The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1905-01-26
SHOT AT THE CAR
A Bold Attempt TO Assassinaie The
Russian Monarch
SALuTING GUN RAINS GRAPE SH01
Only High Aim and Weak, Scattering
Charge Prevented Disastrous Con-
eIusion to the Ceremony Of Blessing
the Waters Of the Nevs.

St. Petersburg, BY Cable-The fes-
uyal of the Epiphany. the blessing OF
the waters. had just concluded at 1
O'Clock Thursday afternoon. when sim
uitaneously with the salute fired from
the St Peter and St Paul fortress
rain Of bullets 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,
from which the Empress, the ladies
Of the court and the members Of the
diplomatic corps and 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 clatteri-s down on
the parquetted floor Of the white sa-
ION. Everybody had been laboring I'M
der a more Or less nervous strain be-
cause of the strike situation, and the
windows were hastily vacated, and the
greatest excitement reigned within
the palace. Lieutenant Fulton, CHIEF
Of police OF st. Petersburg, himself
picked up a missile in the white salon
Il was the size Of a birds egg. The
police chief was Immediately sur
rounded by officers Of the guards, who
examined the bullet and expressed the
mel which might have been fired from
the battery located on the bourse es-
planadu aid which replied to the sa
lutte OF the st. Peter and st. Paul for
tress, explaining that a gun might
have been charged with loaded car.
fridge by mistake,
In the meantime there was no evil
dence outside OF what had occurred,
The crowds of people who formed
black lines along the quayS, the pal
and every other point of vantage in
the white Arctic landscape did not be-
tray the slightest excitement. Neither
Gid the Imperial party in the chapel
below. Although the actual ceremony
was ended. the Emperor remained
and accompanied the Metropolitan
and clergy as they circled the pavilion
around tbs chapef to bless the gor-
Z - 4 ,,,[
regiments stationed there. Then the
procession moved back to the palace,
and the original program was carried
out. The Emperor displayed splendid
nerve, He did not show a trace Of
excitement. He received the dipl6-
mats in his usual cordial; geiitls maH-
ner, reviewed the guard regiments on
the square behind the palace, and sub
sequently had luncheon served in the
State dining room.
Additional particulars show that the
Emperor had miraculous escape.
There is no iout; that the missiles
came from gun OF the bourse bat
terry which was loaded with grape, not
with shrapnel. Some OF the bullets
actually struck the little open chapel
Il which the Emperor was standing
cut the staff Off one CT the standards
and fairly riddlcd the basement win
COWS of the palace, killing a police
man outright and weunaine On Officer
and three htafines. Had tie gun
been aimed little lower The charge
Of grape might have wiped out the
whole Romanoff dynasty.
Two Investigations are proceeding
| independently, and both are guarded
| with the utmost aecrecy.
Military experts say indications
point to charge consisting of grape
| having been inserted surreptitionsly
il a salutlng cartridge. II this was
the case, nrobsbiv only one men was
! Involved. Certainly if there was ar
extensive. deep-laid plct, or if an Off
! Ger was involved. it was badly exc
| cuted.