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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 29, 1912)
THE OMAHA SUNT) AY BKK: DECEMBER 2fl. 1P1! 11 A Ruins of Oldest Spanish - American City A tCopyrlght, 1912, by Frank a. Carpenter.) NTIOUA, Guatemala, Dec IS. lou have probably never hoard of Antlkua. Neverthe less It was lone one of the great cities of the North American continent li .. famous 100 years before any settle ment In the United States beRan to he. It had Us tons of thousands when our Dutch ancestors landed on Manhattan Island, and Its .colleges and Us cathedral when the boys of tho Pil grims, wero first trotting tho eowpaths which formed the street of old Boston. H had palaces and public buildings when we had only log cabins, and Us ruin show that If far surpassed any other city of North America for HX or mor years, after the continent was discovered. Old Cnpttnl of Spanish America. I havo seen all the ruined cities of tho world, but 1 know none moro Interesting than those of this old capital of Spanish America. I have tramped through tho streets of Pompeii, and have explored the remains of Zimbabwe In northern Rhode sia, I havo oxplored Tlmgad. the one burled capital which Is now belRK exca vated on tho edge of the Sahara, and hava Vandered about over tho site of old Carthago. A few years ago I was In Baalbek, that old ruin In tho moun tains "of Lebanon, and It Is only a few weeks since I wrote to you about Qutr lgua, ;the city of the Mayans In the Motfc gua valley, not far from here. The ruins of Antigua, llo at tho foot of two mighty volcanoes. They represent u metropolis which was destroyed again and again by earthquake and eruptions until tho people of Guatemala save up in despair and moved their capital to where It is now. 1 The site of tho city is thirty miles from the railroad, -and, It took me ten hours of hard riding on tho back of a mule to roach It. It was situated here in the mountains on the slopes of the Volcano de Ague and of the Volcano de Fiieiro. which, translated into English, mean the mountains of flro and of water. These mountains are symmetrical vol canoes. Each is as beautiful aa Fujiyama In Japan, or the Moyon volvano or south ern Iuon. Fuego now and then rumbles and It Is satd that It may at any time break out in eruption. The Volcano de Ague, Is now quiet, but fourteen years nfter' the old city was started It burst forth a delugo of water and reduced it to ruins. Some think tlio water came from a lake' in tho volcano, which the eruption threw out like a mighty cloudburst, and others say that It came from torrential rains; which Imd been pouring for seven days and which rolled down the moun tains, bearing forests, rocks and earth In th?I'r floods. The first city .was founded by Pedro Alvarado only thirty-two years "after v-oiumDus nrst crossed the Atlantic. Al varado was sent with an army of 250 Spaniards to conquer tho countries of Central America. He enlisted BTcat hordes of Indians, subduing the natives. He re duced tribe after tribe to slavery, brand ing them and selling them In tho public markets. Ho chose this place as his capital, and nrc.hltects camo. over from Spain to-lay out tho city. It wa Just nbout the .tlnte ot hi de'atfi that 'tho town, was destroyed and the Indians bellevo tnat .vw?.?l l,Wly,d.9." ! a Judgment' upon his wife, who-complalned. to the Lord becautfe'she had lost her "husband, Sent of Culture mill I.puimiIuk. In ..rebuilding tho city the Spaniards choso a site about two miles away and there '.erected their capital. Tills remained in exlstenco for 230 years, when It was again destroyed by the same volcano which had brought on tho flood. Tho new capital was laid out with tho Idea that it would be tho metropolis of North America and for generations It was tho center of culture and learning of oouth crn North America. It was destroyed In 1773 by . earthquakes and at that tlmo it had 120,000 people. In 1800. Boston had only 24,000, and It was a city of wood. This old capital of Guatemala was a city of stone and stucco. Its afreets wore paved with atones and It had buildings which covejed acres. It had forty-nine churches, four of which were parish churches, whose priests were under the government, and tho others had been established by tho Spaniards,- who built them in gratitude for the prosperity given by the Ird. There were also eight great monasteries, five convents, two big hospitals and three massive Jails. There were palaces galore, and .outside tho city were seventy Indian villages surrounding It like tho setting of a diamond. in tho center of tlie city was a great plaza, upon which faced the cathedral 809 feet long and 120 feet deep. This was lighted by fifty windows, and over Its grand altar