Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-10

said POSSIBLY you saw 1t thus when It
came from Odessa; since then have had
1t sailed; II Is now good and fit to
cat"
The commandant raised his hand.
Enough for the present." he said.
when the surgeon says the meat is
good. 1t is good. Those who are content
to eat the soup will step to the right:
those who do not to the left"
Slowly. one by one, the sailors passed
to the right. But they moved with the
step of men who act against their will;
butt was discipline.
When there remained only about thirty
men who had not yet gone over-although
these were preparing to move--the COM
mander stopped them.
Enough" he said. Marines, arrest
those men,"
Then the marines went after their
arms and surrendered their thirty COM
radcs. The commander went aft to his
cabin.
One moment later Mastutchenko, n
sergeant major. with wild look in his
eyes. sprang between decks and pres
emily returned with rife. He drew him
self up before the officers. crying:
What would YOU do with those men?
You are going to shoot them. Has not
enough blood already been shed in this
Russia? After the murders Of Lao
Yang and Mukdcn, of st. Petersburg and
Warsaw--after these the murders Of tho
Potcmkinc? Enough! We might as we'll,
right here, put an end to this reign of
harharity. Long live free Russia! Death
to the officers. There are more of us
than you. We are the masters. Down
with tyranny"
The second lieutenant. almost frantic,
interposed: Hold thy tongue. my poor
fellow. or thoult be shot Instantly
ut Is thou who wilt be shot" yelled
Mastutchenko as he presented his rifle.
The lieutenant drew his pistol and
nrcd. He missed Mastutchenko. but a
sailor named Vakulenchonk fell dead.
There was moment of stupor then
Mastutchenko cried: "Assassin. Thou
hast slain Vakulenchonk What hath he
done to thee. He was Innocent"
With these words ne fired on the leu
tenant, and the officer fell with blood
dyeing his blonde mustache. Then fol-
lowed period Of great confusion. The
sailors ran about asking each other what
should be done.
Mastutchenko shot two officers who
rushed upon him to disarm him. The
surgeon fed to his cabin and shot him
self through the stomach Mastutchenko
marked fourth officer and instantly
killed him.
The sailors. wild with fury. ran between
decks. Several officers threw themselves
into the water and were followed by the
shore. But Mastutchcnko would not
have that. for they would betray him.
He called eight or ton men to him.
They began to shoot at the swimming
officers. and soon killed them ALL
MURDER OF THE CAPTAIN.
In the meantime the torpedo boat No.
2s7 noticed that something was wrong
on hoard the Potenkine. Its officers
made shrewd guess. and started for
the open sea. Pogownetz ordered a COM
rade to fire two blank shots at her.
After these shots the boat was signaled
to approach. When 1t came alongside
the officers were ordered to come on
board the battleship. and were then con-
fined. The officer in charge OF the dy-
namo protested.
III thou wouldst speak to me-" said
Mhstutchenko. rip oft they shoulder
straps and speak as man to man."
what hast thou done with thy on
ccrs:" asked the officer
Thou wilt soon see." cried Mastut-
chcnko. as he shot the officer dead.
At that moment the commander ap.
peared from the cabin. He was an old
man. with white hair and beard. He
trcmblcd convu,sivcly. He cried: "What
art thou about? Thou art an assassin"
"Silence." yelled Mastutchenko. "or
shall kill thee"
"NNouldst thou STAY an old man like
me? Thou knowest not what thou doest.
Thou art mad"'
Mastutchcnko put the rifle to his cheek
and said: Commend thy soul TO God.
In second thou shalt be no more"
Commandant Golikoff shuddered. lie
crossed himself. He had scarcely done
so when he fell to the deck shot through
tho forehead.
Mastutchenko now gave orders to the
sailors: ARREST the officers that remain"
The officers We're arrested and solcnnly
stripped of their insignia of rank. Three
ripped OF their own their own shoulder
straps, saying to the sailors: Eve are
with you for free Russia"
These three remained on board; one of
them. Alcxieft. wassplaced in command.
The others were put in a boat and sent
to Odessa.
1t was half-past eleven when Mastut-
chenko began the revolt. BY quarter
past twelve the sailors were masters of
the Kniaz Potcmkne. He called the men
together and said:
I've are now going to declare war on
all Russia which is not for liberty. The
revolmtionaries will follow U.S."
"Rabid creature that thou art" inter-
rupted Pogownctx. hast thou forgotten
that on July 5 the crews Of the entire
fleet were to mutiny. The word has not
vet been given to ALL Thou beganst too
soon. We shall not he followed.
What is done 10 done. We must go
on" replied Mastutchenko. and he began
to intone the "Interna tIonal." and was
followed by the sailors In unison. Fin
ally the singing ceased. A deep silence
prevailed. which was at length broken
by groans.
WHO eroaned'" demanded Mastut-
chenko. Go thou and see. Pogownetz."
Pogownetz went to md out. Presently
nc returned. saying that II was the sur
geon lying wounded in his cabin.
"Ah. that pig. who Is the cause of all.
Is sick." calculated Mastutchcnko.
what shall we do with him."
Death! Death! Let us kill hint"