Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-12-08
WAS THE CAR SHOT?
No News from Imperial Family-Oes'
perate Levity in St. Petersburg.

ST. Petersburg, Dec. Ga special cOrre-
spondent is enabled. by courtesy of the
Austrian embassy, to send this dispatch
by special messenger to the Austrian
frontier:
Here we are, cut off from all Europe,
isolated. alone, save when an infrequent
dispatch brings news from the outer
world. Our letters lie by the million III
the railway stations: we cannot obtain
them. But news that thrills the city
comes from near by. from the Cars pal
ace at Tsarskoe-SelO.
A report that the Gar was shot and
wounded by his uncle, Grand Duke Vladi-
mir AlexandrCvitch. during n personal
quarrel has not been officially denied,
and is accepted as true.
The quarrel was deliberately provoked
by Grand Duke Vladimir. with the de-
sign of melting n palace revolution and
open revolt of the Imperial Guard.
The pretext for the quarrel was the
Cars humiliation of Vladimir's eldest
son, Grand Duke Cyril, who scorned the
tzaif-ss order and married hts Divorced
cousin formerly the grand duchess OF
Hesse.
The pretext was readily formed for
Cyrrs disgrace had infuriated his father.
The purpose of the quarrel failed, but
no one has yet learned how or why.
The editor of the Novosti sent three
representatives to Tsarskoe-Selo. They
found the palace silent. impenetrable, de-
void of any sign of life beyond the SOL
diers who guarded all approaches to it.
The truth is that the capital has heard
nothing of the Car or of the imperial
family for four days. But this is not
strange. as the Cars purpose at the mo
ment is to remain as silent and as seclud-
ed as possible.
The seclusion probably gave rise to the
widespread report that the Car and his
family departed from Tsarskoe-Selo on
Tuesday. But Count Witte when ques-
toned, said:
Il saw the Car, Wednesday. There
is no one in this wretched country 50
collected in the face Of danger"
Poverty and hunger stalk in the streets
here. The rich momentarily expect to be
attacked by the workingmen or moufks.
who are half maddened by desperation
and misery.
In strange contrast with all This the
opera is thronged nightly, the fashion
able restaurants are filled with careless
crowds, animated by sort of desperate
levity. But no man ventures abroad
without a revolver and after dusk people
so about in parties for mutual protection
The situation battles description.
The Constitutionalists and Reactiona-
ries are alike powerless, for the masses
are swayed altogether by the revolution
ary teachings of sheer anarchy and
nihilsm.
A military coup d'etat seems hopeless,
as the Cossacks, VINO alone could be de-
pended upon. could not establish mill
tary dictatorship. Their mobilization was
hastened by the disaffection throughout
the ranks of the rest of the army. which
is always jealous of these barbarian
hordes.
The telegraphers' strike may last
month There is no one now to deal with
any crisis of this kind.
But Witte has thrown up his hands In
despair. although he is still using his in
fiuence to stem the anarchic tide.
We have n report of 4 revolt OF the
troops at Reval. But such an event now
adays causes no surprise, only a dull
sense of apprehension.
We are waiting in hourly expectation OF
| the surging of the desperate masses. with
the prospect that most of the troops III
| the capital will join them.
We are living on the edge of a volcanic
crater. We hear the rumbling Of the
| titanic forces at work. We see the faint
| reflection of the hidden fires. The tre-
! mendous explosion may come at any mo-
ment.