Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-21
SITUATION ALARMING
Feeling at High Tension at
st. Petersburg.
TROOPS LINE STREETS
THOUSANDS OF WORKMEN
THRONG INDUSTRIAL SECTION.
Cavalry Protect the Palace - Revolu-
tionary Leaders Insist on Demon
stration Tomorrow.

day indicate that crisis is immi-
nent in that city between thousands
OF workmen, who throng the streets
and the government officials. The
czar is closely guarded in the palace,
a Gordon of cavalry surround the
imperial headquarters, and troops
and police occupy the streets.
The populace declare they will as
semble in front of the palace tomor-
row and demand the appearance Of
the czar. The latter and his advisers
are deliberating over the wisdom
OF granting this request.
Nearly every industry in the CITY
is affected by the walkout of work
men. The public is nervous and ex-
cited.
ST. PETERSBURG. January 21.-st Pc
tersburg this morning presents the an
pearance of beleaguered city. The mill
'ary are in complete possession The
streets are lined with troops. galloping
squadrons of cavalry are seen everywhere
sendarmes are concealed in all the court
yards, and the closed factories and mills
are. surrounded by cordons of police and
Cossacks
On every bulletin board is posted the
governments proclamation warning the
people against assembling
Despite the energetic measures taken TO
insure the safety of the city the inhabit-
ants are in a state bordering on terror
me widest rumors regarding the inten-
lions or the mob are af1oat and many small
retailers did not open their shops this
morning. An edict has gone forth that no
shop must open tomorrow, when the great
atssemblage on the palace square is sched-
uled to take place. Although the authori-
ties seemingly are determined to prevent
1t. preparations for the gigantic demon
stration are proceeding the men declaring
that they are ready to die in their tracks
To Meet Regardless of Consequences.
Father GOpon, who was reported to have
been kidnapped during the night is under
stood to be at large this morning going
from place TO place. organizing and direct
ing everything His dictum is that the
meeting shall take place on the palace
square, no matter if it results in a mas
sacre of the men. He says they must be
resolved TO do or die.
Ii is noteworthy that the leaders ara GO
Ing back to the French revolution for their
parallels. The deputation sent to Tsarskoe
Selo was the march of the mob TO Yer
saille: The assemblage planned for tomor-
row Is HSened to the march of the multi
tude wearing red caps of liberty to the
Iullerles to present their demands to Louis
XVI
While there is much talk that the troons
be cd U ba tla
ties do not manifest the slightest appreh an
SION on this score. The Cossa cks and the
guard regiments they declare can be re-
ned upon. Two regiments of infantry have
also been brought here from Riga. Never
theles.5 the authorities are extremely ncr-
vous, realizing that blood once spilled in
the present temper of the excited men,
spurred on by socialist agitators, it is i'm
possible to predict the end.
Cars Advisers Insistent.
The emperors advisers however. declare
he must put down the agitation with a firm
hand. and that If he yields as Louis XVI
did at Versailles, all may be lost The pres
ent resolution of the government is not to
give way
While many drunken rows have occurred
and number of men have been injured no
serious collisions have been reported up to
this morning. An enormous number of ar
rests of known revolutionists took place
during the night.
An attempt will be made to close all the
bakeries in order to threaten the city with
famine. The workmen are also reported to
have decided to cut the telephone and tele-
graph wires and cut off st. Petersburg AL
together from communication with the out
side world.
Altogether the situation is most critical.
Father Gopon, when apprised that the gov
ernment proposed to prevent the demon
stration tomorrow issued instructions to
the men that they must go to the palace
square with their wives and children. But
the men must be armed" he is reported to
have said
Last Hope With the Gear.
I'VE must first show we are peaceful
We have appealed in vain to the employers
and TO the bureaucracy. Our last hope is
the emperor himself. If he refuses TO see
us and orders them to disperse us, then we
must fight"
Father Gopon has had a guard of 400
sworn workmen formed to protect the en-
peror from harm if he will come TO the
palace square tomorrow.
Among the rumors afioat is one to the
effect that the famous Prepriojensky Guard
regiment has declared Ii would refuse tc
fire on the mob. but this, like many other
sensational reports pertaining 10 wide
spread disaffection in the army, is not con-
firmed
PARADING THE STREETS