The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-13
Both Joy and Anxiety.

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 l St. Petersburg August l3.-3.SO a. m.- St Petersburg tonight is divided between the rejoicing over the birth clan heir
 to tho throne and an anxiety .s kt6 sNr
 fate of the Port Arthur squadron. As has fa# opened on several occasions since the war began, a fete day at the capital L'eoineldes with an important development at tEe front and national thanksgiving Is tempered with solemnity day marked by the display of flags, the firing of salutes the holding of re- Hgious services and the extending of so- cial congratulations was followed by IL night Of brilliant illuminations Garlands and lamps were strung tonight across al- most every house front, while from many Of the larger buildings flashed the Rus sian arms, the imperial monigram and other devices in electric globes
 Early tens of thousands of tapers glim- mered before the altars of st. Peters, | burgs many shrines. In chapels and cathedrals everywhere there were solemn choruses of thanksgiving-fro the im- perial chapel of the Peterhof palace td the humble lampit shrines of the streets where the htirrying pedestrians laborers and droslky drivers paused to cross them- selves. The street crowds tonight were, however much duieter than usual on holi- days for the popular rejoicing over the event at the Alexander villa could not dlspel the anxiety which prevailed re- gardlng the fate of the squadron on which much depends.
 Reports Eagerly Scanned.
 At the admiralty at which the officers were on duty late tonight every report received was eagerly scanned, but the fragmentary news from foreign and Jap anese sources left much doubt as to the result of the fight between the Port Ar thur squadron and the Japanese fleet and to the whereabouts of the Russian ships All that seems to be established Is that there was days running fight and a night torpedo attacking fin which some of the ships became parted from the squadron. but the last dispatches from Shanghai seem to indicate that the Jap anese were beaten off though with what damage Is not clear.
 Though at least four Russian battle- ships appear to have reached the open sea, the cruisers Palada, Askold and Diana and one battleship remain unac- counted for. The injuries sustained by the battleshtp Czareyitch gave her sane tuary In the harbor Of Tslng Chau. but the Novik is under notice served by the German authorities to leave. As she Is very fast, being capsbe of making g knots an hour. there are strong hopes that she will escape unless there are Japanese cruisers awaiting her on the outside.
 Followed By Great Salute.
 The announcement from Peterhof was Immediately followed by salute of 101 guns from the imperial yacht lying at an- chor off the palace, but 1t was 2:45 D. m. when the guns of St. Peter and St. Paul fortress opposite the winter palace here conveyed the glad tidings to the people of. the Russian capital. The effect was electrical. With the boom of the first
 
 been momentarily expecting the event for hours. stopped to listen and count the guns. Only thirty-one are fired for a girl
 When the thirty-second boomed and the people were aware that at last heir to the throne was born there were scenes of rejoicing everywhere and before the salute was finished the whole city had blossomed out with flags and buntings and the shipping in the harbor was dressed. Then the bells of the churches began to ring wildly.
 Photographed in Every Direction.
 In the meantime the announcement had been telegraphed to the most remote corners of the empire. In all the towns and cities the glad tidings were spread with the cIang of bells and the booming of guns. Thanksgiving services followed in all the churches.
 At the chapel of Alexandria villa tho emperor and the imperial family attended te deum.
 The various ministries were convoked to hear the announcement. The hearts oi the Russian people are likely to be moro deeply touched by the good fortune of the imperial family than by dozen vic- tories or defeats in the far east and ths superstitious Russian character will read in 1t an augury of better times. St. Ser aphim who was canonized last summer by
 (contlnued on Second PaaAA