New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-11
FIGHT AT rOSTOFFICE.
Strikers XIII T5co Men = Count
Witte Losing Poser.

St Petersburg, Saturday evening, Dec 9-An-
other crisis is at hand. involving the indefinite
prolongation OF the strike. the probable inlme-
date precipitation of a general strike through
out Russia and a possible final struggle between
the government and the proIetariat.
This sudden change for the worse is the result
Of the shedding of the first blood In the tela-
graph strike this afternoon, almost sipultsnz
eously with the action of N. Durnovo, Minister
of the Interior. in throwing down the gauntlet 20
the labor organizations by arresting. without
warming NJ. Krustaleff. president OF the execu-
tive committee of the Workmen's Council.
About = o'clock several companies Of cossacks
cIattered through the streets leading to the
headquarters Of the council. in Targovia-st.
Having barred the approaches a force Of troops
and police surrounded the building. and secret
service men rushed in and seized Krusta1eR.
The latter made no resistance and the affair
was conducted quickly. II was impossible for
Krustalef to conceal the papers OF the crganiza-
ton in which the police evidently expect to find
evidence proving the ultimate object to be an
armed uprising against the government
A disturbance. in which two strike breakers
were killed and policeman and several Others
wounded, occurred at the same hour inmedi
ately in front of the General Postof1ce. TIE
strikers for two days have been seeking to per
sllade the volunteer and regular carriers to re-
fuse to work At the door of the building to-
day the strikers. enraged by the refusal Of the
volunteers to quit, drew knives. whereupon
carrier attempted to defend himself with a re-
volver Both the carrier and companion were
stabbed. and fell dead on the spot
squad of policemen was held of by the
strikers and worknen who sympathized with
them Both sides exchanged a fierce fusillade. in
which a policeman and several workmen were
wounded
As the strikers were Withdrawing cossacS
patrol came ganoping to the rescue. One Of tho
strikers turned and threw an imitation bomb
and the Cossacls wheeled in order to avoid
what they presumed to be a deadly missile. TIE
crowd managed to get into an open courtway
close to the door, and to escape
The news of the arrest Of Krustalen created
an immense sensation among the worlNmen. All
the socialist, labor and kindred organizations
are holding q meeting Tonight at winch t4oSe
inaamnlatory speeches are being made in de-
nunciation OF the government, and all are talk
ing of a general strike in order to save thei-
leader.
Krustaler. as he Is called, though that is not
his right name, is regarded as the brains of tic
movement He has dispiayei
genius in organizing both the Industrial and po-
Htical strikes which have terrorized the COVER
ment. His offer of financial support TO The ta,os-
raphers yesterday prevented a collapse q Their
strike.
In addition to Krustalen. three other members
of the workmen's Council were arrested.
a strike has begun on the following railroad
lines: Kursl. Moscow and ssbastopoI. Riga and
Erlor, Kharkoff and Nicolafef. Southwestern.
southeastern. samara and zlatoust and sizrau
and viasemsk.
IN some quarters it is believed that the gov
eminent. realizing that a great struggle with
the workmen and the socialist organizations III
OVER NIGHT TO CHICAGO.
PENNSYLVANIA SPECIAL.