Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-23
THE OFFICIAL STORY.
Statement of the Outbreak in the Mes
Senper

SeuRer.
ST. PETERSBURG, January 23.-The
story of the events Immediately preceding
and during yesterdays outbreak as viewed
by official eyes is given in the Official Mes
senger as follows:
'All attempts of the factory inspectors to
pacify the workmen were fruitless, and
every worker from number of the large
factories joined the strike, which spread
quickly and extended to nearly all the
works in the city. At the same time the
demands of the men increased and these
| were formulated in writing mostly by
Father Gopon. The employers discussed
the demands, and decided that if some of
them We're satisfied it could not fail to
ruin industry. while others deserved to be
examined and partially conceded.
Furthermore, willingness was expressed
to negotiate with the men. but not with the
strikers organization. The workmen re-
fused to agree to it, and violated the nego-
t1ations between the masters and men of
the different factories. AS the strike was
being conducted without disturbance of
public order no repressve measures were
adopted, and not single person was
rested. The agitation of the Workmens
Association was, however. soon Joined by
| the agitation of revolutionary circles.
'On the morning of January q the Work
| mems Association, led by Father Gopon,
appeared with open revolutionary tenden-
c1es. On Sunday Father Gopon drew up
petition of workmen to the emperor which
contained besides demands in behalf of the
men, insolent demands of political char
acter.
among the workmen verbal and written
notifications were circulated urging the
necessity for a meeting January % on the
Palace Square in order, through Father
Gopon, to submit the petition to the en-
peror-
Purpose Concealed From Workmen.
Zone of the demands was of political
character, and the real purpose of the meet
ing on the Palace Square was concealed
from the workmen. Fanatical speeches
which Father Gopon, forgetting his clerical
dignity, addressed to the men and criminal
agitation excited the men to such an extent
that on January % large crowds proceeded
to the center of the city AT some points
bloody collisions occurred between them
and the troops in consequence of their re
fuSal to obey the police regulations or
owing to their direct attacks on the troops
'"The latter were obliged to fire in the
Schlusselberg causeway, near the Narva
Triumphal gate in Trotjki square and in
the fourth line on the Vassli Ostroff quar-
ter in the Alexander gardens at the cor
-ner of Nevsky Prospect and Gogol street
near the Police bridge and at the Kasan
cathedral. In the fourth line the populace
erected three barricades of planks and
wire. On one of these red flag was hoist
ed. From the windows of neighboring
houses shots We're fired and stones We're
thrown at the military.
THE crowd took swords from the police
men and armed themselves Herewith. They
! pillaged the Schaff small arms factory and
carried off about a hundred swords, large
number of which. however, the police re-
covered The crowd destroyed telegraph
wires and knocked down poles. The mu-
ncipal building in the second district was
attacked and demolished. In the evening
five shops on the ST. Petersburg side were
pundered."
Mirsky Ordered Headquarters Closed.
Interior Minister Sviatopok- Mirsky at 1
o'clock this morning telegraphed orders to
close the headquarters of the workmen's
union. This was done by the workmen
themselves without police interference.