Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1905-01-20
ATTEMPT ON
LIFE OF GAR.
firing Of Shots Across the
Neya is Laid to
a Plot
INVESTIGATION BEING MADE
Official Explanation Of incident Gen.
orally Scotfsd at-Chargs Of Grape
shot Swept Across Nsva into Wintes
Palace During Sacred Ceremony.

ST. Petersburg, January 90
The ceremony OF the blessing
Of the waters this year was
accompanied by an event more
mysterious, unprecedented and
extraordinary than any afforded by
the annals of Russian history. For
Russian sovereign to fall by the hand
Of an assassin is no new thing in Rus
sian records. but that the emperor
should narrowly escape death by .
shot from his own artillery, while he
was enga ged in q solemn religious
rite. surrounded by priests OF his
church, is SO difficult to realize as to
be almost incredible. Yet this 10
what happened yesterday. and the
Russian public Is left wondering ana
mystlhed. BY the merest chance the
imperial family escaped unhurt, Blu,
public opinion Is stunned by what
might have been the tragic results Of
the affair.
- 1t is now stated in pfictal circles.
that the grape was fred from one Of
the guns OF the Seventeenth battery
Of the First horse artillery Of the
guard, the crack corps of the Russian
army. 1t seems that at gun practice
on Tuesday loaded shell was mad.
yersently left In the gun.
The festival of the Epiphany, the
blessing Of the waters, had just con
Guided At l o'clock yesterday after.
noon, when simultaneously with the
l.,$o frn Data
st. Paul fortress. rain Of grape snol
swept over the little chapel built
over the frozen Neva in front OF the
Winter palace, where Emperor Mich.
olas and every member OF the Roman.
off family were participating In the
service. The missiles went high, en-.
tering the windows Of the splendid
row Of saloons along the water front,
from which the empress, the ladies
of the court and the members OF the
diplomatic corps, including Ambassa-
dor Mccormick, Secretary Eddy and
Second Secretary Bliss and all the
high dignitaries of the state, army
and navy were witnessing the gilt
tering spectacle below.
Fortunately the shot passed over
the heads of all present, striking the
opposite wall and Gathering down on
the parquetted floors Of the white
salon. The first impression Of those
who heard the crash was that it was
due to the falling crystals from the
glass chandeliers and caused by con-
cussion from the booming guns.
Everybody had been laboring under
more or less nervous strain be-
cause of the strike situation, and
when the truth was realized the win
dows were hastily vacated and the
greatest excitement reigned within
the palace.
1t cannot be said definitely whether
the affair was an accident or the re-
suit Of design. The general belief is
that widespread plot did not exist,
but evidences OF design are so ap-
parent that the statement attribut.
ing the presence Of loaded shell to
previous target practice evoked
smiles in many quarters. 1t is Point.
ed out as being highly improbable
that the gun had not been cleaned
for two days, and it Is impossible that
second cartridge could have been
inserted for saluting purposes be-
hind the first; and it Is certainly 4
startling coincidence that the gun
containing this missile should have
been trained directly on the imperial
chapel. Whatever may be tho solu.
ton, 1t is strange fact that the shot
came from the bourse esplanade,
where was stationed the first horse
artillery of the guard, the premier ar.
tillery organization Of the empire and
one of the most noted regiments in
the whole Russian service,