The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1905-01-20
LOADED SHELL FIRED BY ARTiL-
LERY I'M 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 ! p. m.
when, simultaneously with the salute
fired from the st. Peter and St Paul
fortress. either 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 participat-
ing in the service. The missiles went
high. entering windows of the splendid
row of salons along the water front,
from which the empress, the ladies OF
the court and the members of the dip
lomatic corps, including Ambassador
Mccormick, Secretary Eddy and See
ond Assistant Bliss of the American
embassy and all the high dignitaries
OF the state, army and navy were wit
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
crash was that it was due TO falling
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-
Clement reigned within the palace.
Lieutenant General Fulton, chief of
police OF St. Petersburg, himself
picked up d missile in the white salon.
Ii 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 IL had come from a 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 gun might
nave DSSA tHdl SSu With a iOauVd Nail
ridge by mistake. Such a thing, how
ever il was admitted was hard TO con
ceive without deliberate plot. From
the holes passing through the double
windows il 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 uuays. the palace bridge, the steps
OF 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
ceremony was ended the emperor re-
manned and accompanied the metro
politan and clergy as they circled the
pavilion around the chapel to 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 |
ne EcteiN6u the ulpIDludlS III Ills usual |
cordial, gentlemanly manner, reviewed !
the guard regiments on the square be- |
hind the palace and subsequently had |
luncheon served in the state dining |
room.
When the correspondent OF the As !
sociated Press, who was about to go !
down to the white salon when one of /
the missiles few directly over his |
heal. lett the palace he saw hole in |
the window of another salon and holes F,
out sde in the stucco OF the massive |
red building.
The police are actively at work try /
Ing 10 clear up the mystery as to /
Wnere the shots came from.
The strike situation has not been |
changed by this holiday. The men
are holding meetings in various parts
OF The city and test is expected in |
the morning when the employers will /
maze final answer to their demands. |
While no collisions have yet been re-
ported there is feeling among all /
classes OF high tension.
The news that an attempt had been
Naae on the emreTor's life spread like
sild!ire during the afternoon, leading
To all sorts OF versions and generally
Increasing the tenai9a.
Additional particulars sACg hat the !