The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-12-12

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a since the riots Of 1901, when Cos
sacks stretched across the Nevsky
Prospect from binding 10 building,
charged down the boulevard from the
MOSCOW station to the Neva. has the
Russian capital lived through such
day of excitement as this. The authOri-
ties last night got wind of the big anti
government demonstration planned for
today by the SociaI-Democratic Labor
party to demand an immediate end of
the war and the convocation of a ma
uonai assembly. and leading every
paper this morning In black faced type
WAS an explicit warning to the people
at their peril to desist from congregat-
ing in the Nevsky Prospect near the
Kazan cathedral At the same time
extensive preparations were made to
quell any disturbances.
Swarms of Police.
The police on the Nevsky Prospect
We're seXtupled, and the dVorniks or
house porters, were marshalled in front
of their respective buildings. Half
dozen squadrons of mounted gem
I darmerie were massed in the rear of
the Kazan cathedral and battalions of
reserve police were stationed in sew
eral court yards out of sight. Minister
of the Interior SviatopOlk- MirslSy gave
strict orders. however, that no Cossa cks
should be used, and Fulton. chief of
police, issued special orders to avoid
harsh measures unless it should become
absolutely necessary
Made Matters Worse.
The newspapers warnings. however.
by giving notice to those not apprised
of the prospect Of a demonstration. de-
feated the very object for which they
were designed, attracting seemingly
the whole population of this vast city
10 the broad thOrOughfare; and long
before the hour fixed, despite the plead
ing Of the police, WbO literally lined the
sidewalks. the throngs on the pave
ments were so dense that movement
was, lmost impossible, while the snow
..,N-Hed boulevard WAS black with q
tangled mass Of sleighs filled mostly
with the curious. In thrOngs on the
sidewalk were practically the whole
student body Of the capital, Including
many young women, who have always
been prominent in Russia in liberal
revolutionary movements, and also
thousands OF workmen belonging TO the
Social Labor party.
Red Flags Waved.
Toward l o'clock the wOrkmeu and
students seemed 10 swarm toward the
corner of the Hotel Europe, opposite
the Kazan cathedral. The police. recog-
izing that the critical moment was ap-
preaching. tried in vain to keep back
the human tide Then, when there was
! not n single mounted policeman in
sight. on the stroke Of one from the
heart of the thickly wedged crowd a
blood red Gag, like a jet of flame, sud
denly shot up. 1t was the signal. Other
flags appeared in the crowd, waving
frantically overhead; and they were
greeted with d hoarse roar Down with
autocracy." The students surged into
the street singing the ''Marseillaise,"
while innocent spectators, seeking TO.
extricate themselves, crowded into
dOOrways and Rugged the walls.
Charged With Drawn Sabres.
! Dismounted police made a single at
! tempt 10 force their way into the crowd
10 wrest the flags from the demOnstra-
tors, but the students and wOrkmen,
armed with sticks. stood close and
beat back their assailants Then. like
q Hash. from behind the Kazan
cathedral came a squadron OF gen.
darmerie. The doors of adjoining court
yards were thrown back. and battaliOns
OF police came out. A double squadron
charged the flank Of the demonstrators
with drawn sabres. Five other squad
Tons circled the mob, cutting through
the fringe OF spectators, who gladly
scurried to cover. The main Weuge Of
the demonstrators stood fast only a
moment or two. There was a sharp
rattle Of cudgels and sabres. then the
wounds showed that the police struck
principally with the flat of their sabres.
The women were especially fierce in
their resistance. Many were struck
and trampled, and blood streamed down
their faces.
Police Were Humane.
While the mob stood those within
managed to throw thousands of revolu-
rionary prOclamatiOns over the heads
of their fellows. The police urged their
horses hercely into the crowds. driving
1hose who resisted into the court yards.
the Hotel Europe and the Catholic
church. The intense excitement lasted
about zen minutes, after which
mounted squads Of the gendarmerie
patr9Hed the streets and the policemen
devoted themselves to keeping the
crowd moving.
Considering the sharp fight the
rioters had put up, the police acted
humanely with the crowd avoiding
brutality and roughness in keeping the
throng moving. and showing really
more consideration than the police Of
many American cities would do under
similar circumstances.
Agitators Arrested.
IN the meantime those confined in
the court yards who were recognized
as agitatOrs were arrested. but others
were allowed TO go quietly home the
wounded first having their injuries
dressed. There we're probably a hun
dred broken heads, and several per
sons were severely wounded, though
none fatally. 80 far as ascertainable. So
far there have been over 100 arrests.
The fernent continued all day and
FAR into the night but only one or two
other abortive attempts we're made al
demonstrations the police being in
such force that they had no difficulty
IN seizing the ring leaders, no resist
4, ance being made in any case.
Fiery Reform Speeches.
Tonight the students OF the politi-
chfque and other institutions held
meetings, at which fiery speeches were
made In favor of reform and the coll
vocation Of a national assembly.