Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-23
NARROWING SCENES
OCCUR AS TROOPS
FIRE UPON STRIKERS
BY Associated Prsss.

FIRE UPON , HINEhS
BY Associated Press.
ST. PETERSBURG Jan. 22.-The
most narrowing scenes of the day oc-
Cured around the palace square. This
enormous place back of the Winter
palace is surrounded by gardens 'front.'
ing 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 gateway surmounted by o
bronze quadriga. The gateway serves
as an entrance to the Grand Morskaia,
one of the most fashionable streets i'm
the city, which crosses the Nevsky
Prospect. Beyond the semi-circular
building is wide space, leading to
the Moika canal and beyond this
stands an enormous square building,
the headquarters of the st. Petersburg
military district. From thence Grand
Duke Vladimir has issued orders for
the whole military preparations, di-
recting today's operations.
In the center OF the square stands
an enormous granite column, support
ing a statue of Victory commemor-
ating the defeat of the Napoleonic in
vasion, at which a veteran guard of
the uniform period of Alexander
stands sentinel.
Troops Prepared for Conflict
pondent arrived at the palace square
early this morning he found consid-
cradle crowd of demonstrators already
lining~ the railing of the Admiralty
garden and the boulevard. The square
itself presented the appearance of a
encampment. Several com
panies of the Davlovsky and Preobra-
jensky guards had piled their arms,
while the men were sitting around
camp fires or stamping on the snow
to keep warm.
Beyond the infantry stood squadrons
of the chevalier guards and the house
guards without their lances, cuirasses
or the usual gay trappings. The men
NuiiiSu Coi pihOSb GiulS clNiOSS lllCll
shoulders and their stirrups were
covered with felt or straw to keep off
the cold. All the soldiers wore bash
lika, or hoods, to protect their ears
from the keen, searching wind. A field
kitchen steamed merrily, disseminating
the fragrant odor of viands. Many of
the men wrestled or boxed, cracking
jokes as one rolled on the snow.
Ambuiances Grim Reminder
A whole row of ambulances drawn
up near the palace served as a grim re-
minder of the stern business on hand.
Meanwhile pickets were stationed at all
the entrances of the palace and cav
airy patrol kept promenaders moving
along the sidewalks. Sleigh traffic con-
tinued uninterrupted till the time for
the cavalry to charge. The crowd of
strikers in and outside the Admiralty
gardens continued to grow hourly,
swelled by arrivals from the NeVslky
Prospect, which touches upon the
boulevard skirting the gardens.
The strikers manned and held a small
edifice at the corner of the gardens
and poured out constant objurgations
and reproaches at the troops 1t was
in vain that officers requested them to
disperse.
Demand Audience of Emperor
1--WE have come here to present our
homage and grievances to the emper-
or" Let the emperor come out and
hear us; we do not 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 sufferings.
Better die at once and end ALL"
Such were the cries repeatedly heard
from the strikers.
Many strikers brought their wives
and children.
You soldiers are our brothers; you
cannot shoot these little ones" they
exclaimed. But as the pickets and pat
trolls continued driving them off, the
demonstrators began to give way and
bitter insults and oaths, in which Rus
sian vocabulary is particularly rich,
became frequent.
I'VE are not Japanese: why brutalize
us? Will you shame the mother who
bore you, who was Russian like our
selves?" were some of the cries that
were heard. Later such expressions as
"Scoundrels." "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 ar
rest him. The crowd 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 stream of boots and Misses.
Then a young workman jeered at a
soldier, who applied his rifle butt and
with the help of comrades dragged the
workman despite his piteous pleadings.
to the lookup.
Troops Kissed by Crowds
Every time the troops moved the