The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-20
.sn,.lal 90. p.,pa,e.., % rnr srx.


ep,rtal cable Dsspdieh,, 10 THK Sun,
ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. ie-what is believ
to have been a deliberate attempt to take
the Cars life was made to-day when he
attended the ceremonies OF blessing the
waters of the Neva-
A loaded case shell was fred from one OF
the guns Of a saluting battery placed on the
other side of the river and a gendarme who
belon ged TO- the Cars personal guard was
killed by one of the bullets. Other bullets
and pieces of the shell entered the Winter
Palace which fronts on the river and on the
Nevsky Prospect.
The battery from which the shot was
fred was under the titular command Of the
Grand Duke of Meckenburg -Streltz, who
n kinsman Of the Gar. All its members
have been detained in barracks and will be
under nominal arrest until the completion
Of an investigation OF the affair
GREAT CROWD SAW SHOT FIRED.
The crime has for the time being driven
the war into the background. An attempt
and often occure, but to-days attempt
differs from the others in Importance and
significance.
The official explanation that tho affair
was an accident is universally dismissed,
as is suggestion that one gun was loaded
with shrapnel with the view Of possible
disorder.
An immense crowd had assembled in the
neIghborhood of the Bourse. and all agree
that the missiles, which passed directly
over the altar where the Car stood during
the sacred ceremony and crashed into the
chambers through which he passed a few
moments afterward, were intended TO kill
him and as many OF his encourage as pos
sihe.
1t is significant that such an attempt
was made by a member Of the army and
Of a regiment whose titular commander is
the Cars own knsmsn.
No more striking setting for monarch's
murder could we'll be imagined than the
scene n the attempt At 1890 o'clock
the Gar attended by the Grand Dukes
aud brilliant suite, inspected the regi-
ments and naval oontingents that were
drawn up at the Winter Palace Bands
PLAYED the national anthem as the Car
passed from regiment TO regiment, greeting
each with Good morning, my children.
and receiving the reply, Good health. your
Majesty"
GATHERING OF NOTABLE RUssIASs.
After the inspection the state procession
passed through the vast and lofty halls
81 the palace to the imperial chapel. Pre-
b.. ,nar ler
stewards came the Car. escorting the
Dowager Empress. and Grand Duke Alexis,
escortng the Czaritza.
They we're followed by princes and
Processes in The order Of their rank. pages
bearing the ladies' trains 1t was an i'm
posing pageant Men In court, military
and naval Uniforms ladies Of honor in ma
tional costumes Of red and white and
nprals and other officers brought up
he rear
Nior services in the chapel at l15 the
procession returned. The Expresses and
their ladies' took places at the windows,
while the Car the Grand Dukes and the
clergy gorgeously robed, descended 10 take
part in the open air ceremonial The
Winter Palace stands on an embankment
Of the Ncva called the Palace Quay The
uyer al this point, some 900 yards wide, is
now frozen and covered with srow.
Immediately opposite the palace Is the
Fortress Of SITS. Peter and Paul. few
hundred yards lower down is a wide open
space ended ty the steps Of the bonrse.
At the dge Of this srace were eight guns
Of the battery which is now under arrest
On the palace side Of the river, facing
the central entrance was a gilded pavilion,
with blue, star-spangled dome, sur
mounted by GROSS The procession OF
priests and choristers bearing tapers and
sacred emblems, standard bearers OF the
Guards regiments the Gar and the Grand
Dukes slowly assembled the crimson carpeted
stairway of the pavilion. All were bare
headed
sHor CANE AFTER SOLEMN SERVICE.
The solemn service began Immediately
and lasted some ten minutes. II con-
Guided with the Metropolitan thrice i'm
rnersing cruciix in the waters OF the
Neva through a hole cut in the three-foot
thick ice
Then STOPPING over he made gesture
and dipped into the Neva gold chalice
already filed with holy water from the
River Jordan This chelioe he handed TO
the Gar, pronouncing a historic prayer
icr The river, lis vessels and their freights.
As the Car raised the chalice TO his lips
signal rocket announced that the oere-
mony was complete. Then the Cars salute
doomed forth With the third gun came
We harsher report aud the rain of bullets
NARROW ESCAPE PoR THE czAR.
Tie Car himself had narrow escape,
ior The she'll burst near the pavilion. Five
bullets pierced flag held by a soldier on
ne outskirts Of the imperial party, and
smother struck gendarme in the forehead.
he died in the hospital.
Qne ball which entered the Winter Palace