The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1905-01-27
TRAGICDAY
Hundreds Of Strikers Slain In Streets
of st. Petersburg.
czAR's PETITIONERS GIVEN LEAD
Troops Charged Into Assembled
Strikers Prepare to Take Up Arms
Russia Faces Great Revolution.

st. Petersburg, Jan. 23.-Sunday in
St Petersburg was day of uDspeak-
desperation by day Of violence. fury
and bloo1shed, were In a state of open
instruction against the government,
A condition almost bordering on civil
war exists in the terror-stricken Rus
sian car'tal.
The city Is under martial law, with
Prince Vasilchikoff as commar der Of
over $4,000 Of the emperor's crack
guards. Troops are bivouacking in the
streets. On the island of Vassili Os-
troy AM in the industrial sections in
furiated men have thrown up barri-
cades, which they are holding. The
empress dowager has hastily sought
safety at Tearskoe Selo, where EN-
peror Nicholas is living.
Minister of the Interior Cviatopolk-
Mirsky presented to his majesty Sat
urday night the invitation of the work
men to appear at the winter palace
Sunday afternoon and receive their Pc
tition; but the emperor's advisers al
ready had taken a decision to show a
firm and resolute front, and the en-
peror's answer to 100000 workmen
trying to make their way to the palace
square Sunday was a solid array of
troops who met them with rifle bayo-
net and saber.
Their Leader and Idol.
The riest Gopon, the leader and
idol of the men, in his golden vest
ments, Eoiding aloft the cross and
marching at the head Of thousands of
workmen through the Narva gate, mi
raculoua!y escaped volley which laid
low half hundred persons.
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 500 although there
are exaggerated figures placing the
number as high as 5000. .
( Many men we're accompanied by
their. wives and children and in the
confusion, which, left. no ,y.time.for dis,
-scrininati6n, the latter; shared the fate
scf the men: The troops with the excep,
ton OF a Single regiment which is re-
ported to have thrown down their arms
remained loyal and obeyed orders, But
the blocd which crimsoned the snow
has fired the brains and passions OF
the strifers and turned women as well
as men into wild beasts, and the cry
of the inturiated populace is for ven.
geance. The sympathy Of the middle
classes III with the workmen.
Gar Broke Faith.
If Fa,fer Gopon, the master mind
Of he 1coyement, aimed at revolution.
he managed. the affair like genius to
break tn1 faith of the people il 'tn,s
little father" who they were convinced
and whom Father Gopon had taught
them 10 believe would right their
wrongs and redress their greviences.
Gorky, the Russian novelist, expresses
the opii. On that Sundays work will
break t3is faith Of the people in the
emperor.
The ri itary authorities had firm
grip on every artery in the city. At
daybreak. Sunday, guards, regiments,
cavalry and. infantry held every
bridge in the city and the gates lead.
ing fror, the industrial section, while
in the palace square, at the storm CEN
ire. we Y massed Dragon regiments,
infantry aud Coccoclyc IF tho Cuordc
Barred from the bridges and gates,
men, wor1en and children crossed the
frozen river and canals ON the ice,
hurrying to the palace square. where
they were sure the emperor would be
present to hear them.
People Shot Down.
But TIE street approaches to the
square were cleared by wolleys and
Cossack charges. Men and women, in.
furiatei to frenzy by the loss of loved
ones, cursed the soldiers while they re
treated. Men harrangued the crowds
telling ITEM the emperor had foiled
them and the time had come to act.
Men began to build barricades in the
Nevsky Prospect and at other points,
using any material that came to hand
chopping down telegraph poles. Fight
ing meantime continued at various
places, soldiers volleying and charging
the mob The whole city Was in a
state of panic. Women were running
through the streets seeking lost mem.
bers Of their families. Special barri.
fades were carried by the troops
iowa ii 8 o'clock in the evening the
crowds, exhausted, began to dispense.
leaving the military. in possession. AS
they retreated up the Nevsky Pros
pect the workmen put out all the
lights.