The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-11-09


St. PETERSBURG. Nov. a. The appoint
ment of Count Witte president of
the council Of ministers is arA2unced
by the Official Messenger th.~ morn
ing.
1t is announced that Emperor Nicho-
las and his family win shortly return
20 the palace at St Petersburg. Count
Witte took up his quarters in n wing
of the palace where he will be in con-
slant touch with his majesty.
Progress in the formation of q cabi-
let is slow. Cabinet positions have been
offered TO several nOtables, among
whom were Prince Eugene Troubetz-
kov and NJ. Koni, both of whom de-
clined to accept. the latter stating that
he was too old to enter public life al
such a critical time.
Connt Vorontzonf Dashkon, unable
longer 10 endure his failure to tran
quilize the Caucasus. is said to have
resigned the yiee royalty General
Skallon. governor general Of Warsaw,
also is reported t0 have resigned. The
position of secretary Of state OF Fin
land. which N. Plehye. the former min
ister OF the interior. absorbed 10 HIM
self during the policy Of classification.
has ben abolished in view of changed
conditions.
The news from Finland continues
meager. Practically there is no COM
munication with the interior, and COM
munication with HelsingfOrs is diff
cult. Russian warships are still in the
harbor Of the Finnish metropolis.
which IS temporarily closed to foreign
shipping. steamers plying 10 ST. Pc
tersburg ana stockholm, via Helsing-
fors. not stopping
Many touching scenes were witnessed
when the political prisoners were re-
leased under the amnesty decree. At
the Schlusselburg fortress mp the river.
where the most dangerous political
prisoners are kept in solitary cOnfne-
ment. a great concourse gathered look
ing for loved ones who vanished years
AGO and whose whereabouts were I'M
known. but only four were released.
Disappointed women waiting for sons.
husbands or brothers, broke down and
wept a man named FralenkO and 4
comrade. who said they had spent over
90 years in prison. came out with long
white boards They knew practically
nothing about what had occurred dur
Inc their long Imprisonment SasOneh.
the murderer Of Interior Minister Won
Plehve: Peter KarpOvich. the assassin
of Minister OF Public Instruction BogO-
liehOff: Gerolinni the chief Of the ter
rOrist conspiracy and other terTOrists
were not released. 4 large body Of
prisoners released from other prisons
later visited various meetings and re-
lated their experiences
The news from the interior shows
that there has been little Improvement
in the situation. In some places disOr-
ders have recommended with redoubled
fury. The horrible story Of massacre at
Odessa is not fully known here. In the
Caucasus the Tartars and Russians are
cutting each others threats and the
Armenians are giving themselves up TO
pillage and inccpdiarism.
From Bachmut. Bessarabia, comes an
entirely new revolving tale. \ three
days attack on the Jews began Thurs
day. with every indication Of police or
ganization Jewish students were beat
en-. the Jewish stores in the markets
were sacked during the day, and dur
ing the night the plumber of residences
commenced. Troops arrived on the
scene. but the following day the work
OF pulage was resumed before the eyes
Of the soldiers and police. The prayers
Of the hunted Jews for mercy were I'M
avaiing.