The Ely miner., 1905-01-27
cavalry guards
GEAR FROM DANGER
MANY REGIMENTS FORM AN Ex-
TENDED GORDON AROUND
THE PALACE.
REIGN OF TERROR
IN ST. PETERSBURG
Military in Complete Possession of
Russian Capital - Strikers Plan
Great Demonstration, But Mani
festo Forbidding It Is Issued.

St Petersburg, Jan. 23.-All the cav
airy regiments have been called in from
the barracks in the surrounding districts
and are concentrated in st. Petersburg.
They will form an extended Gordon to
prevent demonstrators from approach
ing the palace.
st, Petersburg Saturday morning pre-
sented the appearance of beleaguered
city. The military were in complete
possession. The streets were lined with
troops, galloping squadrons of cavalry
could be seen everywhere, gendarmes
were concealed in all the courtyards and
the closed factories and mills are sur
rounded by cordons of police and Co.'S
sacks. On every bulletin board is post
ed the governments proclamation warn
ing the people against assembling. The
public is nervous and excited and the
opinion is freely expressed that the gov
ernment will be forced to concede the
demands of the men.
At six o'clock it was reported that
the situation was much improved.
There were no disturbances of i'm
portance during the day, and the au-
thorities believed they had the situa-
ton well in hand.
In a State Akin to Terror.
Despite the energetic measures taken
to insure the safety of the city the in
habitants are in a state bordering on
terror. The widest rumors regarding
the intentions OF the mob are atioat and
many small retailers did not open their
shops Saturday morning. An edict has
gone forth that no shops were to open
Sunday when the great assemblage on
the palace square was scheduled to take
place Although the authorities seem
ingly are determined to prevent it,
preparations for the gigantic demonstra-
ton are proceeding, the men declaring
that they are ready to die in their
tracks.
Closing Shops Everywhere.
The strikers are continuing their agi-
tation with unabated activity. Through
out the morning they paraded the main
streets of the center of the city and
closed every industrial establishment.
The plan of the authorities is to prevent
the workmen from entering the city
proper The industrial sections beyond
the -Natva. Moscow and Nevsky gate
will be cut off and all the bridges will
be guarded. Several batteries of artil-
lery have been brought into the city.
Rumor of Murder.
1t was rumored early that M.
Smirnoff, manager of the Putiloff iron
works (where the great strike began),
was murdered in the night, but the
rumor proved incorrect. 1t tserved, how
ever, to greatly increase the excitement.
A list of the 174 works closed as the
result of Fridays coercive measures
shows that every industry is involved,
Including railway construction and elec-
trical engineers. In view Of the probable
failure of the electric supply for stores
and offices householders are laying in
large stocks of candles.
Gear Forbids Assemblages.
The czars proclamation forbids all
assemblages, parades, or other demon
strations in the city and warns well-dis-
posed workmen and other private indi-
Eiduals to avoid gatherings, as the au-
thorities are determined to break up and
disperse meetings imperiling public
safety. The proclamation was printed
in the Police Messenger, which was the
only publication appearing Saturday
morning, the police having forced the
printers to remain at work until the pa
per appeared.
A delegation planned to call on the
ezar Friday night to ask him to receive
the workingmen's petition for redress
of grievances in the presence of the
strikers in the great square before the
winter palace on Sunday afternoon.
The car not only refused to receive the
deputation but Immediately issued a
manifesto forbidding the demonstra-
ton.
Men Must Do or Die.
Father Gopon, who was reported to
have been kidnapped during the night, is
understood to be at large Saturday
morning going from place to place or
gRnizing and directing everything. His
dictum is that the Sunday meeting shall
take place on the palace square no mat
ter If 1t results in a massacre Of the
men. He says they must be resolved to
do or die. 1t is noteworthy that the
leaders are going back to the French
revolution for their parallels. The
deputation sent to Tsarskoe Selo was
the march of the mob to Versailles. The
assemblage planned for Sunday is
Iikened to the march of the multitude
wearing red caps of liberty to the Tuil-
leries to present their demands to
Louis XVI.
Troops May Refuse to Fire.
Among the rumors afloat is one to
the effect that the famous Preprio-
jensky guard regiment has declared
it would refuse to fire on the mob,
but this, like many other sensational
reports pertaining to widespread dis
affection in the army, is not con-
firmed
Two regiments of infantry have
been brought here from Riga. Never
theless the authorities are extreme
ly nervous, realizing that blood once
spilled in the present temper of the
excited men, spurred on by socialistic
agitators, it Is impossible to predict