The Elbert County tribune., 1905-01-26


been a day of unspeakable horror in
st. Petersburg. The strikers of yester-
day, goaded to desperation by a day
of violence, fury and bloodshed. are
in a state of open insurrection against
the government. A condition almost
bordering on civil war exists in the
terror-stricken Russian capital. The
city Is under martial law, with Prince
Vasilchikon as commander of over 50.-
600 of the Emperor's crack guards.
Troops are bivouacking in the streets
tonight, and at various places on the
Nevshy prospect, the main thorough
fare of the city. On the island of Vas
siiostrov and in the industrial sec
tiOns infuriated men have thrown up
barracks which they are holding. The
Empress Dowager has hastily sought
safety at Tsarkoe-Selo. where EN-
peror Nicholas II. is living.
Minister of the Interior Sviatopolk-
MirslSy presented TO his majesty last
night the invitation of the workmen to
appear at the winter palace this after
noon and receive their petition, but
the Emperor's advisers already
had taken decision to show
firm hand and resolute front,
and the Emperor's answer to 100,-
900 workmen trying to make their
way to the palace square was solid
array of troops, who met them with
rifle, bayonet and saber. The priest,
Gopon, the leader and idol of the men,
in his golden yestment, holding aloft
the cross and marching at the head
of thousands of workmen through the
Narva gate, miraculously escaped
volley which laid low half hundred
persons.
The figures of the total number
killed or wounded here, at the Mos
COW 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 discrimination,
the latter shared the fate of the men.
The troops. with the exception of
single regiment, which is reported to
have thrown down its arms, remained
loyal and obeyed orders. But the
blood which crimsoned the snow has
fired the brains and passions of the
strikers and turned women as well as
men into wild beasts. and the cry of
the infuriated populace is for ven
geance.
The sympathy Of the middle classes
is with the workmen.
II Father Gopon, the master mind
of the movement, aimed at open revo-
luton, he managed the affair like a
genius to break the faith of the people
in the Little Father" who they were
convinced and whom Father Gopon
had taught them to believe would
right their wrongs and redress their
grievances
Toward O'Clock in the evening the
crowds, exhausted, began to disperse,
leaving the military in possession. AS
they retreated up the Nevsliy prospect
the worlxmen put out all the lights.
The little chapel at the Narva gate
was wrecked.
On the Kaminostov island all the
lights were extinguished.
Every officer wearing the uniform of
the Emporer who was found alone was
mobbed. A general was killed on the
Nicholas bridge and. dozen officers
were seized, stripped of their epau-
lets and deprived of their swords.
BY midnight the sound of firing had
ceased except on Vassiliostrov island.
where the troops met a renewed dem
onstration with several volleys- In the
meantime the strike leaders assem-
bled and decided to continue the
struggle with arms. No day was fixed
for the next demonstration. The
strikers are SO excited, however, that
trouble is expected tomorrow.
At big meeting tonight the follow
ing message from M. Gorsky. the nov
elist, was read:
Beloved Associates-We have no
Emperor. Innocent blood lies between
him and the people. Now begins the
peoples struggle for freedom. May 1t
prospect My blessing upon you all
Would | might be with you tonight,
but ! have too much to do"