Evening star., 1902-03-18
IN RUSSIA
RIOTS IN ST. PETERSBURG AND IN
THE PROVINCES,
Demonstration at the Capital Led by.
Students and Repressed by
the Soldiery.

LONDON, March 1s.-Referring to the
student disorders in st. Petersburg Sunday,
the correspondent of the Times in the Rus
sian capital says the soldiers were order to
use the fiat of their swords in dispensing
the rioters, but that they became excited
and struck wildly. Several persons were
wounded, and there seems but little doubt
that several of the rioters were killed.
The revolutionary movement in st. Peters
burg, concludes the correspondent, is how
ever, less serious than in the provinces,
Disquieting reports are daily received from
various parts of the country. At Tula the
soldiers refused to fire on the strikers at a
small-arms factory. A grenadier regiment
has been removed from Moscow because it
could not be trusted to fire on the people,
and there are evidences elsewhere of the
sympathy Of the troops with the revolu-
tionary movement.
At Poltava recently several men were ar
rested for participation in Tostoian revO-
luton. They made a demonstration and
won over the other prisoners in the Jail,
who started a riot, Oyerpowered their war
dens and escaped.
A dispatch from ST. Petersburg. dated
March 16, says: A students riot here to-
day, in which over 10000 people partici-
pated, kept a small army of police and cav
airy busy throughout the day. Probably
100 arrests were made, but the repressive
measures were not so strict as on the CORE
spending Sunday Of 1901. While many per-
sons were injured, no fatalities We're re-
ported.
The students placarded the city last
night, announcing that they intended to
hold grievance meeting, and the authori-
ties. taking the hint made extensive prepa-
rations. The whole police reserve was
called out and the entire military force was
held ready for mobilization. cavalry patrols
supplementing the mounted police. Addi-
nf n1rr, 1ipnf 1.nf ~in
Of artillery and detachments of infantry
were packed in the side streets.
Ihe crowds increased in the main thor
oughfares until noon, when the cavalry Of
hcer in command of squad in front Of the
Hotel dEurope begged the crowd there to
disperse and go home The demonstrators
| refused, and the mounted troops began
slowly clearing the streets.
AT 12:5O p.m the students attempted to
organize a procession in front Of the hotel
mentioned, singing revolutionary songs and
shouting, Free Russiar' Down with the
autocracy. The police and cavalry then
charged, but used only their Cossack whips
and the fiat of their sabers Many persons
were hurt, but only a few were seriously
injured.
The fighting continued during the remain
der of the afternoon. breaking out in fresh
places continually. One of the most severe
fights OF the day was concluded only few
minutes before the czarina, in an open
sleigh, passed the spot where it occurred
NdiIdSeS VI lHc HODlllIy anu HenDeFS Oh
the imperial household were several times
mixed up in the melees. The authorities
made every effort to prevent bloodshed,
and in this they were remarkably success
full. considering the magnitude Of the
demonstration.
The students Of st. Petersburg on Sunday
March II, 1901, organized what was in
tended to be an imposing demonstration in
front Of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Ka-
zan. the occasion being the anniversary Of
the death of Vetrora, girl who committed
political prison in the fortress Of st. Peter
and st. Paul, In order to escape infamous
persecution. Serious rio,ingS ensued, the
students were attacked by Cossacks and