The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1905-01-26
ST. PETERSBURG: The agitation

OF striking workmen has reached a
stage of revolution. Sunday afternoon
conflicts between the troops and mobs
were of frequent occurrence and excite
ment is now at fever heat. Three
hundred of the demonstrators were
killed or wounded in the conflicts;
this number included many women
and children. During the afternoon
the strikers built barricades and pre-
orders were given to fire on the strik-
ers one detachment of infantry laid
down their arms and absolutely re-
fused to obey the orders. The city is
in a turmoil and revolution Is immi-
nent. The horrors Of widespread revo-
luton is startling TO the authorities
and the revolt of troopers is paralyz-
ing the public service. Thousands of
grim visaged peasants and laboriDg
men are building strong barricades
determined TO challenge the military
powers to mortal combat and cries Of
liberty or death are heard upon
every hand. The first conflict was
fierce and sanguinary and with Gmaz-
ing unanimity the people rallied TO
the standard of the revolutionists,
and when the crash came the multi
tudes OF men, women and children
congregated on the palace square, real
izing the terrible calamity Of failure,
seemed endowed with almost super
human power, and led by the intrepid
Father Coupon, who had inspired the
Of adamant against the assaults OF
troops who were ordered 10 dispcrsc
them. When the infantry refused 20
fire upon the populace there was con-
sternation among the high officials
of the empire and hurried consulta-
tions were Immediately held
Officials of the government are
doing all in their power 10 re-assure
the people, and declare the trouble is
Of but little consequence and that the
police have the rioters under control
and that complete order will be re
stored. All newspaper Offices have
been closed and the news sent out is
to some extent censored.
The government has taken posses
sion of all telegraph lines leading 70
the provinces, probably for the pur.
pose of preventing the news from this
city causing trouble in other places.
Rumors of outbreaks in other sec.
tions OF the empire are in circulation,
but the government officials declare
them to be false. Army officers are
appealing to the men to be patriotic
as long as foreign war is in progress.
| The city is in great turmoil and has
every appearance Of a military camp.
The central figure amCng the strik-
ers is the priest Coupon. He is con-
stantly on the move from one group
to another, urging the strikers to stand
| firm but to do no rash thing. He un-
hesitatingly tells the people that war
Is inevitable, but that nothing must
be wasted. He urges closer organi-
zation and tells the people every
where that 1t Is a fight or slavery.
He is loudly cheered at every point
and he makes striking picture in
his scarlet robes among the sober
hued dress of the laboring people
| The refusal of the troops to fire
on the rioters has caused consterna-
ton in official circles, and it Is feared
that there is a widespread conspiracy
among the troops to join the strikers
in rebellion against the government.
That the officials are greatly agitated
is evident to all.
On the Kaminostov island all the
lights were extinguished.
! Broken windows and embedded bul.
lets are found at long distances from
the scene of the firing.
| Tho riotarc hrolxa x.,i,daurr In, "a