Democratic messenger., 1905-01-28

CossAcKs CHARGING ON CITIzENs.
martial law, with Prince Vasiichikoff
as commander of over $4,000 OF the
emperor's crack guards. The empress
dowager has hastily sought safety at
Tsarkoe Selo, where Emperor Nicholas
is living
The figures of the total number of
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 num-
ber as high as 5000. Many men were
accompanied by their wives and cnil-
dren. and in the confusion, wliicn left
no time for discrimination the latter
shared the fate of the men.
If Father Gopon, the master mind
OF the movement, aimed at opeu revo-
luton. 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 to believe would right their
wrongs and redress their grievances.
Gorky. the Russian novelist. expresses
the opinion that yesterdays work will
break this faith of the people in the
emperor. He said:
Yesterday inaugurated a revolution
in Russia. The emperor's prestige will
be irrevocably shattered by the she'd
ding of innocent blood He has alien
ated 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 undeceived. Gopon is now con-
vinced that peaceful means have failed
and that the only remedy is force. Tie
first blood has been shed, but more
will follow. 1t is now the people
against the oppressors, and the battle
will be fought to the bitter end"
Every time the troops moved the
crowds Kissed them. Strikers also
gathered at the entrance to the Grand
Morskaia and of the avenue leading
to the Moika Canal. The crowd at the
latter place swelled to huge propor-
tions. blocking the bridge across the
canal. The order came to clear them
off. The troops drew their swords and
advanced at a quick trot. and then
broke into a gallop. heading straight
for the Moika, where they were lost
in cloud of snow. Shrieks from the
wounded resounded. Then came a
deadly silence. broken only by the GAL
Looping of ambulance horses.
The next 20 minutes passed without
incident. Nothing indicated the ap-
proach of the horrible butchery which
was destined to stain the corner of
the Admiralty Gardens with human
blood. The crowd there persisted in
refusing to move on, clamoring for the
emperor, and continually hurling abuse
at the troops, but attempted no vio-
lence. Two companies of the Proebra-
jensky Guards, of which Emperor
Nicholas himself was formerly colonel,
which had been standing at ease in
front of the palace, formed and march
ed at double quick towards the fatal
corner Events followed with awful
swiftness. The commanding officer
shouted: 'Disperse, disperse, dis
flee. but ii was too late. bugle
sounded. and the men in the front
ranks sank to their knees and both
companies fired three volleys. the first
two with blank cartridges and the last
with ball. A hundred corpses strewed
the sidewalks. 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 peasants of all ages
and both sexes strewing the ground.
One boy of l3 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 90 PAGES.
and so the ambulances had little work
to do. The police recruited large
number of droshkys (sleighs) to carry
off the dead Heartrending scenes
were witnessed as wives. husbands and
mothers came up to claim their dear
ones and were carried off with them in
the sleighs