The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-19
RUSS ASSASSINS IN
WHOLESALE PLOT
Hail Of Bullets Passes Over Heads
of the Russian Imperial
Family.
DIPLOMATIC CORPS IN
PERIL WITH THE REST
Winter Palace Pierced by Shot
Fired During Rites on
the Neva.

the Neva.
st. Petersburg, Jan. 19.-The festival
Of the Epiphany, the blessing Of the
waters had just concluded at l O'Clock
this afternoon when, simultaneously
with the salute fired from the st. Peter
bullets or a shrapnel shell swept over
the little chapel built over the frozen
Neva in front Of the Winter Palace,
where Emperor Nicholas and every
member Of the Romanoff family were
participating in the service.
49, Empress In Peril.
The missiles went high, entering
windows of the splendid row of salons
along the water front from which the
empress, the ladies of the court and the
members of the diplomatic corps, in
Guiding Ambassador Mccormick, Sec
rotary Eddy and Second Secretary
state, army and navy were witnessing
the glittering spectacle below For
tunately the bullets passed over the
heads of all present, striking the OPP
posite wall and Gathering down on the
parquetted floor of the white salon.
The first impression OF those who
heard the crash was that it was due to
falling crystals from the glass chan
deliers and caused by conclusion from
the booming guns. Everybody had been
1aboring under a more or less nervous
strain because Of the strike situation,
and when the truth was realized the
windows were hastily vacated and the
palace.
Lieutenant General Fulton, chief Of
police of St. Petersburg, himself picked
up missile in the white salon. It was
the size Of a bird 8 egg. r3t
From Bourse Battery.
The police chief was Immediately
who examined the bullet and expressed
the opinion that it had come from a
shrapnel she'll which might have been
fred from the battery located on the
Bourse esplanade, and which replied to
the salute Of the st. Peter and ST. Paul
fortress, explaining that a gun might
have been charged 9Th 9Th loaded tSina cart:
ever, it was admitted, was hard to con-
ceive without a deliberate plot:
double windows it is certain that the
bullets came from the direction of the
Bourse. In the meantime there IS no
The crowds Of people who formed
black lines along the quays, the palace
bridge, the steps of the Bourse and
every other point of vantage did not
betray the slightest excitement. Neither
did the imperial party in the chapel
below. Altho the actual ceremony was
ended, the emperor remained and &C
companied the metropolitan and clergy
as they circled the pavilion around the
chapel to bless the gorgeous standards
of the famous guard regiments assem-
bled there. Then the procession moved
back to the palace and the origina
program was carried out.
Emperor Displayed Nerve.
The emperor displayed splendid
nerve. He did not show a trace Of ex
element He received the diplomats
in his usual cordial, gentle manner, re
viewed the guard regiments on the
quently had luncheon served in thu
state diningroom.
When the correspondent of the Asso
ciated Press, who was about to go dow
to the white salon (where one Of tn
missiles flew directly over his head)
left the palace, he saw hole in tn
window Of another salon and holes out
side in the stucco of the massive ret
building.
The police are actively at work try
ing to clear up the mystery as to wher
the shots came from.
Cars Miraculous Escape.
Additional particulars show that tn
car had a miraculous escape. Their
is no longer any doubt that the missile
came from gun of the Bourse batter
loaded with grape, not shrapnel. Som
of the bullets actually struck the littl
open chapel in which the emperor wa
standign, cut the staff Of one Of tn
standards, and fairly riddled the, base
~ tho Ill
policeman outright and wounding a
officer and three marines.
Had the gun been aimed little lowe
| the charge might have wiped out tn
whole Romanoff dynasty.
No official statement has yet bee
issued, but the suggestion that the gu
| was loaded with grape as a precaut1o
! in view of possible strike rioting hardl
/ jibes with the fact that it was Anne
! with such accuracy.
Deadly, Deep.laid Plot.
Everything seems to indicate a dec
laid plot in which artillerymen were el
1 listed. All the men and officers of tt
battery were Immediately placed und,
4 arrest.
\ The police took charge Of sp,
/ where the battery still stands and Dire
4 double Gordon across the rive
(. searching out everything in the line
fire. An old barge frozen in the i
was thoroly examined to ascerta
i whether the bullets could possibly ha,
/ come from it, but nothing was disco
cred to substantiate such a theory.
One Of the bullets that entered II
Nicholas hall where the diplomats we
i gathered, struck down a golden pla
from the wall. Many Of the diplomat
however, did not suspect the cause UNI
afterwards, altho they noticed tn
4 somethinp unusual had happened
The Winter Palace stands on VIII
II may be termed the mainland of the Ct
j 1 y Continual on I'd Pape. 6th Column.