The San Francisco call., 1905-01-24

court, beyond the sight of the passers-
by, a regiment of dragons and several
companies of infantry were quartered.
Rumors were current that the stri-
kers proposed to proclaim general at
tack on property and a reign Of an
archy, but the labor leaders denied this
in the most vigorous terms. One of
Father Gopon's lieutenants declared
that the leaders of the strikers had
resolved to preach the gospel of armed
resistance and the overthrow of au-
tocracy, but that it did not carry with
it a threat of pillage or an attack on
property.
GOPON ELUDES THE POLICE.
The police have not yet been able to
locate Father Gopon, though they are
searching for him everywhere. His
whereabouts is known only to half a
dozen trusted lieutenants, through
whom he issued orders.
No newspapers have appeared since
Friday except the Official Messenger,
containing the Government DEGREES,
which is printed under military pro-
lection at the Office of the State Bank,
where the banknotes are issued. Off
CIdl dCCOuulS u yeSLeIQdy WSiS
posted on all the bulletin boards. Strik-
ers who came to read spat upon them.
AS the day advanced the crowds on
Nevsky Prospect increased, but the
police did not allow them to collect.
Squadrons of Cossacks, with lances
and carbines, patrolled the thorough
fares as a reminder of what would
occurr at the least disturbance. A
half regiment of infantry stacked arms
and remained on duty on the Morskaia,
a fashionable boulevard of the city,
and at noon troops were again march
ed into the Palace square, where peo-
pie were once more trying to collect.
All the Grand Dukes palaces were
strongly guarded.
TROOPS FED ON STREETS.
st. Petersburg has often witnessed
rioting, clearing the streets of demon
strators and Cossack charges with
whips and sabers, but the bloodshed
of yesterday is unparalleled in its his
tory and the many stories of brutality
told by the populace seem to have con-
vinced them that a programme of des-
perate blood-letting was planned to
overawe the strikers. This is indig
nantly denied by the authorities, who
protest earnestly that they regret that
the situation compelled such stern
measures. They say order had to be
restored or the city would have fallen
into the hands of the mob.
The troops received their noon meal
in the streets, steaming camp kitchens
being driven from place to place. An
instance of the perfect military man
agement occurred shortly after
O'Clock to-day when there was a dis
turbance ON the Palace bridge. A
bugle rang out and in less than a min
ute five squadrons of cavalry emerged
from neighboring streets at a gallop,
charging to. the alarm But the few
obstreperous, half-drunken strikers had
already been overpowered, placed in
sleighs and taken to jails.
GENERAL BEATEN TO DEATH.
Among the authenticated horrors of
yesterday was the case of an aged |
general. whose sledge was stopped by |
the ipfuriated people as he was driving |
in the direction of the troops.
Are you going to order them to fire |
on us?" yelled the crowd.
When the general ordered his coach |
struck on the head by well dressed /
person in a sable fur coat. The gen.
eral was then thrown out of the sledge |
and beaten and trampled to death.
There are continued rumors of dis
among the troops here. 1t /
Is now reported that in addition to the
Moscow Guard Regiment. the Finland
and Ismalosky regiments declined to
obey orders to fire yesterday.
Toward 5 o'clock, driving up the
Nevsky Prospect, a press correspond
ant saw through the gathering gloom
The blaze of campfires in the Palace
square, with the dark forms of troop
ers sitting around them.
The Nevsky Prospect itself was
ablaze with light. Strikers and curl
promenaded the two
miles of sidewalk between the Admi-
'alty and the Nicholas station, and
'quadrons of hussars and cuirassiers
-ode UP and down in endless process
'ion. The crowds seemed peaceful
the watchword evidently be-
ng Don't abuse the troops" The
,nly shouts heard were a few isolated
1urrahs.
CITY THROWN INTO DARKNESS.
Suddenly the electric lights in the
upper section, between the bazaar
,alled Gostinny Dvor and the Nicholas
station. were extinguished and the
was plunged without
into utter darkness, which
vas not relieved even by the lights In
shop windows, as all the stores were
closed. The scene was weird and
The driver at first refused
o move on, fearing some hidden dam
yer, but he finally was persuaded TO
proceed, exclaiming with Russian
"One can die only once"
A deathly silence prevailed, height
ned by the rustic of hundreds of feet
IN the snow-clad sidewalks, the muf-
led tread Of looming squadrons and
he lugubrious hammering OF. shop
,eepers, taking precautions against
'ossible attack by boarding up the
windows of their stores with rough
umber. The curious hastily scurriedj
n adjoining streets finding their way
lome as best they could through the
nky darkness. Only fringe of sui
en- strikers and rough characters re-
NAMED, the police warning all to get
Iome as soon as possible.
TROOPS USE FLATS OF SABERS.
The only bright spot was blaze of
ght from one of the courtyards of
he Annilchkoff Palace, whence the
Impress Dowager yesterday fed to
rsarskoe-Selo. Beyond stood the