Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-01-19
Windows of Chapel Where EN-
peror, Empress and Others
Were Worshiping Shattered
MISSILES OVER THEIR HEADS
Nicholas Shows No. Trace of Excite
,nent and Calmly Continues His De-
votions - Mystery Surrounds the
shootins-FestivaI of tho Epiphany
Concluded.

val of the epiphany, blessing of waters,
had just concluded at l o'clock this
afternoon when simultaneously with
the salute fired from st. Peter and
ST. Paul fortresses, either II rain of
bullets or shrapnel shell swept over the
little chapel built over the frozen Neva
in front of the winter palace, where
Emperor Nicholas and every member
OF the Romanoff family were partici-
pating in the service. The missiles went
high entering the windows of the
splendid row of saloons along the water
front from which the empress. ladies
OF the court and members Of the diplo-
matte corps, including Ambassador Nc
Cormicl, Secretary Eddy and Second
Secretary Bliss and all high dignitaries
Of state, army and navy. were witness
Ing the glittering spectacle below. For
tunately the bullets passed over the
heads Of all present, striking the oppo-
site wall and Gathering down on the
VdIQUCllCu 1iOol VI Lie WAAASS SalSOi etbN
the first impression of those who heard
the crash was that it was due to falling
crystals from glass chandeliers and
caused by conclusion from booming
guns. Everybody had been laboring
under q more or less nervous strain
because OF the strike situation and
when trab was released the windows
were hastily vacated and the greatest
excitement reigned within the palace.
I'D the emperor remained and accom-
panied the metropolitan and clergy as
they circled the pavilion around the
chapel to bless the gorgeous standards
Of the famous guard regiments assem-
bled there. Then the procession NOV
cd back to the palace and the original
program was carried out. The en-
peror displayed splendid nerve. He did
not show a trace of excitement. The
police are actively at work trying to
clear up the mystery as to where the
shots came from.
One bullet cut q clean hole two in
ches in diameter thru the double up
per windows Of Nicholas hail. imme-
diately above the window from which
q group Of correspondents and officers
were viewing the ceremony The cleo
tric lamps on the opposite side Of the
hall were smashed and fell to the floor
q bullet which was of iron and resem-
bled a shrapnel ball. The imperial
procession soon afterwards entered the
palace. The emperor had been already
Informed of the occurrence and as the
procession passed an officer pointed
out the holes in the windows. The en-
peror was quite unmoved and hardly
glanced at the place indicated. Grand
Duke Vladimir, eldest uncle of the
czar, Immediately opened an investi-
cation and interrupted witnesses.
Additional particulars show the en-
peror had miraculous escape. There
is no longer any doubt that the mis-
siles came from the bourse battery,
which was loaded with grape. Some
bullets actually struck the little open
standing, cut the staff of one of the
ment windows of the palace, killing a
policeman outright and wounding an
officer and three marines.
Had the gun been aimed little low
er the charge of grape might have
wiped out the whole Romanoff dynasty.
Everything on the surface seems to
indicate the existence of a deadly and
deep laid plot against the emperor in
which the artillerymen We're enlisted.
1t is understood all the men and Off
GERS Of the battery were Immediately
placed under arrest for examination.
The police took charge Of the spot
where the battery stall stands and
drew double Gordon across the river,
searching out everything in the line of
fire.
The strike situation has not been
changed by the holiday. The men are
holding meetings in various parts of
the city and the test is expected to-
morrow when the employers will make
q final answer to their demands While
no collision is reported there is a feel
ing among all classes of high tension.
News that an attempt had been made
on the emperor's life spread like wild
fire during the afternoon, leading to all
sorts of versions and generally increas-
ing tension.
The Associated Press obtained the
following statement from the police at
8 this afternoon: with a second or
third shot from the bourse battery on
Basil island very large number of
shrapnel bullets struck the chapel of
the palace. Two entered the interior
where the emperor was standing. The
bullets had a very low velocity. Two
which entered the chapel fell harm
lessly to the floor. Several policemen
about the chapel We're struck. With
the exception of one man named Ro-
manon. who was severely wounded.