The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-12-01
II ARE DEAD
AS RESULT OF
MEXICAN RIOT
Water Famine Cause
of Battle
(Ry Associated Pressl

=
MEXICO CITY, Dec. 1.-Federal
troops guarded badly battered MI
nicipal building today while the city
counted the casualties OF a pitched
battle between the police and a mob
which attempted to storm the building
last night. The death list as result
OF the fighting stood at II early today.
while 1S persons are known to have
been seriously injured and SO slightly
hurt 1t was thought that a closer
check might reveal further casualties.
The city after night of wild es-
citement found its main plaza before
the municipal building a shambles OF
broken glass, timbers and stone
evidence of the anger OF the mob
which forced its way into the building
half an hour after the police rifles
had taken their toll
Water Famine Cause
The trouble, which lasted for more
than six hours, started when a crowd
marched to the city hall to protest
against the aldermen who are held
responsible for conditions leading to
the water famine. The demonstration
was intended by the labor unions that
organized it as a peaceful protest, and
several hundred persons paraded the
downtown streets before proceeding
to the hall to voice their adverse SEN
timents against the city government.
These protestants were reinforced
along the route and when the munici-
pal building was reached the crowd
numbered more than 1000 persons.
Yelling invectives against the alder
men, the mob gave emphasis to its
words by hurting stones and other
missiles. When one leader suggested
that the hall be entered, the demon
strators made a concentrated rush for
ward. The police guards met thesS
advance by firing their rifles over the
heads of the crowd, which, however,
did not check its course. When it be-
came apparent that the mob would
enter the building despite the police.
the latter aimed their rifles point
blank and fired with deadly effect.
Fire Hose Used
Staggered by the bullets the demons
traitors retired, carrying with them
their dead and injured. But in half an
hour they returned and several of their
number. breaking windows entered
the hall and began to set ere to its
contents. Valuable documents, some
of which dated back several centuries
were tossed into the streets and the
city records were given to the winds.
By this time the federal troops had
arrived but the intruders were not
elected before the building had been
fired in many places and the furniture
wrecked. A line of hose which the fire
department was able to bring into
play despite the water shortage, was
successful in holding back the crowds
outside.
Several sporadic attempts to con-
tinue the demonstration were made in
the succeeding hours, but when the
demonstrants returned to the attack
they found Gordon of several hun
dred soldiers about the building and
contented themselves with jeering and
hooting officials in general including
some of the members of the federal
government
Minor Depredations.
Thus baffled in their attempts to re-
enter the hall, several small groups of
citizens marched through the streets
committing minor depredations. They
called on all the newspaper offices and
hooted and yelled before the resi-
denceS of the city officials.
The chamber of deputies adjourned
when it received news of the sanguin-
ary encounter in the main plaza and
a heavy guard>was thrown around the
building. The residences of all alder
men were also under the protection OF
federal troops throughout the night
1t was said today that the city elec-
ton schedule for next Sunday would be
postponed in view of last nights occur
renee and the suggestion was made in
many quarters that the federal gov
ernment take over the city administra-
ton temporarily.
President Obregon declined to COM
ment on the affair until he had re-
ceived the official report.