The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-23
OFFICIAL STORY OF DAY
'Insolent Demands Of Priest and
-. Toilers Started the Massacre.

st. Petersburg, Jan. 23.--The story
Of the events Immediately preceding
and during yesterdays outbreak, as
viewed by official eyes, is given in the
Official Messenger as follows:
All attempts Of the factory inspectors
to pacify the striking workmen were
fruitless and every worker from a. num-
Der Of the large factories Joined. The
strike spread quickly and extended to
nearly ell the works in the city. At the
same time the demands OF the men in
creased and these were formulated in
writing, mostly by Father Gopon. The
employers discussed the demands and de-
cided that If some of them were satisfied
it could not fail to ruin industry, while
others deserved to be examined and par
TALLY conceded. Furthermore, willingness
was expressed to negotiate with the men.
but not with the strikers organization.
The workmen refused to agree to It and
violated the negotiations between, the
masters and men iof the different factories.
As the strike was being conducted with
out disturbance Of public order no re-
pressive measures were adopted and not
a. single person was arrested. s-~@>-
Revolutionists Join.
The agitation of the workmen's assoc1-
alton wass however, soon joined by the
agitation Of revolutionary circles. On the
morning of Jan. q the workmen's asso-
citation, led by Father Gopon, appeared
with open revolutionary tendencies On
Sunday Father Gopon drew up q petition
Of workmen to the emperor which con-
tanned, besides demands in behalf Of the
men, insolent demands Of a, political char
acter. - c.5. ... ~
Among the workmen verbal and writ
ten notifications were circulated, urging
| the necessity for q meeting Jan. 20 on teh
palace square, in order, thru Father Co.
pom, to submit the petition to the empe-
ror.-- One of the demands was of a polit-
ical character and the real purpose Of the
meeting on the palace square was con-
cealed from the workmen.
| Fanatical speecl IS which Father Gopon
forgetting his clerical dignity, addressed
| to the men, and criminal agitation >ex-
| cited the men to such an extent that or
Jan. % large crowds proceeded. to the
center Of the city. At some points bloody
collisions occurred between them and the
| troops in consequence Of their refusal tt
obey the police regulations or owing tt
their direct attacks on the troops.
Troops Obliged to Fire. s@
The troops were obliged to fire in tn
| Schlusselberg causeway near the Nevs
Triumphal gate, in Troitjki square, and il
the fourth line on the Vassili Ostrof quar-
ter in the Alexander Gardens, at tn
corner Of Nevskyl Rrospekt and Gogo
street near the police bridge and at tn
Kazan Cathedral n 80 X"
In the fourth line the populace erecte'
three barbados of planks and wire. o.
one Of these red flag was hoisted. From
the windows of neighboring houses shot
were fired and stones were thrown at tn
military. The crowd took swords from
the policemen and armed themselve
Herewith. They pillaged the schaff smal
arms factory and carried off about
hundred swords, a large number of which
however, the police recovered. The crow
destroyed telegraph wires and knocke
down poles. ~ s. 5.,.- -
The municipal building in the secon
, district was attacked and demolished. I
| the evening five shops on the st. Peters
burg side were plundered.'