Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-01-25
VERSION NOT ACCEPTED.
Thought Assassination Of Car Was
Intended.


Intended.
st. Petersburg, Jan. 21.-In spite Of
the official statement that the cannon
shot which Thursday might easily have
wiped out the whole Of the Romanon
family was the result of carelessness in
leaving a shotted cartridge in the
breech of gun after target practice: the
public seems as little inclined as the
authorities to accept the published YER
sion. The officers and men of the bat
terry have not been arrested, but are con-
fined to barracks, and by the military
regulations are so closely under re-
straint that it is impossible for the cul-
prit or culprits to escape until the re-
sponsibility is determined. Evidences
Of design are so apparent that the state
ment attributing the presence Of load
ed shell to previous target practice
evokes smiles in many quarters.
A Startling Coincidence.
It is pointed out as being highly i'm
probable that the gun had not been
cleaned for two days, ani it is impos-
sible that second cartridge could have
been inserted for saluting purposes be-
hind the first. and it is certainly a
startling coincidence that the gun con-
tanning this missile should have been
trained directly on the imperial chapel.
Whatever may be the solution, it is a
strange fact that the shot came from
the BOlrse esplanade, where was sta
toned the First Horse artillery of the
guard, the premier artillery organiza-
ton of the empire, and one of the most
noted regiments in the whole Russian
service. The roster of this organiza-
ton OF aristocratic tradition has in
cluded grand dukes, princes and some
Of the most illustrious names in Rus
STA. The titular commander of the
battery is the grand duke of Mecklen-
burg Strelitz, a kinsman of the car.
He was not, of course, with the bat
terry when the shot was fired. Two in
vestigations are proceeding independ-
emily, and both are guarded with the ut
most secrecy.
Official Account of Affair.
The official account of the affair is
0S AOlAOWo.
During the ceremony Of the blessing
of the waters of the Neva, in the pres
ence of the emperor, as the usual salute
was being fired, an accident happened.
A charge of grape instead of saluting
charge was fired from gun belonging
to one of the batteries stationed near
the bourse. Some bullets struck the
facade OF the winter palace, near the
quay gardens, breaking four Widows. A
policeman belonging to the st. Peters
burg force was wounded. According to
the information to hand at present no
other accident occurred. Inquiry con.
tinues." -. e, 49, z~>fS.
It cannot be said definitely whether
the affair was an accident or the result
Of design. The general belief is that q
widespread plot did not exist, but evil
dences Of design are SO apparent that the
statement attributing the presence Of 4
loaed shell to previous, target practice
evoked smiles in many quarters. 1T IL
pointed out as being highly improbable
that the gun had not been cleaned for
two days, and It is impossible that ! sec
ond cartridge could have been inserted
for saluting purposes behind the first:
and it Is certainly q startling coincidence
that the gun containing this missile
should have been trained directly on
the imperial chapel. .: s s. ia