Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-08-13
By T. r. GILL.
krlnnvriaht 1919 by the Associated PreSS.)

Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press)
HAVANA, August 12.-Arriving at
the presidential palace today amid
scenes unequaled in Cuba's history, this
correspondent saw the first acts of vio-
lence by angry mobs.
The crowd, yelling and cheering,
ransacked the historic building from
top to bottom Furniture priced by
President Machado and his predecessors
Wls unceremoniously carried to the
streets until soldiers and sailors arrived
to clear the palace and restore order.
Pig Brings Hilarity.
The temper of the mob suddenly
changed from anger to hilarity when
several of the looters carried out a
squealing pig which they found in a
crate in the building.
'Machado! Machado!" they shouted
hosting the pig high in the air and
slamming it down on the pavement,
killing 1t. Thunderous cheers filled the
streets.
Finally driven back by the soldiers,
the mob remained orderly for a while
and then rushed into the beautiful
palace garden and stripped 1t Of all
It's flowers, plants and shrubs. They
wanted them for souvenirs.
Dashing across the street to the
American embassy building sought to
telephone the news to our central Office,
but found the communication service
disrupted Outside, demonstrators were
yelling wildly.
Gangster is Riddled.
Presently. some one shouted a sug-
Restion that the mob march to the
headquarters of the secret police and
clean them out" Hosting the leaders
to their shoulders. part of the demon
strators started of toward the head
quarters. The remainder proceeded In
another direction.
I followed the second group, but be-
fore I proceeded far we ran into a gun
battle between soldiers and gangsters-
or "porrista," as they say in Spanish.
It was not much Of fight, for the
battle between soldiers and a gangster-
with high powered rifle bullets and left
him lying in the street.
Immediately several of the mob lifted
the soldiers aloft and carried them
through the streets. Crowds on the
sidewalks cheered.
Some Of those who remained by the
slain mans blood and waved them in
the air amid resounding shouts.
A block farther down the street was
caught in the gunfire of another fusil-
lade fred by soldiers at another gang
ster. Bullets whizzed by my ears as
ducked behind post.
Eight or 10 shots were fired at the
fleeing man, but he escaped. He was
one Of the few sought by the troops who
got away. The morgues tonight held
the others.
Prom then ON throughout the day,
one killing followed another IN rapid
succession. personally counted II
dead. The wounded numbered into the
scores.
One Of the most brutal killings saw
was when the mob caught and beat to
death a policeman accused of recently
having slain several oppositionists.
The killing occurred IN front of the
marble National Capitol Building. The
mob beat the struggling policeman with
fists and clubs and then finished him
Oh with guns.
Newspaper Is Wrecked.
One Of the most spectacular demon
STATIONS Of the day occurred when the
mob smashed the Office OF the news
paper Heraldo de Cuba, strong support
er Of Machado. Stepping into a door
way out of the way Of the angry crowd
I watched for two hours while every
movable piece of equipment and furni-
ture was hurled out of the upper story
Of the, building and smashed. The
presses were also wrecked and the
building set aflre.
There was little left in the stone
building that would burn and the blaze
died out. Debris was left IN the streets
70 . depth Of feet h some places.
The thoroughfafes we're filed with 50
much noise and confusion It was difn-
cult for one to make ones way about
the city.
Big groups and little groups paraded
through the streets carrying flags and
palm leaves, yelling and cheering to the
accompaniment Of guns fired into the
air. The din was terrific.
Only q heavy downfall of rain, &C
companied by thunder and lightning,
nut temporary damper on the temper
Of the mob The crowds quickly sought
shelter Of buildings and the tension was
over.