The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-12
Day of Great Excitement in
 Russian Capital
THE PEOPLE ARE VIOLENT
Immense Crowds Throne the Streets and at a Signal the Demonstra- ton Beelns-Pollce QueIl
 Mob With Sabres.

St. Petersburg, December IA popular anti-government demonstration, the par ticipants in which included large num- bers of students of both sexes, began at midday in the Nevski Prospelzt and last ed about two hours Hundreds of police and mounted gendarmes who were hidden in the court yard of the public buildings, emerged suddenly and charged the crowd at full gallop, driving the demonstrators in head-long confusion and screaming with terror upon the sidewalks. and into adjacent streets. This led to serious en- counters. fifty persons being more or less severely injured. Large numbers were ar rested.
 Not since the riots of 1901, when Cos sacks stretched across the Nevski Pros- pekt from building to building, charged down the boulevard from the Moscow sta ton to the Neva, has the Russian capital lived through such day of excitement as this
 The authorities last night got wind of the big anti-government demonstration planned for tonight by the social demo- cratic labor party to demand an immedi- ate end of the war and the conyocation of a national assembly, and leading every paper this morning in black-faced type was an explicit warning to the people at their peril to desist from congregating in the NevsN park near the Kazan ca- thedral. At the same time extensive prep arations were made to queIl any disturb ance. The police on the Nevski Prospekt were sextupled and the Dvorniks, or house porters were marshalIed in front of their respective buildings. Half dozen sauadrons of mounted gendarmerie were massed in the rear of the Kazan cathed- ral and battaions of reserve police were stationed in several court yards out of sight
 Minister of the Interior Sviatopolk- Mirsky gave strict orders. however, that no Cossacks should be used, and Fullon, chief of police, issued explicit directions to avoid harsh measures, unless 1t should become absolutely necessary
 Great Crowd Gathers.
 The newspaper warnings, however, by giving notice to those not apprised of the prospect of demonstration, defeated the very object for which they were de- signed, attracting seemingly the whole population of this vast city to the broad thoroughfares and long before the hour fixed, despite the pleading of the police, who literally lined the sidewalks the throngs on the pavements were so dense
 
 while the snow-covered boulevard was black with a tangled mass of people, filled mostly with the curious. In throngs on the sidewalk were practically the whole student body of the capital, in- cluding many young women who have al- ways been prominent in Russia in liberal revolutionary movements, also thousands of workmen belonging to the social labor party.
 Toward 10 o'clock the workmen and the students seemed to swarm toward the corner of the hotel Europe, opposite the Kazan cathedral The police recognizing that the critical moment was approach ing, tried in vain to keep back the human tide Then when there was not a single mounted policeman in sight. on the stroke of 1, from the heart of the thickly wedged crowd a blood-red flag, like jet of flame, suddenly shot up. It was the signal. Other flags appeared in the crowd waving frantically over head. and they were greeted with a hoarse roar. down with autocracy." The stu dents surged into the street singing the s.Aarseillais" while innocent spectators, seeking to extricate themselves. crowded into doorways and hugged walls. The mounted police made a single attempt to force their way into the crowd to wrest the flage from the demonstrators. but the students and workmen, armed with sticks. stood close and beat back their assailants.
 Gendarmerle Appears.
 Then like flash, from behind the Ka- gan cathedral came a squadron of gen. darmere The doors of adjoining court yards were thrown back, and battalions of police came out A double squadron charged the flank of the demonstrators draxu fxyn Of d. rcns circled the mob, cutting through the fringe of spectators, who gladly scurried tl cover The main wedge of demonstra- tors stood fast only a moment or two. There was a sharp rattle of cudgels and sabres The women were especially fierce in their resistance. Many were struck and tramped. and blood streamed down their faces.
 While the mob stood away. those left behind tried to throw away hundreds of proclamations over the heads of their fellows The police urged the horses fiercely into the crowd. driving those who resisted into the courtyards the Hotel Europe and the Cathoiic church. The intense excitement lasted about ten minutes after which mounted squads of the eendarmerie patrolled the streets, and the police devoted themselves to keep ing the crowd moving.
 Considering the sharp fight the rioters had put up the ponce acted humaneiy 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.
 Arrests Number One Hundred.
 In the meantime those confined in the court yards who were recognized as agi- tators were arrested, but others were al- lowed to go home, the wounded first hay ing their injuries dressed There were nrobably a hundred broken heads, and several were severely wounded. though none fatally so far as is ascertainable. so far there have been 100 arrests.
 The ferment continued all day and far into the night, but only one or two abor- tive attempts were made at demonstra- tions. the police being in such force that they had no difficulty in seizing the ring leaders, no resistance being made in any case
 Tonight the students of the Politech- niuue and other institutes Eeld meetings at which fiery speeches were made in favor of reform. and the convocation of a national assembly.
 The greatest distress is expressed by