Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-01-28

martial law, with Prince Vasilchikoff
as commander of over $4,000 of the
emperor's crack guards. Troops are
bivouacking in the streets and at vari-
Gus places on the Nevsky Prospect, the
main thoroughfare of the city. On the
Island Of Vassili Ostrov and in the in
dustrial sections Infatuated men have
thrown up barricades, which they are
holding. The empress dowager has has
tily sought safety at Tsarkoe Selo,
where Emperor Nicholas II. is living.
Estimates of Dead and Injured.
The figures Of the total number of
killed or wounded here, at the Moscow
gate, at various bridges and islands
and st the winner palace vary.
best estimate is 500, aIthor 1h there are
exaggerated figures placing the num-
Der as high as 5000. Many men were
accompanied by their wives and chill
dren, and in the confusion, which left
no time for discrimination, the latter
shared the fate of the men. The troops,
with the exception Of single regi-
ment, which is reported to have thrown
down its 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 we'll as men into
wild beasts, and the cry of the infuri-
ated populace is for vengeance.
The sympathy of the middle classes
is with the workmen.
If Father Gopon, the master mind
OF the movement, aimed at open 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.
Gorlky, 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 workmsn to believe
that an appeal direct to the Little
Father" would be needed. They have
been undeceived. Gopon Is now con-
WINGED that peaceful means have failed
and that the only remedy is force. TIE
first blood has been shed, but more
will follow. It is now the people
against the oppressors, and the battle
will be fought to the bitter end"
Every officer wearing the uniform of
the emperor who was found alone was
mobbed. A general was killed on the
Nicholas bridge, and a dozen officers
were seized, stripped of their epaulets
and deprived of their swords.
The most narrowing scenes occurred
around the palace square, back OF the
winter palace. The strikers ----..-.--.SsS,
and held a small ed:hce at the corner
OF the gardens and poured out con-
slant objurgations and reproaches at
the troops. 1t was in vain that Off
GERS requested them to dispense.
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 TIE
latter place swelled to huge proper
| lions, 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 q
deadly silence, broken only by the gal.
Looping of ambulance horses.
| Troops Fire Into Crowd.
The next 20 minutes passed without
incident. Nothing indicated the ap-
proach of the horrible butchery which
was destined to stain the corner o.
the Admiralty Gardens with human
blood. The crowd there persisted il
refusing to move on, clamoring for tn,
emperor, and continually hurting a5us,
at the troops, but attempted no VIC
lence. Two companies OF the Proebra
jensky Guards, of which E2pero
a Nicholas himself was formerly colonel