Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 June 1902 — SAYS A THOUSAND ARE DEAD. [ARTICLE]

SAYS A THOUSAND ARE DEAD.

Town of Ratalhnlen, Guatemala, Destroyed by Volcano. Upward of 1,000 lives hare been lost and half the city of Ratalkulcn, Guatemala, has been destroyed by the eruption of Tacana volcano, according to advices received by the Chilian steamer Palena, from Valparaiso and way ports. Ratalhnlen lay several miles back from Champerico, on the coast, and it was at the latter city that nows of the disaster was secured. Earthquakes, it was said, had continued at short intervals every day since the great disturbance of April 18, when the city of (Juczaltcnango was destroyed. The shocks have been of sufficient Strength to keep the residents of the entire region in a state of terror, and little has been done to repair the damage done by them and the volcanic eruptions. Pumice stone and ashes' thrown from the crater of Tacana have spread a thin coating over the territory surrounding Champerico. A few days before the Palena left Champerico an earthquake destroyed a small town near Guatemala City, but Ita name was not learned.