Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1904-01-25
SHOT AT The CAR
A Bold Attempt to Assassiaate The
Russian Monarch
SALUTING GUN RAINS GRAPE SHOT
Only High Aim and Weak, Scattering
Charge Prevented a Disastrous Con.
c'usion to the Ceremony CT Blessing
the Waters of the Neva.

st. Petersburg, BY Cable.-The fes-
tival Of the Epiphany, the blessing OF
the waters, had just concluded at l
O'Clock Thursday afternoon, when sim.
ultaneously with the salute fired from
the st. Peter and st. Paul fortress a
rain Of bullets swept owe the little
chapel built over the frozen Neva in
front Of the winter palace, where EN-
Eercr Nicholas and every member 81
the Romanof family were participant
ing in the service. The missiles went
high, entering windows of the splendid
row of salons along the water front,
from which the Empress, the ladies
OF the court and the members Of the
diplomatic corps and high dignitaries
of the State, army and navy were wit
Messing the glittering spectacle below.
Fortunately the bullets passed over
the heads of all present, striking the
opposite wall and gathering down on
the pacGuetted floor Of the white sa-
Ion. Everybody had been la5oring un-
der a more Or less strain be-
cause of the strike situation, and the
windows We're hastily vacated. and the
greatest excitement reigned within
the palace. Lieutenant Fulton, chief
Of police of St. Petersburg, himself
picked up a missile in the white salon.
It was the size Of a birds egg. The
police chief was Immediately sur
rounded by officers of the guards, who
examined the bullet and expressed the
opinion that it had come from q sh-ap-
mel which might have been fired from
the battery located on the bourse es-
Dlanade and which replied to the sa-
lutte of the st. Peter and St. Paul for
.tress, explaining that a gun might
have been charged with a loaded car.
fridge by mistake.
In the meantime there was 10 evi.
'dence outside Of what had occurred.
The crowds of people who formed
black lines along the quays, the pal.
acc bridge, the steps of the bourse,
and every ether point OF vantage in
the white Arctic landscape did not be-
tray the slightest excitement. Neither
did the imperial party in the chapel
below. Although the actual ceremony
was ended, the Emperor remained
and accompanied the Metropolitan
and clergy as they circled the pavilion
around the chapel to bless the gor-
geous standards of the famous guard
,o0jr1n,t~ cIc tjnnn al T,orr 'Hh,n,, fho
procession moved back to the palace,
and the original program was carried
out. The Emperor displayed splendid
nerve. He did not show a trace OF
excitement. He received the diplo-
mats in his usual cordial, gentle man
ner, reviewed the guard regiments on
the square behind the palace, and sub
s~equently had luncheon served in the
State dining room.
Additional particulars show that the
Emperor had & miraculous escape.
There is 40 doubt that the missiles
came from a gun Of the bourse bat
terry which vas loaded with grape not
with %shrapnel. Some Of the bullets
actually struck the little open chapel
in which the Emperor was standing,
cut the staff Off one Ct the standards
and fairly riddlcd the basement win
Gows- Of the palace, killing a police
man outright and woundiag an officer
and three marines. Had the gun
been aimed a little lower the charge
Of grape might have wiped out the
whole Romanoff dynasty.
Two Investigations are proceeding
independently, and both are guarded
with the utmost secrecy.
Military experts say indications
point to a charge consisting Of grape
having been inserted surreptitiously
aE a sal1ting cartridge. If this was
; the case, piubaEly only Il man was
involved. Certainly if there was an
extensive, deep-laid plot, or il an Off
Ger was involved, it was badly exc