The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1905-01-23

~ and Empire - city mn Armed
Camp, Where Authorities QueiI
Mobs by Observation-Disclosures Dow
nger FIees-Armed workmen swarm
Streets.
ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 23.-A day
of unspeakabIe horror in st. Petersburg
was Sunday, Jan. % The strikers,
goaded to desperation by day of vio-
lence, fury and bloodshed, are in a state
of open insurrectiOn against the gov
eminent
IL is estimated that 1900 people have
been killed or wounded. Popular ru-
mors say that many thousands have
fallen.
a condition bordering on civil war ex-
lists in the terror stricken Russian cap
ital. The city is under martial law,
with Prince Vasilchikoff rs commander
of over 10000 Of the emperors crack
guards. Troops are bivouacking in the
streets ana at various places on the
Nevsky prospect. the main thorough
fare of the city. On the island Of VAS
sill Ostrov and in the Industrial sec
lions Infatuated men have thrown M
barricades, which they are folding.
The empress dowager has hastily
sought safety at Tsarskoe Selo where
Emperor Niehous H. is living.
Minister of the Interior Sviatopolk-
Mirslly presented TO his majesty the in
vitation of the workmen to appear mt
the Winter palace Sunday afternoon
and receive their petition, but the EN-
peror's advisers already had taken a
decision to show firm and resolute
| front, and the emperor's answer to
100000 workmen trying to make their
way to the palace square was solid
array of troops, who met them with
rife, bayonet and saber. The priest.
Gopon, the leader and idol Of the men.
in his golden vestments, holding aloft
the cross and marching at the head of
thousands Of workmen through the
Narva gate, miraculously escaped vol
ley which laid low half a hundred per-
sons. The figures of the total number
killed or wounded here, at the Moscow
gate, at various bridges and islands
and at the Winter palace vary The
best estimate is 1900, although there
are exaggerated figures placing the
number as high as 5000. Many men
were accompanied by their wives and
children, and in the confusion which
left no time for discrimination. the lat
ter shared the fate of the men, The
troops, with the exception of a single
regiment, which is reported to have
thrown down its arms, remained loyal
and obeyed orders. But the bloed
which crlmsoned the snow has fred the
brains and passions of the strikers and
turned women rs well as men into
wild beasts, and the cry of the in
furiated populace is for vengeance.
The sympathy of the middle classes
is with the workmen.
If Father Gopon, the master mind of
the movement, aimed at open revolu-
ton he managed the affair like
genius to break the faith of the people
In "the little father" who they were
convinced and whom Father Gopon had
taught them to believe would right
their wrongs and redress their griev-
ances.
Gorky, the Russian novelist, express
es the opinion that these measures will
break the faith of the people in the en-
peror, He said:
To-day inaugurated revolution in
Russia. The emperor's prestige will be
irrevocably shattered by the shedding
of innocent blood. He has alienated
himself forever from his people. Gopon
taught the workmen to believe that an
appeal direct TO the little father would
be needed. They have been undeceiv.
ed. Gopon is now convinced that
peaceful means have failed and that |
the only remedy is force. The first
blood has been she'd but more will fol.
low 1t is now the people against the |
oppressors, and the battle win be |
fought to the bitter end"
The military authorities had firm
grip on every artery in the city. At |
daybreak guards, regiments. cavalry |
and infantry held every bridge across |
the frozen Neva, the network of canals |
which interlace the city and the gates
leading. from the industrial section. |