The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-12-30

cations, the troops are hardly holding
their own. Fighting is now going on
in every section Of the city and the
dead number hundreds-some reports
say thousands-and the end is not in
sight.
Terrible slaughter Of the revolution
aries took place Sunday night and
early Monday, when the terrorists
attempted to capture the enormous
ammunition factories held by the SOL
diers.
By order of Gen. Mistchenko, the
famous Cossack chieftain, who is now
in command of the garrison, the ar
tillery was instructed to mount rapid
fire guns at every window and on the
roof, so that they would command all
avenues Of approach to the store
houses. Order was given that these
rapid firers should not be unmarked
until the people actually began break
ing into the structure.
The result was that mobs packed
the open street in front when the sig
nal was given to fire. Immediately
as one, all the wooden shutters fell
back and whitening volleys poured
into the crowds, while the guns on
the roofs were turned on the crowd
that had been unable to get into the
immediate vicinity.
nDR~oA SnOm Ron~oAR~U
The crowd was stunned for a mo-
ment, and turned to fee, but the fir
ing kept up and simultaneously there
issued from places of concealment
whole troops of the Cossacks, who,
using carbine and sword. swept
through the panic-stricken crowds,
killing all whom they could reach.
Inside half an hour the people dis
persed and declared fully two thou
sand were killed outright and five
times as many wounded. These re-
ports, however, are mostly conjec-
ture, as it has been impossible to Sc
cure any accurate details.
This sanguinary defeat, while it
had the effect Of dampening the spir-
its of the revolutionlsts for q time,
was soon forgotten. and by noon Mon
day fighting was renewed along the
boulevards and cross streets in the
center Of the city.
A force of Cossacks attacked q
schoolhouse where the leaders Of the
revolutionists were reported to be in
hiding, but were driven back with
great loss by company Of former re-
servists who have joined in the move
ment for the establishment of a pro-
visional government, and who have
been detailed specially as a guard for
the leaders.
Reinforcements came up and at the
end of an hour the losses were consid-
cradle on both sides, when the revo-
lutionaries retired slowly, carrying
their dead and wounded with them.
Peasants Join Revolt.
Thousands of peasants from sur
rounding districts are swarming into
the city and they are being pressed
into service in attacking the troops
The need Of the revo1utionaries is
arms and ammunition, as their stock
is not great, but it is reported that
large supplies have been struggled
across the border and soon will be
available. Meanwhile new recruits
are being armed with homemade
weapons and small bombs, which are
being used with terrible effect against
the Cossacks.
It is freely admitted that the infant
~ and artillery would refuse to fire
on the people were it not that they
too are in great fear of the mounted
riders, who fear nothing and obey
the orders of their commanding off,
GERS blindly. Scenes within the city,
according to report just received,
are absolutely indescribable. Dead
bodies are lying all over the streets,
attempts to remove them having fail
ed. There is scarcity of food and
medical supplies
A large number Of buildings have,
been destroyed by fire and in every
instance either the troops or the mobs
kept the firemen from attempting to
check the flames.
It is freely prophesied that unless
either the troops or the revolution
aries gain the upper hand within for
ty-eight hours, q large portion Of Che
city will be laid in waste by flames.
Volcano SpOutS On North.
Victoria, B. c., Dec. 28.-The pas
sengers on the steamer Tees, from the
North, report great volcanic arup-
tinn On Princess ROYAL Island IN IA