was a dome seventy feet high, supported by sixteen columns or stono faced with tortoise shell and adorned by bronze medallions of wonderful beauty. The monastery of San Francisco had more than 3.000 people within Its walls, and the College of Jesuits was even more beautiful. Further on I describe the ruins of these and other buildings, which give somo Idea of tho magnificence of the capital. It was a wealthy city. Its white In habitants had thousands of slaves and gold and sliver were brought in from the mountains and sent from here by tho shipload to Spain. Tho land about was cultivated, and everything was prosper ous beyond the dreams of avarice. Destroyed ly Knrthqnnkes. Then came the earthquakes and erup tions! In 1668 there was a plague, and In ISM there was a great earthquake, which destroyed a large part of the city. In 1901 there was another plague and fifty years later tho earth trembled again, and masses of rock rolled down the moun tain slopes Into the city. About a generation later the plague came for a third time and then after a respite of thirty years tho volcano had another eruption, during which the earth Bhook and the thick walls of the churches cracked like egg shells. Tho last earth quakes were those of 1773. At that time the mountains seemed to' be on a contin uous shake, tho tiles flew from the roofs of the houses like straws blown about in a gale of wind and the bells rung as the earth trembled. The domes of the churches were split, the roofs of the mon asteries fell in and many monks at prayer were burled in the. debris. At last the final earthquake was on the ISth of De cember, 1773. This destroyed so much ot tho city that the people decided to move. The king of Spain took it up and sent out his orders that the site of tho capital be changed, tie was ooeyea ana me uuw mala City of today lies on a. little plateau thirty miles away. It is so surrounded by ravines and gorges the the earth quakes do not trouble U. It was laid out on the plans of the old city, but Is has never reached Us magnificence, and the population now is at least 20,000 less than was that of the old capital at the time "" -V 'IMM ) .JBHifBBU SBSlSSSSH II 1 I ' 11 IT w 4 3 of the removal, now moro than 13D years ago. Antigua of Todny. I wish. I could show you tho Antigua of today as tt lies about me, Somo of the old buildings have been repaired and new ones erected, so that we havonow hero a population of perhaps 5.000, mado up uf Indians and whites. Tho most of these peoplo llvo In low one-storied butldlngB of brick, covered with stucco and roofed with red tiles. Much of the material has come from tho old city and tho windows have antiquated balconies which extend out over the street and which are barred with wrought Iron, torn from the ruins. Somo of tho carved wood or Moorish design has been kept and not a few of the doors aro. quaint and antique. Many of them have door knockers of Iron, silver and brass and somo havo a lattice work over tho windows which reminds 'ono of the Moors. Thero is still a plaza In the center ot the city, upon which stand tho government buildings and tho ruined ca thedral. The houses are painted all tho colors of the rainbow. They stand close to the streets and ore entered by great doors, which are sometimes heavily bar red. You see Indians everywhere, and In dian babies swarm Nearly every woman has a baby at her breast or on her back, and the boys and girls go along with babies hung to tholr backs aa they do In Japan. Tho children aro put to work early. I see Indian boys of fi years carrying burdens nnd girls of the siuno ago trotting along with loads on their heads. From the Tup uf the Cnthedrnl. Hut come with me and let us take a look at the ruins. 1 have met here Father - llossboch, a delightful priest, who has charge of tho old church of La Merced. Ho Is an Amedlcan who Is doing missionary .work among tho peoplo of his faith In Central America, and ho has provdcd a guldo for us In tho person of a Grand ltaplds boy who has come here for his health Tho boy's name Is Law rence Hennor. Ho speaks Spanish and he can show us about. We go to the plaza, and entering the cathedral wind our way around and around up the narrow, dark steps of the tower until we come out on the mighty roof of tho structure. It Is formed by fourteen great domes, which make one think of the building of Egypt. Back of tlveao Is tho court, now In ruins, the walls and roof having been torn away and only tho great columns with their enrvnl caoltals still intact. This build ing covers over an acre and It was full Of worshipers when wo had only log, churches. The view from the roof Is magnificent. We can see how the city lies In a cir cular nest In the mountains. Outside the basin is covered