The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-31

The Free Feast at the Clar's Coronation
BRING on a Terrible scene.


MOSCOW, May SO-The extent OF the
disaster was greatly underestimate at
first. This evening it was learned that
the loss OF life viii exceed l.loo. Some
reports place the number Of dead as high
as $500.
The Car has ordered a donation of
100 roubles TO be paid each family that
has lost a member.
MOSCOW, May 0.-The popular fete
of the coronation ceremonies at which
between 10000 and 50e.0OJ people were fed
and INDUCED ia all sorts Of merry max
ing. was held to-day i'm the H0dinsky
Plant Opposite the Petrofisky Palace.
ana was the scene of the first fatalities
that have marked the corOnatior festl-
yities. This free feast. which has al
ways been the poplar feature Of corona
tons has hitherto been the occasion Of
a great deal Of crowding and good-na-
tured fighting for places on the part Of
the hundreds OF thousands of guests Of
the city. but no such gat-Sring was ever
witnessed on the Hodinsky Pla.S as that
which assembled to-day.
The crowd. which 3eean coming long
before daylight, finally became so dense
and so eager 20 obtain access 10 the free
food and becr and the free amusements,
that they could not De controlled. Men,
women. and children were thrown down
and trampled upon and were either badly
injured or killed while others had their
lives crushed out OF them by the fearful
pressure OF the vast crowd. The police
ana military finally succeeded I'm scatter
ing the multitude so that there was no
further danger. when It was found that
a number Of persons had been killed.
l..T in, 81.
the Car and a distinguished company
Of guests. who occupied. in large pa
villon especially erected and deliberately
decorated for the occasion.
The great Hodlnsky Plain. whereon
Napoleon massed his troops before march,
ing into the city or Moscow. is thanked
on the sides by the exhibition buildings
and the Moscow race course. and extends
indefinitely into the country. Upon H.
besides the multitude Of people who en-
joyed the hospitality OF the city, in eat
ing. drinking. and INDUCING all sorts
~ games and witnessing various per-
formances. were encamped a vast army of
soldiers, consisting of eighty-three bat
taAOns OF infantry. thirty squadron Of
cavalry. seven Sotuias OF Cossaks. and
fourteen batteries OF artillery, which the
Emperor Will review on June It'll. the last
day Of the festivities The part Of the
pain devoted 10 festivities was directly
i'm front OF the palace. Tbs covered
space was enclosed with Venitian mats
hung with bunting, flags, and shields.
bearing the arms OF the various cities and
provinces OF Russia, and within were
booths. tables, open air theatres. merry
gO-arOunds. circuses. wings. etc, almost
innumerabie. Surrounding these were
hundreds OF wooden booths filed with
food. such as bread. cakes. saussages.
meat-pies. cayiare. etc. and in each booth
was an immense cask OF malt liquors OF
mead. the food and drink being free
10 all who chose 10 come and partake
OF IL.
Throughout the Eight there was a con-
slant stream OF people making their way
TO the plain in order 10 be IN the fore
front when the food and presents should
be ready for distribution. and SO dense
a mass of humanity as gathered there.
even IN the early hours OF the morning.
was never before witnessed IN Russia.