The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-23
People CIamOred for anAudience
With the Czar.
SHOT IN THE BACK
AS They Attempted to Escape
From Advancing Soldiers.
COssacks PurpOseIy Missed
Father GOrOn, the Leader.

narrowing scenes of Sunday occurred
around the palace square. This enor-
nous place back of the Winter palace
is surrounded by gardens fronting 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 an arched gate
way surmounted by bronze quadriga.
The gateway serves as an entrance to
the Grand Morskaias one Of the most
fashionable streets in the city which
crosses the Nevslxy prospect. Beyond
the semi-circular building is a wide
space leading to the Moil1a canal, and
beyond this stands an enormous
square building, the headquarters Of
the st. Petersburg military district.
From thence Grand Duke Vladimir
had issued orders for the whole mill
tary preparation directing the days
operations. In the center of the
square stands an enormous granite
column supporting a statue of Vic
tory; commemorating the defeat OF
the Napoleonic invasion at which a
veteran guard of the uniform of the
period of Alexander stands sentinel.
When the Associated Press corre-
spondent arrived at the palace square
early he found a considerable crowd OF
| demonstrators already lining the rail-
ings of the admiralty garden and the
boulevard. The square itself present.
ed the appearance of a military en-
campmert. Several companies Of the
Davlovsxy and PreObrajensky guards
had piled their arms, while the men
were sitting around camphres or
stamping on the snow to keep warm.
Beyond the infantry stood squadrons
of the chevalier guards and the horse
guards, without the lances, cuirasses
or the usual gay trappings The men
carried carbines slung across their
shoulders and their stirrups were COW
cred with felt or straw to keep off the
cold. All the soldiers wore bashlika
or hoods to protect their ears from
the keen, searching wind. A field
kitchen steamed merrily, disseminat-
ing the fragrant Odor of ViandS- Many
of the men wrestled or boxed, crack
[ ing jokes as one rolled on the snow
A whole row Of ambulances drawn up
ninder of the stern business on hand.
Meanwhile pickets were stationed at
all the entrances of the palace, and a
cavalry patrol kept promenaders NOV
ing along the sidewalks. Sleigh traffic
continued uninterrupted till the time
came for the cavalry to charge The
crowd of strikers in and outside the
admiralty garden continued to grow
hourly, swelling by arrivals from the
Nevsky, swelling by arrivals from the
the boulevard skirting the gardens.
The strikers manned and held a
small edifice at the corner of the gar
dens and poured out constant objur-
cations and reproaches at the troops.
1t was in vain that officers requested
hem to disperse-
1--WE have come to present our
homage and grievances to the emper-
or Let the emperor come out and
hear US. We do ont wish to do harm
Long life to Nicholas II If he only
listens to our grievances we are sure
he will be just and merciful."
I'VE cannot longer endure our suf-
ferings. Better die at once and end
all"
such were the cries repeatedly
heard from many strikers. Many
strikers brought their wives and chill
dren.
you soldiers are our brothers; you
cannot shoot these little ones" they
exclaimed But as the pickets and
patrols continued driving off the peo-
pie the demonstrators began to give
way and the bitterest insults and
oaths, in which the Russian vOcabu-
larry is particularly richs became fire.
quent.
I'VE are not Japanese; why brutal
ize US? Will you shame the mother
who bore you, who was Russian loke
ourselves p were some the cries that
were heard. Later, such expressions
as "scoundrel" ''mercenaries," dogs
and worse were heard. A long haired
student among the crowd hurled an
insulting epithet at an officer. who sent
a couple of men to arrest him. The
crowed tried to rescue the student,
but the latter was dragged and kicked
across the sunlit square, his long hair
tossing in the air. The crowd broke
into a stream of boots and Kisses.
Then a young workman fjeered at a
soldier, who applied his rife butt and
with the help of comrades dragged the
workman, despite his piteOus plead
ings, to the lookup.
Every time the troops moved the
crowds hissed them.
Strikers also gathered at the en-
trance of the Grand Morskaia and on
the avenue leading to the Moika
canal.
The crowd at the latter place
swelled to huge proportions blocking
the bridge across the canal. The or
der came at 1870 D. m. to clear them
off. The colonel commanding the
command: the troops drew their
swords and advanced at a quick trot
and then broke into a gallop heading
straight for the Moika, where they
were lost in a cloud OF snow. Shrieks
from the wounded resounded Then
came a deadly silence, broken only by
the galloping of ambulance horses.
The next twenty minutes passed
without incident. Nothing Indicated
the approach of the horrible butchery
which was destined to stain the cor
ner of the admiralty gardens with hu-
man blood. The crowd persisted in
refusing to move on, clamoring for the
emperor and continually hurlinR
abuse at the troops, but attempted no
violence. Two companies of the
Proebranj jenslxy guards of which EN-
peror Nicholas himself was formerly
colonel, which had been standing at
ease in front of the palace formed
and marched at double quick toward