The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1905-01-24
RUSSIAN SOLDIERS FIRE INTO
RANKS OF STRIKERS.
HIT WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Workingmen Appealing to czar for
Hearing of Grievances Are Slain
by Palace Guards.

st. Petersburg, Jan. 22.-This has
been a day of unspeakable horror IL
st. Petersburg. The strikers of yes
terday, goaded to desperation by day
of violence, fury and bloodshed, are in
state of open insurrection against
the government. A condition almost
bordering on civil war exists in the
terror-stricken Russian capital. The
city is under martial law, with Prince
Vassilchikoff as commander of ove-
$4,000 of the emperor's crack guards
Troops are bivouacing in the streets
tonight, and at various places on the
Nevsky Prospect, the main thorough
fare of the city. On the island OF
Vasciliostrov and in the out sections
infuriated men have thrown up barrl-
cades which they are holding. The
empress dowager has hastily sought
safety at the Tsarkeo-Selo, where EN-
peror Nicholas IL. is living.
Minister of the Interior Sviatopolk.
Mirsky presented to his majesty last
night the invitation of the workmen
to appear at THE Winter palace this
afternoon and receive their petitions,
but the emperor's advisers already had
taken decision to show firm and
resolute fSont, and the emperors an
swer to the 100000 workmen trying
to make their way to the palace today
was a solid array of troops, who met
them with rifle, bayonet and sabre.
The priest Gopon, the leader and
idol OF the men, in his golden vest
ments holding aloft the cross, and
marching at the head of thousands OF
workmen, through THE Narva gate,
miraculously escaped volley which
laid low half hundred persons. The
figures of the total number killed or
wounded here, at the Moscow gate, at
the various bridges and islands and at
the Winter palace, vary. The best
estimated is 500, although there are
exaggerated figures placing the num-
ber as high as 5000. Many men were
accompanied by their wives and chill
dren, and i'm the confusion, which ieft
no time for discrimination, the latter
shared the fate of the men. The
troops, with the exception of a single
regiment, which is reported ITO have
thrown down its arms, remained loyal
and obeyed orders. But the blood
which crimsoned the snow has fired
the brains and passions of the strik-
ers and turned women ais we'll as men
into wild beasts, and the cry of the in
furiated populace is for vengeance.
The sympathy of THE middle classes is
with the workmen.
Emperor's Prestige Gone.
If Father Gopon, the mastermind OF
the movement, aimed at open revolu-
tion, he managed the affair like
genius, the faith of the people is in
the Little Father" who they were
convinced and whom. Father Gopon
had taught them to believe, would
right their wrong and redress their
grievances.
Gorky, the Russian novelist, ex>
presses the opinion that today's work
will break the faith of the people IN
the emperor. He said this evening to
the Associated Press:
To-day inaugurated revolution in
Russia. The emperor's prestige will
be irrevocably shattered by the she'd
ding of innocent blood He has alien
Gted himself forever from his people.
Gopon taught the workmen Ito believe
that an appeal direct to the Little
Father" would be needed. They have
been undeceived. Gopon is now con-
vinced that peaceful means have fail
ed and the only remedy is force. The
first blood has been shed, but more
will follow. 1t is now the people
against the oppressors. and the battle
will be fought TO, the bitter end"
Military Had Firm Hold.
The military authorities had firm
grip on every artery In the city. At
daybreak cavalry and infantry held
every bridge across the frozen Neva.
the network of canals which inter
laces the city. and the gates leading
from the industrial section. while in