Evening journal., 1922-12-01
MACHINE GUN
FIRE BREAKS
Up MEXICAN
WATER RIOTS
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through shop windows. Some groups
sang. others hooted and yelled.
Approaching the palace the throng
began uttering its war cry;
Aqua. Aqua" (water, water).
Women ehrieked it at the top OF
their voices. Men roared It in chorus.
They gathered up sticks. stones and
other missiles as they went along.
The column seemed 20 gain mo-
mentum as it advanced. Lights IN
windows winke6 out as the NUT
tering OF the swellsd ever louder In
the distance heralding its approach
Jazz bands. in oabarets. cut OF
their dance tunes in the middle and
the merrymakers. some scared and
some hysterically sleeful. hocked
into the street. Men with tins Of
gasoline appeared at the heads OF
the grim procession.
The municipal palace was dark
ominously silent when the rioters
marched into the enclosure. They
milled about. yelling for Aqua" de
manding the resignation OF Dr.
Alonzo Romero, the municipal presi-
dent. Soldiers and police began try
ing 20 dispense them.
Rush the building" cried one OF
the agitators. Capture the MUM
cipal palace"
The people closely packed in the
square and forced forward by the
pressure OF those behind hesitated a
moment-then one man started run
ming toward the building. with a yell
The mob charged, fists and clubs up
raised, men and women racing side
by side.
A ripple OF rife fire came from
he palace. then yellow triggers
stabbed at the crowd from a half
dozen points as the machine guns
started their purr OF death.
From that moment. the historic
Zocalo became bloody battlefield. !
The deadly rustic OF bullets was in /
the air. Men and women fell and I
were trampled as the crowd hurled [,
back from the portals OF the gov T
eminent building was seized with |
panic and fought only 10 escape from I
hat trap.
Gasoline was poured over a scat /
fold which had been erected against I
one side OF the structure by work
men making repairs. The fitful /
glare OF flames threw a weird light .
over the scene.
The fire spread rapidly through
the entire interior Of the building
spouting from windows devouring
historic archives az the machine
guns continued their grim chatter.
The gunners were driven out from
the shelter OF the palace by the
blaze but they had the crowd on
he run and kept IT going. Dense
masses Of humanity were packed in
the entrance OF the streets leading
from the quare while behind them
on the bloody pavement forms lay
stiu and others crawled painfully on
all tours seeking a hiding place.
Soldiers and police followed the re- :
treating rioters, leaping over the
bodies of groaDing wounded. They /
were under orders to dispense the !
crowd and prevent IL from reassem- !
bling. Large sections OF the mob !
we're 60 thoroughly frightened they
thought only OF flight Isolated
groups. however. set out TO pillage {
he city.
Yelling and singing they paraded
the principal business streets shoot
tng through windows and hurting s
rocks. These men had their hap
tisna of IRE and were out for ven {
reODce. Detaohments OF Federal
soldiers went through the streets at
the double quick seeking 20 head
hem of. Il was now past mid J
night the glow OF the burning NUM-
ripal palace lit the sky and the pro-
gress OF the mobs could be traced
by the sounds Of shots, crashing 7
glass yells and screams mingled
with the shouting OF orders 10 troops [
and the juggling OF their accoutre- 7
ments as they trotted along
Several OF the Isolated groups /
marched TO the home OF DR.. Alonzo s
Romeo, the municipal president. b
Their way led through deserted I
,trsets as merchants had put up Il
heir shutters and the people were
teeping out OF sight. Soldiers con- T
-ronted the rioters before DR.. Ro- +
neo's residence. They began firing. F
eight rioters fell The rest fled. o
BY dawn Il was believed the last
II the mobs had been broken up. o