Manchester Memoirs, Vol. liii. Tiqcq), No. "V^. 



XXIII. The Guatemalan Earthquakes and Eruption 



of 1902. 



By W. S. ASCOLI, F.R.G.S. 

 {^Counminicated by Mr. C. E. Stronieye)', M.hist.C.E.) 

 ( Read April 20th, igog. Received for publicalioji May §th, igog.) 



Through its situation on one of the great volcanic 

 centres of the earth, Guatemala has suffered considerably 

 during historical times from earthquakes and volcanic 

 eruptions, but it is doubtful whether an)' year has been 

 marked by disasters of the magnitude of those of 1902. 

 The first disturbance of the series occurred on January 

 1 8th of that year, when the village of San Martin, near 

 Ouezaltenango, on the slopes of the Santa Maria, was 

 partially destroyed. From that date till April i8th, 

 everything was quiet. Then at 8-20 p.m. on that da}- an 

 earthquake of great violence destroyed the town of 

 Quezaltenango. The duration of its greatest intensity 

 was 57 seconds. Two distinct phases were clearly notice- 

 able — the first, which lasted about 25 seconds, marked 

 by heavy undulations (causing but little damage to 

 buildings), and the second, consisting of a succession of 

 great vertical jolts, following each other with great 

 rapidity, which completely destroyed the town. So 

 violent were these jolts that the plant at the electric 

 generating station was overturned and the town was 

 plunged in complete darkness. Though many of the 

 houses were built of stone, few escaped severe injury, and 

 all were condemned as uninhabitable by the authorities. 



May i8th, igog. 