with coffeo plantations and within the. buildings have patios whose gardens and orchards make tho setting beautifully green. It Is a. town built in a forest and garden with these mighty ruins rising out of tho green. Just neat the cathedral is tho old uni versity. We enter the court, which Is surrounded by arcades where walked tho students of 200 years ago. A part of tho building Is now used aa a college and In the court the sohool boys were drilling. The teacher, with two whips In his hands, Is directing the marching and I photo graphed the boys as they tramped. Convent uf Sun Krnnrli.ro. We take a carriage and drive to tho convent of San Francisco. Hero aro the ruins of a mighty church and monastery which in their prime must havo beon of great beauty. Tho entrance gates had statues of marble and obove them are the"coats-of-arms of the king of Spain. We pass In through great pillars beauti fully carved, enter a court yard and thence go on to the body of the church. This Is one mass of ruins, but the Indians have mode homes in the walls, and they havo carpenter shops ana uiacannuui shops where monks onco muttered their prayers. Right over the arched door Is a beautiful statue of the Madonna, and in the niches on tho church front aro fourteen statues of saints. The decora tion within is wonderfully beauUful, but there are trees now growing In the main hall and moss and bushes cover the walls. Bight In the main body of the building the Indians have erected an oven, where they cook, on the site of the ancient con fessionals. There is only one part of tho old church which Is Btlll Intact. This Is a little sacristy at the left of the main entrance, where mass is regularly said. This sac riBty has what I suppose are many of the ornaments of the old church. Its walls are covered with carvings, oil paintings and statues painted with gold. A statue of Christ, with a cross on his back, stand In front of the altar, It la robed in pur ple, embroidered with gold and bands of gold lace. At the right, protected by bars of iron, is a recess in the wall which Is said to contain the body or a famous priest, who was bo noted for his friend ship, tar the poor that If he found a sick roan on the street he would put him on his back and ca-y him to the hospital. There are numerous wax Images hung to the walls of this grating. Some are of the Madonna and others are of legs and arms sent in by the sick, who hope to be cured. There are candles burning in front of this recess. Some of the oil paintings from the old church are beau- Jjz h.e Old. College o tlie 2teco21ech'o2z tiful, as are also two benches of mosaic wood Inlaid with Ivory. Tho Church of iin Francisco was built In the shape of a cross, with u. central hall, and a smaller hall crossing, this nt high angles. Just over tho cross wero three domes, each as big as the largest clrciiH tent. Two of these domes aro still Intact, but the central ouo has been de stroyed by tho earthquake nnd that part Is roofed alone by thn sky. The vines have clitpbed up ,tho walls and entered tho dome, mid long lianas hang down into tho church. It is now 110 years since these buildings. were destroyed and Us ruins are practically unknown. If they were situ ated nenr Vesuvius instead of near tho Volcano de Agua, they would bo ono of the wonders of tho world, and would be mentioned In every guide book. Monaster)- Owned liy Amerirnnn. My next visit was to a Michigan Insti tution. This was tho College and Mon astery of Recollection, the estate of which has been bought hy arand ltaplds peopto and turned Into coffee plantation. I am told that they have also about 3,000 acres on tho sides of the-Volcano "de Agua, ond they expect to plant this to corn. The ruins of Hocollnclon are nbout 300 years old. They aro anlong the largest of' tho ancient capital, covering soveral acres. The' walls aro from two to four fect in thickness, but, notwithstanding that tho earthquakes reduced them to ruins, Tho buildings worn erected as a monas tery and college, but the inonastry Is now used as a caridlo factory and a place to dry hides. I found a mill for grinding tallow, much llko ono of the. old tan bark mills which were formerly common In tho United States, In tho sacristy, and under tho dome a lot of green hides were Btetched, Nearby was an oven, used for cooking tallow, and tho burning wood was smoking tho altar arid discoloring tho ancient walls. In tho patio of tho College for Girls Is now a cattle corral and Berk shire pigs are rooting among the debris. Tho estate which belonged to these build ings Is. now growing coffeo and fruits. I went over It with the manager, Mr. Al bert r. Flattie, and among other things ho showed mo a great concrete and stono swimming bath built by its former owner. This bath was In tho patio. It is 100 fect long and ten feet In depth. It Is formed of material from tho ruins. 