Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1905-01-21
LOADED SHELL FIRED BY ARTIL-
LERY IN SALUTE AT RELIC
IoUS CEREMONY.
ATTENDANTS HIT BY FLYING MISSILES
POLICEMAN INSTANTLY KILLED
AND AN OFFICER AND THREE
MEN WOUNDED.

st. Petersburg, Jan. 20.-The festival
of the Epiphany, the blessing of the
waters, had just concluded at l p. m.
when, simultaneously with the salute
fired from the st. Peter and st. Paul
fortress, either a rain of bullets or
shrapnel shell swept over the little
chapel built over the frozen Neva in
front of the Winter palace, where EN-
peror Nicholas and every member OF
the Romanoff family were participant
ing in the service. The missiles went
high, entering windows of the splendid
row of salons along the water front
Ifam which the empress, the ladies OF
the court and the members of the dip
lomatic corps, including Ambassador
Mccormick, Secretary Eddy and Sec
ond Assistant Bliss of the American
embassy and all the high dignitaries
Messing the glittering spectacle below.
Fortunately the bullets passed over
the heads of all present, striking the
opposite wall and Gathering down on
the floor of the white salon. The first
impression of those who heard the
crystals from the glass chandeliers
and caused by
Conclusion From Booming Guns.
Everybody had been laboring under a
more or less nervous strain because OF
the strike situation and when the
truth was realized the windows were
hastily vacated and the greatest ex-
citement reigned within the palace.
Lieutenant General F'ullan, chief of
police of st. Petersburg, himself
picked up a missile in the white salon.
It was the size of birds egg. The
police chief was Immediately surround
ed by officers of the guards, who ex-
amined the bullet and expressed the
opinion that it had come from shrap-
mel shell which might have been fired
from the battery located ON the Bourse
Esplanade and which replied to the
salute of the st. Peter and st. Paul
fortress, explaining that a gun might
have been charged with a loaded cart
ridge by mistake. Such thing, how
ever, it was admitted was hard to con-
ceive without deliberate plot. From
the holes passing through the double
windows it is certain that the bullets
came from the direction OF the Bourse.
In the meantime there is no evidence
outside OF what occurred. The crowds
of people who formed black lines along
the auays, the palace bridge, the steps
.Gf the Bourse and every other point OF
vantage in the white Arctic Landscape
did not betray the slightest excitement |
Neither did the imperial party in the
chapel below. Although the actual
manned and accompanied the metro J
,politan and clergy as they circled the
payilion around the chapel tpO bless the
gorgeous standards of the famous
guard regiments assembled there. !!
Then the procession moved back TO
the palace and the original programme
was carried out. The emperor
Displayed Splendid Nerve.
He did not show trace OF. excitement. !
He received the diplomats in his usual
cordial gentlemanly manner. reviewed
the guard regiments on the square be-
hind the palace and subsequently had
luncheon served in the state dinin i
room
When the correspondent OF the As
sociated Press, who was about to go
down to the white salon when one OF
the missiles flew directly over his
head, lett the palace he saw hole ia
the window Of another salon and holes
outside in the stacco of the massive
ced building.
The police are actively at work try
Ing to clear up the mystery as to
where the shots came from.
The strike situation has not been
by this holiday. The men
ire holding meetings in various parts
IL the city and test is expected in
he morning when the employers will
make final answer to their demands.
While no collisions have yet been re-
ported there is a feeling among all
;lasses of high tension.
The news that an attempt had been j
made on the empsror's life spread Ike
eildare during the afternoon, leading
o all sorts of versions and generally
the tension.
AIditionsl part:e ulars show that :'i9