The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-12-01
HERE'S MORE ABOUT
MEXICO CITY
STARTS ON PAGE ONE

screams, mingled with tho shouting
Of orders 10 troops.
Several OF these Isolated
groups marched TO the home OF
Dr. Alonxo Romero. the mum
cipal president. Their way led
thru deserted streets. a mer-
chants had put up their shutters
and the people were keeping out
OF sight. Soldiers confronted the
rioters before Dr. Romrro's resi-
d~nce. They began firing. Eight
rioters fell wounded The rest
fled.
BY dawn Il was believed the las,
Of the mobs had been broken up.
Early In the evening the throng
formed. The people were angry.
Axisators mounted soap boxes and
denounced municipal officials for
permitting the water plant TO be
flooded w..ich resulted In putting
the city on rations-water for one
hour daily.
Take over the government and
run II yourself" the speakers told
the crowd. Demand the resigra-
ton Of city officials. Seize the city
hail."
Fighting spread all over the bust
ness district and into cafes and cab
arets- Cable and telegraph offices
were forced TO suspend business IS
instruments were torn out.
Great crowds marched thru the
streets. fighting. singing and shout
Ing for water.
About n week ago. because OF an
accident. the water plant was flood
ed. and since that time water has
been available only for about an
hour each day.
Demonstrations leading up TO the
one last night and today were staged
almost daily.
Attic the soldiers and police an
nounced that the rtoting had been
suppressed. confusion stiil prevented
IN exact count OF the casualties
FL Nacionai. IN an extra. estimated
the dead as high as 20.
The people grew more excited and
finally began surging in the direc-
ton OF the municipal palace. As they
moved along stones crashed thru
shop windows. Some groups sang.
others booted and yelled.
Approaching the palace. the throng
began uttering its war cry:
Aqua, Aguay' water. waterl
Women shrieked II at the top OF
their voices, men roared IL in cho-
rus. They gathered up sticks. stones
and other missiles as they went
along.
The column seemed 10 gain mo-
mentum as II advanced.
Jazz bands in cabarets cut off
their dance tunes In the middle and
the merrymakers. some scared and
some glecful. flocked into the street.
Men with cans OF gasoline APP
peared ut the head OF the grim pro
cession.
The municipal palace was dark
and ominousiy silent when the riot
ers marched into the Enclosure be
fore it, They rnilled about, yelling
for Aqua" demanding the resigna.
ton OF DR.. Alonzo Romero. the mu.
nicipai president.
Soldiers and police began trying
70 disperSe them.
Rush the building" cried one OF
the agitators. Capture the mu'
nicipal palace"
The people, closely packed IN
the square and forced forward
by the pressure Of those behind
them, hesitated moment
then one man started running
toward the building.
with yell the mob charged,
fists and clubs appraised. men
and women racing side by side.
A ripple OF rifle fire came from
the palace; then yellow fingers stab
. bed at the crowd from half a
dozen points as the machine guns
started their purr Of death.
From that moment the historic
"zocaio'' became bloody battle
field. Men and women fell and
were trampied as the crowd. hurled
back from the portals OF the gov.
eminent building. was seized with
panic and fought only TO escape
from that trap.
Gasoline was poured over n scat
fold which had been erected against
one side OF the structure by work.
men making repairs. The fitful
glare OF flames threw a weird light
over the scene.