The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-12-12
WILD RIOTINC IN
ST. PETERSBURG
Mounted Police Charged Mob
With Drawn Sahres.
OVER A HUNDRED WERE INJURED
Affair Due 10 katl-GuYsrnmsnt 0smunstra-
tlon BY Social Democratic Party Near
kalar CathsdraI-Miny Arrests.
OVER A HUNDRED WERE INJURED


riots OF 1901. when Cossack stretched
across the Nevsld Prospect from building
TO building charged down the boulevard
from the Muscow station 70 the Neva, has
the Russian capital lived through such
a day OF excitement as yesterday.
The authorities last night got wind OF
the big anti-eovernment demonstration
planned for yesterday by the Social
Democratic party 10 demand an imme-
diate end 10 the war and the convocation
OF a national assembly and. leading every
paper this morning In black face type,
was an explicit warning to the people at
their peril. 10 desist from congregating
In the Nevski Prospect, near tho Kazan
cathedral.
At the same time extensive preparations
were made TO quell any disturbance. The
police on the Nevski Prospect were
sextupled and the Dvorniks. or house
porters. were mar hailed in front OF their
respective buildings.
NO CossACKs USED.
Half a. dozen squadrons OF mounted
gendarmerie were massed In the rear OF
the Kazan cathedral and battalions OF re-
serve police were stationed in several
courtyards out OF sight Minister OF the
Interior sviatopolk- Mirsky gave strict
orders. however. that no cossacks should
be used, and Fulton. chief of police. issued
explicit directions TO avoid harsh meas
ures. unless II should become absolutely
necessary.
The newspapers warnings. however. by
giving notice TO those not apprised OF the
prospect Of a demonstration. defeated the
very object for which they were design ed
attracting seemingly the whole population
OF this vast city 10 the broad thorough
fares, and long before the hour fixed
despite the pleadings OF the police who
literally lined the sidewalks the thronss
on the pavements were so dense that
movement was almost impossible, while
the snow-covered boulevard was black
with tangled mass OF sleighs, filled
mostly with the curious
In throngs on the sidewalk were prac-
tically the whole student body of the
capital. including many young women.
who have always been prominent In Rus
sia In liberal revolutionary movements
and also thousands OF workmen belonging
TO the Social-L.abor party which had
planned the demonstration.
WAIVED RED FLAGS.
Toward o'clock the workmen and stu
dents seemed 10 swarm toward the corner
OF the Hotel Europe. opposite the Kazan
Cathedral. The police. recognizing that
the critical moment was approaching tried
In vain to keep back the human tide.
Then when there ives not single
mounted policeman in sight on the stroke
OF IL, from the heart OF the thickly
wedged crowd blood-red flag like a jet
OF fame suddenly shot UP. II was the
signal
Other nags appeared IN other parts Of
the crowd. waiving frantically overhead,
and were greeted with a hoarse roar,
down with autocracy." The students
surged into the street, singing the Mar
seilaise,' while innocent spectators.
seeking 10 extricate themselves crowded
into doorways and hugged walls.
Dismounted police made single at
tempt to force their way into the crowd
10 wrest the flags from the demonstrators.
but the students and workmen. armed
with sticks stood close and beat back
their assailants.
WOMEN WE'RE FIERCE.
Then. like a fash, from behind the
Kazan Cathedral. came wheeling a squad :
ron OF gendarmerie. The doors OF ad1oin-
ing courtyards were thrown back and bat
talions OF police came out. A double
squadron charged the flank OF demon
strators with drawn sabres
Five other squadrons circled the mob,
cutting through the fringe OF spectators.
who gladly scurried TO cover. The main
wedge OF the demonstrators stood fast
only a moment or two. There was a sharp
rattle OF cudgels and sabres, though the
wounds showed that the police struck
principally with the fat Of their sabres
The women. especially, were fierce In
their resistance Many were struck and
trampled and blood streaming from their
faces.
While the mob stood. those within man.
aged to throw hundreds OF revolutionary
proclamations over the heads OF their
fellows. The police urged their horses
fierceiy into the crowd, driving those who
remained into the courtyards OF Hotel
Europe and the Catholic church. The In
tense excitement lasted about 10 minutes.
after which mounted squads of the gen.
darmerie patrolled the streets and the
policemen devoted themselves to keeping
the crowd moving.
The great distress IL expressed by
Conservative Liberals over the days
events. ell declaring that just when the
fate OF the zemstvo program was IN the
balance, such fruitless outbreak will be
sure to prejudice every observer and put
the strongest weapon IN the hands OF the
bureaucratic resctionaries.