The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1905-01-24

ara tbf.r setfflpS were covered Win
felt or straw to keep off the cold.
A crowd OF strikers in and out side
the admiralty gardens continued to
grow. sweiled by arrivals from the
Nevzxy tr3spect, Shich touched upon
the boulevard skirtinE the gardens.
The strikers manned and held a small
eGifce at the corner of the gardens
and poured out constant objurgations
and reproaches at the troops 1t was
dispense.
I'VE have come TO preserve our
homage and grievances to the ensR
porcr.
Let the emperor come oue and heas
US: we do rot wish to harm him. Long
live Nicholas. If he only listens to our
advances we are sure he will be just
and mereiful.
I'VE cannot longer endure our SUI
ferfngs. Better die at once and all"
Such were the cries repeatedly heard
from the avenue leading to the Moika
canal. The crowd at the latter place
swelled to huge proportions. blocking
the bridge across the canal. The order
came at 1880 p. m. to clear them off.
The colonel commanding che horse
guards uttered a short. sharp CONF
n.and; the troops drew their, swords
and advanced at a quick and then
broke into a gallop. heading straight
for the merka, where they were lost in
a cloud of snow. Shrieks Of the
wounded resounded. Then came dead
ly silence. broken only By the gallop>
ing of ambulance horses.
The next twenty minutes passed
without incident. Nothing indicated
which was destined to stain the cor
ner of the admiralty gardens with
human blood, The crowd there persist
ed in refusing to move on. clamoring
for the emperor and contipually hurl-
ing abuse at the troops. but attempted
no violence Two companies of the
Preobrajensky guards Of which EN-
peror Nicholas was formerly colonel,
which had been standing at ease in
front of the palace, formed and
marched at double quick towards the
fatal corner. Events followed with
awful swiftness. The commanding
officer shouted "disperse," "disperse,"
''disperse;" the crowd turning to flee,
but It was too late. A bugle sounded
and the men in the front ranks sank
to their knees and both companies
fired three zvolleys, tie first two with
blank cartridges and the last with ball
A hundred corpses strewed the side
W alks. Many women were pierced
through the back as they were trying
to escape.
The Associated Press correspondent,
standing behind the troops, saw man
gled corpses of persons of all ages and
both sexes strewing the ground. One
boy of thirteen had his skull pierced
and rent by bullets. Great splashes
and streams Of blood stained the snow.
Only few of the victims remained
alive. for the fatal volley was fired
at distance Of not more than twenty
PAGES. and SO the ambulances had little
work to do. The police recruited
large number of droskies (sleighs) 20
carry off the dead. Heart rending
scenes were witnessed as wives, hus-
bands and mothers came up to claim
their dear ones. and were carried off
with them in sleighs. Meanwhile the
crowd had drifted up the Nevsky pros
pect yelling 'murderers.' = "murderers.'
and the square resumed It's quiet as
pect, troops returning to their sta.
tons
1 1t was now the turn Of the crowd
stationed at the Morsakia entrance to
the square, where the horse guards re-
peated the exploit with which they had
cleared the Morsakia and drove the peo-
pie peli nell down the thoroughfare.
From thence onward the palace square
ceased to be the center Of interest.
The Associated Press correspondent
went to Grand Morsakia and stood
whole hour near the corner of the Nav.
ski Prospect. The fashionable hotels
on either side Of the Grand Mrosakia
were crowded, but the doors were
locked except to well known visitors.
jeWe1ry and other stores
were barred, but mostly unshuttered.
Quite a number Of prominent persons
stood on the sidewalk watching the
developments. Secretary Spencer Eddy
of the American embassy chatted with
Grand Duke Boris. who had driven
In stylish sleigh drawn by magnif-
cert trotter. M. Bompard. the French
ambassador. drove past with his wife
As couple OF squadrons of red capped
hussars trotted by. the officers gave
the command Use the flats of your
swords.
Then the soldiers moved away and
they disappeared down the street, the
crowds shrieking .nurderous dogs.
but quickly vanishing before them A
few who were wounded were picked up
and conveyed to a drug store on the
opposite corner OF the Grand Moroskaia
and the Nevsky prospect. No troops
were visible for as much as half an.
hour. A crowd quickly formed outside
the drug store and an orator was found
for the occasion. Standing on the
steps Of the drug store he addressed
the impromptu meeting thus: Com
rades: We came humbly and peace
fully to meet the emperor and lay our
before him: but the en-
peror refused to see US and instead sol
dters were sent to shoot us down. Then
ali I can say. he Is no emperor.
Down with the emperor" shouted the
crowd.
Many strikers brought their wives
and children. You soldiers are our
brothers: you cannot shoot these little
pres.' they exclaimed. But as the
pickets and patrols continued driving
D1 the people the demonstrations began
To- give way and the bitterest insults