The Bowbells tribune., 1905-01-27
woRkMEN ASK TO SEE EMPEROR
AND ARE SLAUGHTERED
By TROOPS.
PEOPLE CRY FOR vENGENcE
RUSSIA WILL HAVE CONSTI1O'
TION OR CAR WILL LOSE
HIS HEAD.

st. Petersburg, Jan. 24.-1esleiuay
was a day OF unspeakable horror IN ST.
Petersburg. The strikers, goaded to
desperation by a day of violence, tury
and bloodshed, are in state OF open
insurrection against the government.
A condition almost bordering on civil
war exists in the terror-strlcken Rus-
sian capital. The city is under mar
tial law, with Prince Vasilchikotf as
commander of over $4,000 of the en-
perors crack guards. Troops are DIV
ouacking in the streets and at various
places on the Nevsky Prospect, the
main thoroughfare of the city. On the
island of Vassii Ostrov and in the in
dustrial sections
lnfuriated Men
have thrown up barricades, which they
are holding. The empress doWager
has hastily sought safety at Tsarskoe
Selo, where Emperor Nicholas II. is
living.
Minister of the Interior Sviatopolk-
Mirsky presented to his majesty Sat
urday night the invitation of the work
men to appear at the winter palace
Yesterday afternoon and receive their
petition; but the emperor's advisers
already had taken decision to show
firm and resolute front, and the emper-
or's answer to 100000 workmen try
ing to make their way to the palace
square yesterday was solid array OF
troops who met them with
Rifle, eayonet and saber.
The priest Gopon, the leader and
idol of the men, in his golden vest
ments. holding aloft the cross and
marching at the head of thousands OF
workmen through the Narva gate, mi
raculously escaped volley which lalo
low half a hundred persons. The fig
ures of the total number killed or
wounded here, at the Moscow gate, at
various bridges and islands and at the
winter palace vary. The best estimate
is 500, although there are exaggerated
figures placing the number as high as
5000. Many men were accompanied
by their wives and children and in the
confusion which left no time for dis
elimination, the latter shared the fate
of the men. The troops, with the ex-
ception of single regiment, which is
reported to have thrown down Its
arms, remained loyal and obeyed or
ders. But the blood which crimsoned
the snow
Has Fired the Brains
and passions of the strikers and
turned women as we'll as men into
wild beasts and the cry of the infuri-
ated populace is for vengeance. Ihe
sympathy of the middle class is with
the workmen. If Father Gopon, who
is the master mind of the movement,
aimed at open revolution, he managed
the affair like a genius to break the
faith of the people in "the little faith
err" who they were convinced and
whom Father Gopon had taught them
to believe would right their wrongs
and redress their grievances. Gorky,
the Russian socialist, expresses the
opinion that yesterdays work will
break this faith of the people in the
emperor. He said to the Associated
Press:
Fight to Bitter End.
"To-day inaugurated revolution in
Russia. The emperor's prestige will
be irreyocably shattered by the she'd
ding of innocent blood. He has alien
ated himself forever from his people.
Gopon told the people to believe that
an appeal direct to the little father
would be needed. They have been un-
deceived. Gopon is now convinced
that peaceful means have failed and
the only remedy is force. The first
blood has been shed and more will be.
It is now the people against the op.
pressors and the battle will be fought
to the bitter end"
The military authorities had a firm
grip on every artery in the city. At
daybreak guards, regiments. cavalry
and infantry
Held Every Bridge
across the frozen Neya, the network of
canals which interlaces the city, and
the gates leading from the industrial
section, while in the palace square, at
the storm center. were massed
dragoon regiments, infantry and Cos
sacks of the guards.
Barred from the bridges and gates,
men, women and children crossed the
frozen river and canals on the ice by
twos and threes, hurrying to the pal
ace square. where they were sure the
emperor would be present to hear
them. But the street approaches to
the square were cleared by yolleys
and Cossack charges. Men and
women, infuriated to frenzy by the
loss of loved ones, cursed the soldiers
while they rctreated. Men harangusd