Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-01-23
RUSSIANS REVOLT .St. $ Petersburg Troopers. Fire On Riotous Mobs.
 FIFTEEN HUNDRED SHOT DOWN
 Emperor Nicholas Is In Safety at Tsarskoe SeIo. sa 7 DESPERATE WORK AT BARRlCADES
DESPERATE WORK AT BARRlCADES

Russian Capital In State of Insur- z. rection-May End Romanofr :Dynas- ty and Empire City. an Armed
 Camp, Where Authorities Quell
 Mobs by Slauxhter-Empress Dow
 ager Flees-Armed Workmen swarm
 Streets.
 ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 23.-A day of unspeakable horror in St Petersburg was Sunday, Jan. o2. The strikers, goaded to desperation by day of vio- lence, fury and bloodshed, are in state of open insurrection against the gov ernment.
 It is estimated that 1,500 people have been killed or wounded. Popular ru- mors say that many thousands have fallen.
 A condition bordering on civil war ex- ists in the terror stricken Russian cap ital. The city is under martial law, with Prince Vasilchikoff as commander of over 50,000 of the emperor's crack guards. Troops are bivouacking in the streets and at various places on the Nevsky prospect. the main thorough fare of the city. On the island of Vas sili Ostrov and in the industrial sec tions infuriated men have thrown up barricades. which they are holding. The empress dowager has hastily sought safety at Tsarskoe Selo, where Emperor Nicholas II. is living .,,
 Minister of the Interior Sviatopolk- Mirsky presented to his majesty the in- vitation of the workmen to appear at the Winter palace Sunday afternoon and receive their petition, but the em- perors advisers already had taken a decision to show firm and resolute front, and the emperor's answer to 100000 workmen trying to make their way to the palace square was solid array of troops, who met them with rife, bayonet and saber. The priest, Gopon, the leader and idol of the men, in his golden vestments, holding aloft the cross and marching at the head of thousands of workIhen through the Narva gate. miraculously escaped a vol ley which laid low half hundred per sons. 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. 1.-The best estimate Is 1.5OO. although there are exaggerated figures placing the number as high as 5000. Many men were accompanied by their wives and children, and in the confusion. which left no time for discrimination. the lat ter shared the fate of the men. The troops. with the exception of single regiment, which is reported to have thrown down It's arms. remained loyal and Obeyed orders. But the blood which crimsoned the snow has fired the brains and passions of the strikers and turned women as well as men into wild beasts. and the cry of the in- furiated populace is for vengeance. The sympathy of the middle classes l is with the workmen.
 If Father Gopon, the master mind of the movement, aimed at open revolu- tion he managed the affair like a genius to break the faith of the people in "the little father" who they were convinced and whom Father GOpon had taught them to believe would right their wrongs and redress their griev- 1 ances.
 1 Gorky. the Russian novelist, express. ca the opinion that these measures will break the faith of the people in the em- i peror He said: &
 To-day inaugurated revolution in Russia. The emperor's prestige will be | irrevocably shattered by the shedding of innocent blood. He has alienated himself forever from his people. GOpon taught the wOrkmen to believe that an appeal direct to the little father would be needed. They nave been undcceiv. cd. Gopon is now convinced that peaceful means have failed and that the only remedy is force. The first i blood has been shed, but more will fol low. It is now the people against the capressors. and the battle will he l fought to the bitter end
 The military authorities had q firm grin on every artery in the city. Al daybreak guards. regiments. cavalry and infantry held every bridge across the frozen Neva. the network of canals which interlace the city and the gates leading from the industrial section : while in the palace square. as the storm center. were massed dragoou 1 regiments. infantry and Cossacks of the guards. Barred from the bridge and gates. men. women and children crossed the frozen river and canals on tie ice by twos and threes. hurryine fo the palace square. where they were sure the emperor would be present tC hear them. But tie street approaches to the square were cleared by volleys f and Cossack charges. Men and women infuriated to frenzy by the loss of loved i ones. cursed the soldiers while they re [ treated Men haranguei the crowds telling them that the emperor had foil ! ed them and that the time had come to act Men began 10 build barricades in the Nevsky prospect and at other points. using any material that came