1'rlent mi American. During my Btay hero I havo visited tho Church of Merced, over which Father Roasbach, tho American of whom I havo spoken, has charge. It Is a beautiful building with a front wonderfully carved. It Is only 100 or 200 years old and was partially destroyed by tho earthquake, It has been rebuilt and now stands on the ruins of tho past. Tho reason for Us reconstruction Is told ns follows: One day when tho mayor and somo of the town officials wero going by the ruins they heard a concord of sweet sounds. It was at tho time of vespers and they wondered where the music came from. They thought they must bo mistaken and got others to come and listen with thum. Tho vespers continued and the peoplo were so impressed that they decided to rebuild tho church. This Is tho tradition. Tho fact Is that thn church stands and that It Is ono of the most beautiful In Central America. During my visit to it-Is hadboon deco rated by the Indians in honor of a saint day. They nail arawn a design or a beautiful rug in the center of the hall and made the flguros of this In sand of different colors. Around this sweet smelling grass was strewn, while palm leaves lay at the foot of the altar. As we looked Indian women came in and knelt before tho madonna, crossing their hands and praying. During tho holy week the Indians tako tho statues of Christ and tho Madonna and carry them through the city from night until morning, playing the while. This church has flat arches equal to f'e or.e at Panama Its roof Is upheld with mlgMy pllUrs and the contrast of the wh'te of Xf walls and the red hrirk Is refrestilpg. It Is a beautiful church, and It It were In Europe It would be onu of the sights of Us locality. This 'is n benutiful country. Tho soil Is fertile and that about Antigua In cov ered with coffeo nnd sugar plantations, Tho coffee trees grow from fifteen to eighteen feet high and thoy aro loaded with berries. Many of tho plantations are In largo estates beautifully laid out, .with wide avenues through thorn. The avenues arc shaded by cryptomycrlas, and the vegetation Is that of tho tropics. There nro many beautiful flowers and great trees In blossom. There are numer ous birds and this wholo valley scorns a Garden of Kden. It Is no wonder It was chosen as tho alto of tho ancient capital, nnd especially so from Its beauty In con trast to the desert mountains above it. FRANK a. CARPENTER, S ST Only Two Days More wmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmm And our great Prc-Inventory Salo will bo an event of tho post. It will, howover, be an event long romombored by the peoplo of Omaha and Nebraska. Everyone who haa attendod this salo say it is the greatest ever and are truly surprised at the won derful bargains wo aro offering. This is an annual event with our store, and the rea son is wo want to reduce siso of stock boforo January 1st Will you help us? If so, wo will make it profitable to you. Gome Monday. Don't wait, as tho best bargains are always taken first. High Grade Standard Instruments at Cost Oome and look thorn over. YOU ARE NOT FORCED TO BUY, except by the real ization that novor before has such a BARGAIN boon offered to the public. We can not describo these bargains, so you had hotter como and see what wo aro offering. While assortments during this short salo are small, still the stylos aro varied and the qualities are tho best. Oome, procure for yourself and family a AL PIANO BARGAIN To receive a real piano bargain, besides getting a low price, you must receive a better quality at the price you pay than is usually offered. That is what we are doing. Better Pianos for Less Money During this sale you aro privileged to pay all cash or, if more convenient for you, we will gladly make suoh TERMS aa will be easy and satisfactory to you. OOME SEE HEAR and lot us show you what we have to offer. HAYDEN BROS. i 3 TIMELY REALESTATE GOSSIP Committee at Work on Suggestions for New City Charter. WEATHER FINE FOR BUILDING Keif er Says Too Few Live on Farms and Keep Living Cost Up "No, the democrats will not accomplish much toward 'reducing tho cost of llvlnp In tills country unions they also bring about a ffenoral financial disturbance, said J. Warren Kclfer of Bprlngfleld, O., on ex-congressman of six terms expert enco and ex-speaker of tho house, when In Omaha yesterday. Thoso things are not easily regulated by legislation. Tho fact Is, for all that may be said to tho contrary, there aro too few of us on tho farms and too many of us customers. In 18GG when I left tho farm in Ohio, the census showed the 85 per cent of our peoplo were on the farms and were farm ing