Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-01-28
SHOT AT THE CAR
A Bold Attempt TO Assassinaie The
Russian MoRarch
sALuTISG Gun RAINS GRAPE SaOI
Only High Aim and Weak. Scattering
Charge Prevented Disasterous Con-
eiuslOn 20 the Ceremony 81 Blessing
the Waters Of the Neva.


St Petersburg. BY Cabic.-The fes-
tival OF the Epiphany. the blessing og
the waters. had Just concluded at
O'Clock Thursday afternoon. when sim
ultaneously With the salute fred from
the St Peter and St Paul fortress a
rain OF bullets swept over the Httle
chapel built over tho frozen Neva In
front Of the winter palace. where En-
peror Nicholas and every member OF
the RomanoT family were particlpat-
ing I'm the service. The missiles went
high. entering windows % the splendid
row OF salons along tho water front.
from which the Empress. ths ladies'
OF the court and the members OF the
diplomatic corps and high dignitarics
OF the state. army and navy were Wit
Messing the glittering spectacle below.
Fortunately the bullets passed over
the heads OF all present. striking the
opposite wall and clatteri1g down on
the parquetted noor 81 the white sa-
Ion. Every body had been iaboTing un-
der a more Or less nervous strain be-
cause OF the strike situation. and tho
windows were hastily vacated. and the
greatest excitement reigned within
the palace. Lieutenant Fulton. chief
OF police OK St Petersburg. himself
picked up a missile ia the white salon
Il was the size or a birds egg The
police chief was Immediately sur
rounded by officers OF the guards. who
examined the bulles and expressed the
opinion that &c had come from a shrap-
mel which might have been fired from
the battery located on the hourse es-
7 planado and which replied 20 the ga
/ lutte of the ST Peter and ST. Paul for
7 tress. explaining that a gun might
have been chargcd With a loaded car
/ fridge by mistake.
Ia the meantime there was no evi-
dence outside az what had occurred.
The crowds 81 people who formed
black lines along the Quays. the pail
acc bridge the steps OF the bourse.
and every other point OK vantage in
the white Arctic landscape did not be-
tray the slightest excitement Neither
did the imperial party in the chapel
below. Although The actual ceremony
was ended. toe Emperor remained
and accompanied the Metropolitan
and clergy a. they circled the pavilion
around the chapel 90 bless the gor.
geous standards OF the famous guard
regiments stationed there Then the
procession moved back 90 the palace.
and the original progran was carried
out The Emperor displayed splendid
nerve. He did not show trace OF
excitement he received the diplo-
mats IN his usual cordial. gentle man
ner. reviewed the guard regiments on
tho square behind the palace. and sub
seQuenuy had luncheon served ia the
State dining room.
Additional particulars show that the
Emperor had miraculous escape
There Is 40 i0ubt that the missiles
came from gun OF the bourse bat
terry which was loaded with grape. not
with shrapnel Some or the bullets
actually struck the lttlc open chapel
h which the Emperor was standing.
cut the stan OF one 0C the standards
and fairly -idilcd the basement win.
6ows OF the palace. killing a police
man outright and woundiag en- officer
and three marines Had tho gun
been aimed a Little lower The charge
OF grape might nave wiped out the
whole ROmanoR dynasty
Two Investigations are prCccedin z
/. independently. and both are guarded
with the utmost secrecy.
Military experts say indications
. point 70 a charge consisting OF grape
having been inserted surre9tfiOusly
II salguDg cartridge. II this was
the case. probably only one men was
involved. Certainly II there was an
extensive. desp-laid plot. or IL an OH
Ger was involved. IL vas badly exc
cwted.