Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-01-25
Might Easily Have
Wiped Out Roman
off Family
Official ExpIantlon
Lays 1t to an
Accident

St. Petersburg, Jan. 2Q-Iu spite OF
the official statement that the cannon
shot which yesterday might easily
have wiped out the whole Romanoff
family was the result of carelessness
in leaving shotted cartridge in the
breeeh of a gun after target practice
the mysterious case is still under in
vestigatlon by the military and police
and the public seems as little Inclined
as the authorities to accept the pub
1shed version Tne officers and men
OF the battery have not been arrested,
but are confined to Jheir barracks, and
by military regulations are so closely
under restraint that it is impossible
for the culprit or culprits 10 escape
until the responsibility is determined.
1t cannot be said definitely whether
the affair was an accident or the re-
suit Of design. The general belief is
that a widespread plot did noJ exist
burt evidences of design are so appar-
ent that the statement attributing the
presence Of the loaded shell to previ-
Gus target practice evoked smiles in
many quarters. It is pointed out as
being highly improbable that the gun
had not been cleaned Tor two days and
it is impossible that the second cart
ridge could have leen inserted for sa-
luHng purposes behind the first; and
ic is certainly startling coincidence
that the gun containing this missile
Should have been trained directly on
the imperial chapel whatever mar
he the solution It is a strange fact
that the shot came from the boursa
esplaaade where was stationed The
first horse a~tillcry Of the guard, the
premier artillery organization Of the
empire and one Of the most noted reg
imeuts in the whole Russian service
The roster of this organ cation has IN
cluded some of the most illustrious
names in Russia
Grape and Canister.
Military experts say the indications
point to charge of canister and
grape having been inserted srrreptj-
tously in a saluting cartridge II
this was the e. probably only one
man was involved Certainly if there
was an extensive, deep laid plot, or IT
an officer was involved, it was badly
executed. 1t is pointed out that il is
hard probable that an expert artil-
eryman should have prepared weak.
scattering charge, which did hardly
carry across the Neva. At the same
time an indication of design is the
fact that the gun was laid directly
against the imperial pavilion Hal
the gun contained a service charge or
regular shell, the pavilion world have
been destroyed 1t is clear, however.
that the saluting was done most reck-
lessly as the fash of the blank shots
from St. Peter and st. Paul fortress
showed the guns were directed
straight at the winter palace,
Accident Mars Ceremonies.
St. Petersburg, Jan. 20.-The official
account Of yesterdays shooting affair
is as follows.
During the ceremony of the bless.
ing of the waters of the Neya yester-
day. in the presence of the emperor.
as the usual salute was being fired an
accdenth appened. A charge of grape.
instead of salutins charge. was fired
from a gun belonging 10 one of the
batteries stationed near the bourse
Some bullets struck the facade Of the
winter palace. near the quay gardens,
breaking four windows. \ policeman
belonging to the St. Petersburg force
w"s wounded According to iuforma-
tn at hand at present no other nc
cident occurred An inquiry contln.
ues."
Loaded Shell Left in Gun.
81. Petersburg. Jan 20--It is now
stated in official circles that the grape
was fired from ne Of he guns Of the
18th battery first horse artillery OF
the guard, the most aristocratc corps
in the Russian army II seems that
at gun practice Tuesday a loaded
shell was inadvertently left in Il gun
Statutes Sc djers as My Children"
St Petersburg, Jan 20-Per.arm.
ing the annually recurring blessing o.,
the waters of the Neva with ali ac.
customed brilliant ceremonial. Emne-
or Nicholas Yesterday wore the unit
form Of the famous Preobrai0sky reg
lments. He greeted each regiment
with the salu.atjon good morning my
children" TO which the soldiers and
sailors replied in stentorian tones
Good health TO Your majesty" whilst
the band played a national anthem. In
the state procession 10 the imperial
chapel, an imposing train of court of
fcials, the emperor escorted the dowa
ger empress and Grand luke Alexis
escorted the empress, other member.
Of the imperial family following in tn,
order Of rank. the ladies Of honot
wearing picturesque national cos
tunes. At / o'clock the divine ser
vice being concluded the procession
reformed and returned to the winte
palace. The ladies took places at thu
windows while the emperor. gran,
dukes and gorgeously ROBBED clergy de
scended fof the open air ceremonial