The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-20

piled to the salute of st. Peter and st.
Paul fortress, explaining that a gun
might have been charged with loaded car
fridge by mistake. Such a thing, how
ever, it was admitted was hard to con-
ceive without deliberate plan.
Certainty of Direction.
From the shot passing through the
double windows it is certain that bullets
came from the direction of the Bourse.
In the meantime there is no evidence out
side of what occurred. The crowds of
people who formed black lines along the
quays, the palace bridge, the steps of
the Bourse and every other point of van
tage in the white arctic landscape did not
betray the slightest excitement. Neither
did the imperial party in the chapel be-
low.
Although the actual ceremony was end
ell the Emperor remained and accon1pa-
MED the metropolitan and clergy as they
circled the pavilion around the chapel to
bless the gorgeous standards of the IA
nous guard regiments assembled there
Then the procession moved back to the
palace and the original programme was
carried out. The Emperor displayed SPLEEN
did nerve. He did not show trace of ex-
element. He received the diplomats in
his usual cordial, gentlemanly manner, re-
viewed he guard regiments on the square
behind the palace and subsequently had
luncheon served in the state dining room.
Saw the Holes.
When the correspondent of the Asso-
ciated Press who was about to go down
to the white salon when one of the mis-
siles flew right over his head left the
palace, he saw a hole in the window of
another salon and holes outside in the
stucco of the massive red gliding
The winter palace stands on what may
be termed the mainland of the city of
st. Petersburg and faces the great Neva
river. Directly opposite the palace is a
point of land which marks the junction
of the great Neva with the little Neva.
On this is the bcurse, the custom house
and other public buildings. The point is
Joined to the mainland near the winter
palace by the palace bridge On an
island on the other side. and commanding
the winter palace, is the fortress of St
Peter and st. Paul 1t will thus be seen
that the battery of artillery which an
swered the salute of the forts being sta
toned on the bourse square, was almost
opposite the winter palace The distance
separating the square and the palace is
estimated at about 500 yards
Official Statement.
The official account of today's shoot
ing is as follows:
During the ceremony of the blessing
of the waters of the Neva today. in the
presence of the Emperor, as the usual
salute was being fired. accident hap
pened. A charge of grape, instead of a
saluting charge, was fired from a gun
belonging to one of the batteries stationed
near the bourse.
Some bullets struck the facade of the
winter palace, near the quay gardens
breaking four windows. A policeman be-
longing to the ST. Petersburg force was
wounded. According to the informal ton
t. hand at present no other accident
occurred. Inquiry continues"
Police Statement.
ST. Petersburg. January 10 The Asso-
ciated Press obtained the following state
ment from the police at o'clock this af-
ternoon:
with the second or third shooting from
the bourse battery on Basin island. a
very large number of shrapnel bullets
struck the chapel of the palace Two en-
tered the interior where the Emperor was
standing. The bullets had a very low We
locify The two which entered the cf a mel