Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-02-20
Great Meeting at St. Pc
tersburg Decides on
Closing University.
Killing of SergiuS is Even Glor-
ified---FuneraI Held
Yesterday.

St. Petersburg, Feb. 20.-The spirit
of revolution had complete possession
of great meeting OF professors stu
dents and directors of St. Petersburg
university which assembled today to
discuss the question of joining I'm the
general strike inaugurated by similar
institutions in Russia and decided ~
close the university till fall. In antici-
patton of possible trouble when the
meeting broke up squadrons of Cos
sacks again paraded the streets.
First Joint Meeting.
1t was the first joint meeting of stu
dents and professors ever authorized
but in view of the gravity of the situa-
tion il was hoped the presence Of
professors, most of whom are in com
plete sympathy with the liberal move
ment, would exercise a restraining in
fluence The meeting was held in the
auditorium of the university, which
was packed to suffocation with earnest
onloOkers, young men and women and
the doorways and window embrasurcs
were banked with students who heid
others on their shoulders.
All Are Excited.
1t was strange gathering Most
of the students were poorly clad and
all were in a state of intense excite
ment From the outset student ora
tors set the imagination of their audi
tors afiame with the spirit OF liberty
unsparingly denouncing the course OF
the government declaring promise
could no longer avail and that the
only satisfaction would be freedom OF
speech, conscience, and press and con
vocation of a national assembly. The
majority coupled this with a demand
for ending the war. Again and again
was Russia declared to be on the eve
of revolution.
Interests SOIidIHed.
With burning words one of the stu
dents described the affair of Jan. -
which he said had at last solidified the
interests of liberals and those of the
workingman. Amid a storm of cheers
he announced a continuation of study
was impossible while such a struggle
was in progress and said it was the
duty of young men there assembled
and others like them to return to
their homes in provinces and spread
the agitation.
Some of the professors tried to stem
the tide with moderate counsels for
the students to 20 back TO their stud
les but their advice was howled down.
Trepon's order scored
When Professor Spearanzi revealed
the fact that Gov Gen. TrepOff had
threatened not to permit any student
who left his studies to reenter any of
the big universities the statement
was received with a veritable howl OF
rage But speeches in the auditorium
were mild in temperature compared
with those delivered at overflow meet
ings in classroOms where even the
murder of Sergius was glorified.
RrnctIoBHries Fail.
The attempt of a few reactionary
students TO hold an opposition meeting
ended in "A dismal failure. Less than
80 students responded to the call 4
few foreign newspaper correspondent
who were admitted 10 the university
were surprised ~ the incendiary char
actcr Of the meeting and the absolute
freedom with which the students know
ing the auditorium was filled with gov
ernment spies boldly made themselves
liable To the charge of treason.
Tear Up Emperor's Picture.
After the meeting broke up a band
of the more violent students tore up
the emperor's portrait, split the de-
molished frame and carried of bits
Of canvas and gliding as souvenirs.
Funeral e. Held.
Moscow, Feb. 20.-Services were
conducted yesterday with all the sol
emn pomp Of the orthodox Greek rites
In the ancient church Of the Chudon
monastery. where the coffiBed frag-
ments OF the body Of Grand Duke Ser
gius lay.
sunday Day of Terror.
ST. Petersburg, Feb. 20.-Sunday
was n day OF terror for the grand
dukes None Of them has appeared in
public since the assassination Of Ser
gius.
Vladimir and Alexien especially fear
the vengeance Of the people. Instead
Of going 10 TsarskOe-Sel0 to attend
the requiem there they participated Ia