Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/263

Rh time, for it is yet hardly nine, and the plaza, which for the last three hours has been thronged with the canaille of the capital, is fast becoming deserted. The rioters have for the most part retired with their plunder, and among the few that remain the religious still continue their fruitless exhortations. Despite the efforts of the guard and those of the few citizens who have ventured to show themselves, the fire in the viceregal palace and city hall still burns, and the stalls and booths are one mass of flames.

At this juncture the count of Santiago with a number of armed citizens, collected by order of the viceroy, appear in the plaza and open fire on the crowd, but are induced to stop by the religious, who declare that many innocent persons will thus be slain. As there is nothing further to be feared from the people remaining in the plaza, the citizens direct their efforts to subduing the flames. With the aid of the prisoners from the palace jail, who have barely escaped with their own lives, and of the inmates of the viceregal palace who are forgotten by the mob while intent on plundering the stalls, everything of value in the viceregal apartments is saved, and the females of the household are conveyed in safety through the plaza to the palace of the archbishop. Prominent among those to whose energy and presence of mind the saving of many valuable papers is due, is Cárlos de Sigüenza y Góngora. Entering the plaza before the flames are kindled, he remains throughout the disturbance, accompanying the bishop on his mission of peace, and later the cathedral treasurer; then helping to fight the fire in the viceregal palace, where he personally rescues important archives, and finally repairing to the city hall in time to snatch from the flames a portion of the cabildo records.

The riot was now virtually at an end, and additional