Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-01-23
The Russian Revolution.
Hundreds Shot Down I'm st. Peters
ourg-Women and Children Among
the Victims-City Guarded by Fifty
Thousand Men.


Russia has begun in St. Petersburg, the
fury OF the working people being accused
by the shooting down of hundreds of
men and women who, led by Father
Gopon, bearing sacred ikon, were try
ing to reach the palace, confident that
the Car would see them and hear their
appeals.
II was Sunday of horrors in the
Russian capital. Their march to the
palace was cut short by bullets and the
infuriated people, their faith in the
Emperor shattered, cursed him aud tie
autocratic government and started to
riot aud pillage. A general was killed
aud several other military officers
wounded.
Gorky, the Russian author, says ;
Revolution has begun in Russia. The
Emperor's prestige will be irrevocably
shattered by the shedding of innocent
blood. The first blood mas BEEN shed,
more will follow. 1t is now the people
against the oppressors and The battle will
be fought to the bitter end"
A member of the Emperor's house
hold declares that the civil conflict will
end the war with Japan and that Russia
will have constitution or the Car will
lose his head.
Minister OF the Interior Syiatcpolk-
Mirsky presented to the Car Saturday
night the invitation OF the workmen to
appear at the Winter Palace yesterday
afternoon and receive their petition,
but the Emperors advisers already had
taken q decision to show firm and
resoute front, and the Emperor's answer
to 100, 900 workmen trying to make
their way to the palace square yester-
day was solid array of troops, whc
met them with rife, bayon ct and saber.
There was a very dramatic scene at
the Narva Gate when Father Gopon, in
golden vsstments, bearing aloft an ikon
and hsnked by two clergymen carrying
religious banners. approached at the
head of procession of 8, 900 workmen.
Troops we're drawn up across the en-
trance.
Several times an officer called upon
the procession to stop, but Father Gopon
did not falter. Then an order was given
to fire, first with blank cartridges. The
volleys rang out, but the line still did
not waver. Then, with seeming reluct'
ance, an officer gave the command to
load with ball, and the next volley was
followed by shrieks and cries of the
wounded.
As the Cossacks followed up the vol.
ley with a charge the workmsn fled be-
fore them, leaving about 100 dead or
wounded. 1t was evident that the sol
diers deliberately spared Father Gopon.
One of the clergymen by his side was
wounded, but Gopon escaped untouched
and bid behind wall until the Cossacks
passed, and he was then spirited away
by workmen.
The figures of the total number killed
or wounded there, ct the Moscow gate,
at various bridges and islands and at the
Winter Palace vary. The best estimate
is 500, although there exaggerated figures
placing the number as high as 5000.
Many men were accompanied by their
wives and children, aud in the confusion,
which left no time for discrimination,
the latter shared the fate of the men.
The troops, with the exception of a
single regiment, which is reported to
have thrown down its arms, remained
loyal and obeyed orders. But the blood
which crimsoned the snow has fred the
brains and passions of the strikers and
turned women as well as men into wild
beasts, and the cry of the infuriated
populace is tor vengeance.
The sympathy of the middle classes
is with the workmen.
If Father Gopon, the master mind Of
the movement, aimed at open revolution,
be managed the affair like genius to
break the faith of the people in the Gar
who they were convinced, and whom
Father Gopon had taught them to be-
lieve, would right their wrongs and re-
dress their grievances.
The military authorities had a firm
grip on every artery in the city. At
daybreak guards, regiments, cavalry
and infantry held every bridge across
the frozen Neya, the network of canals
which interlaces the city and the gates
leading from the industrial section,
while in the Palace Square, at the storm
center, we're massed dragon regiments,
infantry and Cossacks of the Guards.
Barred from the bridges and gates
men, women and children crossed the
frozen river and canals on the ice by
twos and threes, hurrying to the Palace
Square, where they were sure the EN-
peror would be present to hear them.
But the street approaches to the square
were cleared by volleys and Cossack
charges. Men and women, infuriated
to frenzy by the loss of loved ones,
cursed the soldiers while they retreated.
Men harangued the crowds, telling
them that the Emperor had foiled them,
and that the time had come to act. Men
began to build barbados in the Nevsky
Prospect and at other points, using any |
material that came to hand, and even
chopping down telegraph poles.
Fighting meantime continued at vari-
Gus places. soldiers firing upon and chsrg-
ing the mob. The whole city was in a
state of panic. Women were running |
through the streets seeking lost members
of their families. Several barricsdes
were carried by the troops.
Toward o'clock in the evening the