th.
the city was quiet. and firing was
concentrated against La Palma. which
had suspended pending another arml-
stice. Cabrera was continuing ms
negotiations and the legal govern
ment sent him an ultimatum expiring
at s in the afternoon. AT that hour
La Palma was covered with white
flags.
Ii Taken Prisoner.
"Col. Tiburcio Molina. released from
the penitentiary three days before.
was in front of the residence OF "a
brera ready to attack the occupants
srmisffrr was broken. The following
day. Thursday, Estrada Cabrera was
taken as prisoner to the Military
Academy with his s,aff. and the peo-
ple at once began to plunder La
Palma.
dered at the same time as EstTaoA
Cabrera. Soldiers and officers We're
taken 20 the parade ground. and the
people lynched Col. Alberto Garcia
Estrada and Col Miguel Jimlnez
(Milpas Altas). officers of the tort
up killed sixty unionists in the be-
ginning of the struggle. The same
fate awaited Mico Ponce Jose Maria
Miron. who was guilty OF atrocities
with his troops in the guard; joaquin
p Madrid, Francisco Galvez Porto
carrero and his companion. known as
Lobo. Felipe Marquee and his sons
escaped with difficulty the hands OF
the people, and were taken to the
penitentiary. wounded: as was also
Manuel Machado. The houses OF
these men and other Cabrerists were
pillaged.
Others Are Slain.
ION Thursday, the 9Th. Anguiano and
Viteri had been killed with clubs and
other weapons. Luis Fontaine and his
wife attacked the people at their house
in 5th avenue south and were killed by
clubs in the interior of the residence.
On their slde the Cabrerist forces were
guilty of frightful assassinations OF pri-
yate individuals. They shot without
reason two attorneys who were riding
peaceably in an automobile. and simi-
lar fate was meted out to other unfor-
Inmates.
1.-THE fate Of Estrada Cabrera, whose
life was guaranteed by the government.
Is uncertain. His accomplices are sub
eordance with law prsstdsntial elections