lu ono way or tho other. The thlr tpcuth census taken In 1910 showed a little less than 33 per cent wero on the farms engaged In agriculture. Now those fig' urcs speak for themselves. The other 07 per cent of us our consumers. Then again, when wo are prosperous as wo havo been for some years now, we consume moro than we do when times oro a little harder. We are a greedy peo ple. Figures will show that wo consume in quantity twice as much as tho Ger mans per capita, three times as much as tho Italians, nearly twice as much as the French, nearly twice ns much as the people of tho lirltlali Isles, which includes tho English, Irish, Hcotch and Welsh. Now tnko tho Item of sugar for example Germany consumes fifteen pounds per capita per annum; Italy seven pounds per capita; France neventoen pounds per capita; England twenty-five pounds and the United States consumes eighty-one pounds per capita per annum. Now then we don't need all that. When I was a small boy we used to got a little sugar once a week or so. When wo were little boys we used to buy a llttlo stick of sugar for a nickel when wo got to town. Now people carry homo great quantities of It in market baskets every time they go to market." Mr, Kelfer was In Omaha yesterday to take deposition before a notary on mat ters pertaining to a suit which he is carrying on In Bpringfleld," O. I think I am put of politics for good. . nowj I am practicing - law for a living, ij I should run for offlco again, some peoplo would say I was too old. I'll he 77 next January." The old speaker of the house Is still very hardy, and gets around in a spry manner. "I was shot four tlmos wlillo lu the army during tho Civil war," lie said, "and havo still managed .to enjo , myself pretty well In llwo." Tho Bee reaches thoso who lire able to buy. Auilltortnm Written Up. A history of tho Omaha Auditorium was given In a two-column nrtlclo In the Indianapolis News December 17, in which wero described tho pitfalls that havo come to thin city In building: and main taining the building. Tho article was written as advice to Indianapolis, which is contemplating tho erection of a large publlo coliseum. Ao cordlng to the writer of tho story, the Auditorium, though it has been some what of a financial burden to ths city1, has repaid in advertising. Another Hotel Name. Fred Crclgh, another young real estate dealer, don't like the suggestion of a hotel name offered In this column last week by his brother dealer, Linn Camp bell. Ctolgh says that Inasmuch as the big hostelry will be near the High school chlmnoy, ho would give it a nclchborly name, while still following along tho Una of Campbell's thought. IIo says, call It The Murad," or "The Fatima," Camp bell still sticks to his aurgestlon, "The Whisky.'1 0STR0M MAY SECURE A STATE APPOINTMENT Honry E. Oatrom, clerk of tho Board of County Commissioners, will bo ap pointed chief deputy commissioner ot lands and buildings by Commissioner elect Fred Heckraan, the first of the year, according to Uncoln men who visited In Omaha. Mr. Oatrom said he hud not been notified of the 'coming appoint ment and lie bad nothing to nay about it. Mr. Ostrom's reticence probably is duo to a feeling that tho announcement should be w.thhe'd until Mr Hickman officially makes It Mr Octrom haa served sevtrul years as clerk uf the commissioners. V UPPER BERTH RUMOR FRIGHTENS RAILROADERS Unusual Amonnt of Construction Work Oolnir on In Onmhn, vrltli . Ilrlck Yards rroilnclnar More Than ISrer. If building operations enn be figured to Indicate nctlvlty lu real estate sales, then tho market Is greater this wlntor than it has ever been In Omaha before. Not for years has there been so much building In progress at this senson of tho year as at the present time, principally because such weather has not been had at this season In years. That thero U greater building octivlty this winter than ever before may bo de termined by the fact that tho Omaha brick kilns aro continuing nnd Increasing their output. It Is rather unusual that kilns should bo producing pressed brick at all, at this late date, but not only are they producing, but they aro producing greater numbers of bricks than for any season. Ono brick kiln In Omaha has been pressing nnd baking WW) bricks a day, whllo four or flvf others are running close to that figure This company re quires tha use of fourteen teams and wagons to distribute tho material to the places of building A glance over the city will show nn unusual amount of winter building. One of tho most Imposing Instances is the Balrd building, being orected by tho Mc Cague Investment company for tho Bos ton Qround Itent company at Heventeenth and Douglas streets. Work has been go ing on thero regularly since tho excava tion was made