Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1904-12-17

numbers OF students OF both sexes. be-
gan at midday Sunday ia the Nevsky
prospect and lasted about two hours.
Hundreds OF police and mounted gen
dsrmes. who were hidden IN the cOurt
yard OF the public buildings. emerged
and suddenly charged the crowd at full
gsllop. driving the demonstrators in
beadlong confusion and screaming with
terror upon the sidewalks and into ad-
iacent streets. This led tn serious e0-
counters. so persons being more or less
severely injured. Large numbers were
arrested.
Not since the riots OF 1901. when Cos
sacks. stretched across the Navski pros
pect from building to building. charged d.
down the boulevard from the Moscow
station 20 the Neva. has The Russian
capital lived through such q day OF
excitement as this. The authorities last
night got wind of the big anti-govern-
ment demonstration planned for today
by the Social Democratic party 20 de
mand an immediate end of the war and
the convocation OF a national assem-
bly, and this evening In every paper
In biack-face type was an explicit
warning 10 the people, at their peril.
TO desist from congregating IN the New
eh prospect near the hase3n Cathe-
dral. At the same time excessive prcpar-
atoms were made TO aueu any disturb
ance. The police on the Negsh pros
/ pect were increased six times over ana
/ the devornils. or house porters. were
marshsled IN front OF their respective
buildings. Half a dozen sduadrons OF
mounted gendarmes were msssed In
the rear OF the Gasean Cathedral. and
\ battalioUs OF reserve police were sta
toned In several court yards out OF
sight. Minister OF the Interior Sviato-
polk Mirsky gave strict orders. how
ever. that no Cossacks should be used
and the chief OF police issued explicit
directions TO avoid harsh measures IN
less "a should become absolutely neces-
sary.
The newspaper warning. however.
by giving notice 70 those not apprised
OF tho prospect or a demonstration. de
feated the very object OF which they
were designed. attracting seemingly tie
whole population OF this vast city 10
the broad throughfare; and long be
Gore the hour fixed. despite the plead
Ing or the police, who literally lined the
sidewalks. the throngs On the pave
ments were so dense that movement
was almost impossible. While the snow
covered boulevard was black with a
with the curious In tbrOnss on the
sidewalks. were practically the whole
student body OF the capital, including
many young women, who have always
been prominent in Russia in revolu-
tionary movements. and also thousands
OF workmen belonging 10 the Social
Labor party. Towards 1 o'clock the
workmen and students seemed 10
swarm toward the corner Of the Hotel
/ Europe, opposite the Gasean Cathedral.
The police, recognizing that the critical
+ moment was approaching. tried IN vain
{ 70 keep back the human tide Then.
, when there was not single mounted
. policeman IN sight. on the strike OF 1
} o'clock. from the heart OF the thickiy
wedgsd crowd a blood red tag. like a
Set OF fame, suddenly shot up IL was
the signal. other flags appeared in the
3 crowd. waving franticaily overhead
b and they were greeted with hoarse
Il road. Down with autocrRcy.. The stu
y dents surged into the street. singing the
Il "MarseillaiSe." while innocent specta-
.' tors. seeking TO extTicate themselves
Il crowded into doorWays and Rugged
Il walls. Dismounted police made ain
ale a4temnf TO farce their UAy into ans
crown 90 wrest the nags IrOm tue de
monstrators, but the students ant
workmen. armed with sticks, stood
D. close and beat back their assailants
q Then. like a fash, from behind tn
I. Kasean Cathedral, came a squadron o
RendArmie. The doors OF adjoining
q court yards were thrown back, an
81 battaiIons OF police came out. a dou
O BILE squadron charged the hank oil 70
demonstrators with drawn saDFes. f1N
other souadrone circled the mob, cut
u ting through the frings OF spectators
Il who gladly scurrled TO cover. The NAL
liz wedge OF the demonstrators stood las
Il, only a moment or two.
There Was a sharp rattle Or cucgel
al and sabres. though the wounds shove
o that the police struck principally wit
IA the fat OF their sabres. The wome
~ we're especially fierce In their resi-
lance. Many were struck and tran
pied, and blood streamed down the
faces.
While the mob stood. those withi
M managed 20 throw hundreds OF rev
"a lutiOnary proclamations over u
if heads OF their fellows. The pole
urged their horses hercely INTO u
n crowd. driving those who resisted an
lei the court yards, the Hotel Europe an
OF the Catholic Church. The intense e
IA element lasted about ten minutes,
ar ter which mounted sGOsdrons OF u
senda rznAr4e aatrSeh@ - "frAA'
and NE policemen devoted themseiv
IN keeping the crowd moving
Considering the sharp fight the ri'
o ers had M. the police acted 2
RET namely with the crowd. avoiding Dl
thi talitv and roughness In keeping Y
tn throng moving, and showing real
--~~..~taoragfnx. than 4ha police