New Britain herald., 1922-12-01
Mob, Protesting Alleged Mismanagement Storms Municipal Building and Police Open Fire at Close Quarters
Crowd Later Invades Build ing and Destroys Much Property Before Federal Troops Arrive

Mexico City, Dec. 1.--(By Associat
 cd Prcss) Federal troops guarded badly battered municipal building to-
 day, While the city counted the cas- ualties of a pitched battle between the police and mob which attempted to storm the building last night The death list, as result of the fighting, stood at 17 early today, while IS per- sons are known to have been serious ly injured and S3 slightly hurt It was thought that closer check might reveal further casualties.
 The city, after night of wild ex- citement, found its main plaza before the municipal building a shambles of broken glass, timbers and stone-evi- dence of the anger of the mob which forced it's way into the building half an hour after the police rifles had talk on their toll.
 Six Hour Struggle
 The trouble, which lasted for more than six hours, started when q crowd marched to the city hall to protest against the aldermen who arc 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 senti- ments against the city government. These protestants were reinforced along the route and when the muni- cipal building was reached the crowd numbered more than 2.Ooo persons.
 Fire With Deadly Effect.
 Yelling invectiyes against the alder men, the mob gave emphasis to it's words by hurling stones and other missiles. When one leader suggested that the hall be entered the demon strators made concerted rush for ward. The police guards met their advance by firing their rifles over the heads Of the, crowd which however did not check its course. When it became apparent that the mob would enter the building despite the police, the latter aimed their rifles point | blank and fired with deadly effect.
 Staggered by the bullets. the de- monstrators 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 fire to its contents. Nalu- able documents some of which dated back several centuries, were tossed into the streets and the city records were given to the winds.
 Federal Troops Arrive.
 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 furni- ture 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 tho returned to the attack they found cordon of several hun dred soldiers about the building and contented themselves with ieering and hooting officials Nh general, including some of the members of the federal government. li
 Thus baffled in their attempts to re-enter the hall several small groups of citizens marched through the streets committing minor depreda- lions. They called on all the news paper offices and hooted and yelled | before tho residences of the city of icials.
 May Postpone Election. The chamber of deputies adjourned l when it received news of tho san yuinary encounter in the main plaza I md g heavy guard was thrown a around tho building. The residences a ,f all the aldermen were also under f he protection of federal troops ' the night.
 It was said today that the city cleo ion scheduled for next Sunday would Dc postponed in view of last nights. occurrence and the suggestion was made in many quarters that the fed , ,ral government take over the city administration temporarily.
 President Obregon declined to com '. nent on the affair until he had re- ,eived the official report,
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