The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-23
Wave sabers at Cars Troops

Wave Sabers at Cars Troops
The Associated Press correspondent
was present when the barricades were
constructed on Vashili Ostrav island,
where fighting occurred later, resulting
in the killing of thirty of the defenders
of the barricades. The strikers driven
from the river front, had gathered in
front of the union headquarters out of
sight of the soldiery. BuZZing like a
nest of angry hornets hundred men
brandished handless saber blades Sc
cured from some junk shop, which
were the only weapons seen In the
hands of the strikers during the day.
Others swarmed UP poles and cut dowp
telegraph, telephone and electric light
wires, which they strung from lamp
post to lamppost across the street to
break up charges of cavalry. At first
none of the leaders seemed to have any
plans. Suddenly two men appeared
carrying ladders and others pushed up
with more ladders, timber and lumber
from incomplete buildings and with old
sleighs.
In the twinkling of an eye sub
stantia1 barricade had been constructed,
bound together with wire and ropes.
On this water was poured which i'm
mediately froze. AS a last contribution
Christmas trees were added to the pile
and the crowd rushed to repeat the
process@at the other end of the block.
Meanwhile others were bringing on
rocks and breaking them for missiles.
When the troops advanced the strikers
lined the barricadeS and offered what
resistance they could; but while half
of the infantry rested their rifles on
barricade and volleyed the others de-
molished the obstruction and marched
over the street. which was then encum-
bered with fifty dead or wounded lying
on snow crimsoned with human blood.
Narrowing Scenes About Square
The most narrowing scenes of the
day occurred around the Palace square.
This enormous place back of the winter
palace is surrounded by gardens 'front.'
ing the admiralty and by vast semi
circular building containing the offices
of the general staff, the ministry of
finance and the foreign office. In the
center of the block is cut out an arched
gateway surmounted by bronze quad
riga The gateway serves as an en-
trance to the grand Morskaia, one of
the most fashionable streets of the city,
which crosses. the Nevski Prospect.
Beyond the semi circular building is
wide space leading to the Mokai canal
and beyond this stands an enormous
square building, the headquarters of the
St. Petersburg military district. From
thence Grand Duke Vladimir had is
sued orders for the whole military
preparations directing the days oper-
ations. In the center Of the square
stands an enormous granite column
supporting a statue Of Victory, COM
memorating the defeat Of the Napoleon
1c invasion, at which veteran guard
In the uniform of the period of Alex
ander /. stands sentinel.
When the Associated Press corre-
spondent arrived at the Palace square
early this morning he found a consid-
cradle crowd of demonstrators already
lining the ratings of the admiralty
garden and the boulevard. The square
itself presented the appearance of
military encampment. In the square
the Daviolski and Prebojemsky guards
had piled their arms, while the men
were sitting around the camp fires or
stamping on the snow to keep warm
Soldiers Wait for Fray
Behind the infantry stood squads
of cheyalier guards with their horses
without their lanceS, cuirasses, or other
gay trappings. The men carried car
bines slung across their shoulders and
their StirrupS were covered with felt
or straw to keep off the cold. All the
soldiers wore bashliks or hoods to pro-
tect their ears from the keen, searching
wind. a field kitchen steamed merri!y,
disseminating the fragrant odor of
viapds. Many of the men wrestled or
boxed. cracking jokes as one rolled OH
the snow. a whole row of arbulances
drawn up near the palace served as a
grim reminder of the stern business on
hand.
Meanwhile pickets were stationed at
all the entrances of the palace and
cavalry patrols kept promenaders NOV
Ing. along the sidewalk Sleigh traffic
continued uninterrupted till the time
came for the cavalry to charge The
crowd of strikers in and outside the
admiralty gardens continued to grow
hourly, swelled by arrivals from the
NeVsN Prospect, which faces upon the
bouievards sl1irting the gardens. The
strikers manned and held q small