The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-02-15

st. Petersburg, Russia. The sacrl'
lice has been made. Thousands have
fallen, willing martyrs in the cause OF
; human liberty, in the belief that their
| blood will seal the doom Of Russian
| tyranny and oppression.
| Not since the massacre Of st. Barthol-
bmew's Day has a civilized community
Witnessed such 4 massacre as stains
the latest page of Russian history.
Its victims cannot yet be numbered.
The official estimate puts the number
of dead at POO and the wounded at
5000.
The last act of the bloody drama was
the deliberate slaughter Of hundreds
of onlookers in the centre Of the city.
After all the organized attempts OF the
irsurrectionists to march to the Winter
Palace had failed, a large body or
COssacks was turned loose by the au-
thorities against $4,000 people standing
in the streets, with orders to kill with
out mercy.
The murderous command was obeyed
to the letter. The carnage which fol-
lowed has no parallel in modern rec
ord. The fierce horsemen cut down
with their sabres all within reach.
Those who fed were shot at with re-
volverS and carbines.
It is said that the authorities COM
mitted this atrocity with the deliberate
purpose OF terrorizing not only ST.
Petersburg but all Russia, and Quench-
ing the rising flames of revolution
throughout the Empire.
Never was there a greater mistake.
Instead of exciting terror, the mas
sacre has already inspired a rage such
as nothing but revenge will satisfy.
This found It's first expression an
hour ago, when a crowd surrounded an
old man in a Generals uniform riding
in a carriage. They tore him from
the vehicle and killed him.
CHASTITY, indeed, would this days
work of slaughter have been if it had
been the result of a sudden outcall OF
the troops to ave the city and it's rul-
ers from an overwhelming force Of
bloodthirsty reyolutionists, but more
horrible than the massacre itself is the
story of how it was brought about.
It was not the outcome of mad pas
sion, but was a cold, deliberate plan of
.Russia's rulers. Every mai killed was
carefully shepherded to his death.
Every one has wondered why during
the last few days the strikers were al
lowed to meet and organize their peace
full demands in practical freedom. 1t
might have seemed to be the dawn OF
more lenient treatment, but it was in
reality the Governments method of
collecting its victims, that its blow
might fall more surely and more
deadly.
The police themselves proved this,
for they define their own position IN
the following terms:
"We were forbidden to prevent any
spread of the strike or development
Of revolution. We were ordered to
stand aside, and it was left to grow
ripe for the army"
Minister of the Interior Sviatopolk-
Mirsky presented to his Majesty at
night the invitation of the wOrkmen
to appear at the Winter Palace the
following afternoon and receive their
petition, but the Emperor'S advisers
had already taken the decision to show
a firm and resolute front, and the EN-
peror's answer to the 100000 workmen
trying to force their way to the Palace
Square was a solid array of troops who
met them with rifle, bayonet and sabre.
The figures Of the total number killed
or wounded at the Narva Gate, the
Moscow Gate, at various bridges and
islands, and at the Winter Palace vary.
The best estimate is 500, although
there are exaggerated figures placing
the number al high as 5000.
Many men were accompanied By their
wives and children, and in the confu-
sion, which left no time for discrimina-
ton. these shared the fate OF the mel.
The troops, with the exception OF
the Moscow Regiment, which is report
ed to have thrown down its arms, re-
manned loyal and obeyed orders.
The military authorities had a firm
grip on every artery in the city, At
daybreak guard regiments, cavalry and
infantry held every bridge across the
frozen Neva, the network of canals
which interlace the city, and the gates
leading from the industrial section,
while in the Palace Square, as the
storm centre, were massed Dragon
regiments. Infantry, and Cossacks Of
the Guards.
Barred from the bridges and gates,
men, women and children crossed the