The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-01-26
SHOT AT THE CAR
4 Bold Attempt TO Assassinate The
Russian Monarch
SALUTING GUN RAINS GRAPE SHOT
Only High Aim and Weak, Scattering
Charge Prevented Disastrous Con-
cluslon to the Ceremony ct Blessing
the Waters of the Neva.

st. Petersburg, BY Cable.-The fes-
tival Of the Epiphany, the blessing OF
the waters. had just concluded at l
O'Clock Thursday afternoon, when SIM
ultaneously with the salute fired from
the St. Peter and St. Paul fortress a
rain Of bullets swept over the little
chapel built over the frozen Neva in
front of the winter palace, where EN-
peror Nicholas and every member Of
the Romano1 family were participat-
ing in the service. 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 and high dignitaries
Of the State, army and navy were wit
Messing the glittering spectacle below.
Fortunately the bullets passed over
thAheads Of all present, striking the
opibsite wall and Gathering down on
e parquetted floor Of the white sa-
Non. Everybody had been laboring un-
der a more or less nervous strain be-
cause of the strike situation, and the
windows were hastily vacated, and the
greatest excitement reigned within
the palace. Lieutenant Fulton, chief
Of police Of St. Petersburg, himself
picked up a missile in the white salon.
1t was the size Of birds egg. The
police chief was Immediately sur
rounded by officers Of the guards, who
examined the bullet and expressed the
opinion that it had come from shrap-
mel which might have been fired from
the battery located on the bourse es-
planade and which replied to the sa-
lutte of the ST. Peter and st. Paul for
tress, explaining that a gun might
have been charged with loaded car
fridge by mistake.
In the meantime there was no evi.
dence outside Of what had occurred.
The crowds of people who formed
black lines along the qusys, the pal
ace bridge, the steps CT the bourse,
and every other point OF vantage IN
the white Arctic landscape did not be-
tray the slightest excitement. Neither
cid the imperial party in the chapel
below. Although the actual ceremony
was ended. the Emperor remained
and accompanied the metropolitan
and clergy as they circlcd the pavilion
around the chapel to bless the gor-
geous standards Of the famous guard
regiments stationed there. Then the
procession moved back to the palace,
and the original program was carried
out. The Emperor displayed splendid
nerve. He did not show a trace Of
excitement. He received the diplo-
mats in his usual cordial gentle man
ner, reviewed the guard regiments on
the square behind the palace, and sub
sequcntly had luncheon served in the
State dining room.
Additional particulars show that the
Emperor had miraculous escape.
There is uo loIbt that the missiles
came from gun Of the bourse bat
terry which was loaded with grape. not
with shrapnel. Some CT the bullets
actually struck The little open chapel
in which The Empcro: was standing,
cut the staff of che CT the cto"d2rts
and fairly riddlcd the basement Win
Cows of the palace, killing 4 police
man outright and wcundi2g Gn officer
and three marines. Had the gun
been aimed little lower the charge
Of grape might have wiped out the
whole Ronanoff dynasty.
Two Investigations are proceeding
independently, and both are guarded
with the utmost 5ecrccy.
Military experts say indications
point to g charge consisting OF grape
having been inserted suTre2titicnsly
IL a salrtlng cartridge. If this was
the case. probably only one non was
involved. Certainly If there was an
extensive, decp-laid plot, or if IN off.
Ger was involved. it was badly exc
cuted.