a few weeks ago. The contractors will complete it before they expected. Tho Empress theater. Douglas and Six teenth streets. Is another scene or fast construction work because of the mild weather. Tho carpenters, bricklayers and other artisans at work thero havo not been Interrupted a day since the work was begun. Usually such a work la delayed consiaerauiy wnen at tempted In Novorober and December, It Is about eomoleted now, though, and soon Omahans will have another place to go to for their amusement. KxrbniiKr on Tir.vr Charter. The Real Kstftte exchange is taking great interest in Omaha's new charter and In proposed bills to placed before the lnrnmlnir Nebraska legislature. At a long-drawn-out meeting of a special com inlttee at the t'ommerclal club Thursday noon the problems confronting the real estate man were thoroughly dlseusseci. Tho committee Is an efficient ont well versed In tho neods of Omaha as to a charter and legislative enactments. If other organizations will appoint llko com mittees similarly Interested and enthused, and If tho people In framing and adopt ing a new charter take it aa seriously, a good worklnfi plan ot government for this olty Is assured. Wide Advertising Uracil An Instance of the wide field of In fluence of advertising In Tho Beo Is given by Charles K. Williamson. For several Sundays he has been advertising maps of Omaha and street guides which at the dinner Saturday was presented may bo had from him on application, with a small Jewelry box containing a As a result f that advertising he has B0)d coin. received requests for them from New . York, towns " Alaska Panama and' Tlie rerslntent and Judicious Vic of J many other wt 'e! nrarutert points Newspuprr Advertising is tlie itoau to For a few minutes yesterday some of the local railroad men were excited over a report that during next year when they rode In Pullman cars, they would have to occupy upper berths. They havo discovered that tho report was without foundation and that they were unduly alarmed. The Pullman passes for railroad men havo begun to arrive, and llko those of former years, thero Is nothing said with reference to lowers, or uppors. They simply state that the holders ar entitled to the usual courtesies. The number of paeees, both railroad and Pullman, being sent out this year Is about the same as last. In fact, some of the roads are Increasing the number of the annuals, extending the courtesies to employes a little farther down the line. Pullmans are all Issued on request of the official designated by each road, and this year, us during former years, they are good over the rails of the road on which the holder is employed. For In stance, on a road running to Denver, the Pullman paw would be good on Its trains, but not good on a sleeper on a road be tween Omaha and Kansas City. In the event a railroad employe who holds a Pullman annual rides on some road other than the one by which ha Is employed, he pays his sleeping car fare the same as the regular passenger. TYPEWRITER HOUSE GIVES DINNER TO TRAVELING MEN In celebration of the closing of the largest month's business m tho history of the Omaha branch office, W. J. Pick ering1, manager of the Remington Type writer company for this territory, callod the twelve traveling men into the city and they dined together Saturday at tha Commercial club. At the close ot business Christmas each said there has been more orders taken In Nebraska, western Iowa and South Da kota than In any other month since the business lias been established. Each man Speed! We are willing to "npeed up" thia plant as it has never been "sped" before and no matter HOW large or difficult the job, we will bind ourselves to get it out in time for "New Year'i Day" Dresher Brothers Cleaners THOKB TTZJUt 3-4-5 KbAarr at aan-aais a-ARNAlS BTKJS37T. 6 77' FOR GRIP&COLDS Tell about "Seventy-seven," tell your friends, tell your neighbors, tell everybody you meet, what "Seventy seven" has done for you. Wo don't ask this as a favor, not for our sake, but as a duty to your follow man. If you have usod -"Seventy-seven" properly, you know, that if it la taken at the beginning; of a Cold, at the flrat chill or shiver, It will break up a Cold. You know If you wait till you be gin to cough and sneeze it may take longer, why not share your good for ture with others. A small vial of pleasant pellets fits the vest pocket. At your Drug gist 25c, or mailed. Humphreys' Homeo. Medicine Co., 101 William St., New York. Advertisement AUTO Painting Repairing VtET Trimming HUH till If I r' . --- , - IK- says iv.re lu no uueslton but that J llusluesu Sucess. The Bee's Phones: f YLER 10OO For All Departments South Omh Offk, StU Street. Phone Rontfe ST. CobbcII Bluffs Office, IS Street. Phono 43.