The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-16


rifles and ammunition. At the same
time all the prisons for political Of
tenders were thrown open by the rev.
olutionists and the prisoners marched
out to join their emancipators.
The battle spread from one part of
the town to another with the rapid
ity Of a thunderstorm, and as the day
progressed it became apparent that
nothing could stem the tide of revo-
luton, which swept westward from
the neighborhood Of the Duma and
the chief military barracks up the
Nevsky Morskaya to St. Isaac's
Square. The economic and Industrial
life of the city came to a complete
standstill.
Street car service was suspended
from the beginning of the disorders
and stores were closed. The two lead
ing hotels which housed officers were
wrecked. Others restricted their ser
vice to regular patrons. In response
to an appeal by the revolutionist
comittees citizens distributed food to
the soldiers.
On Tuesday revolutionary publica-
tions appeared in the streets with the
simple caption News containing a
resume of the developments. They
were eagerly read by all classes. Rod
zianko's kilograms to the Emperor
and others to the commanders of the
troops at the front were reproduced.
Message to the Gear.
The first message to the Emperor
was as follows:
.FSe situation is grave. Anarchy
reigns in the capital. The govern
ment is paralyzed. The transport Of
provisions and fuel is completely dis
organized. General dissatisfaction is
growing. Irregular rifle firing is oc-
curing in the streets. It is necessary
to charge Immediately some person
trusted by the people to form a new
government. It is impossible to lin
ger, since delay means death. Pray
ing God that the responsibility in this
hour will not fall upon a crowned
head"
President Rodzianko later sent the
following message to the Emperor:
1.-THE position is becoming more
serious. It is imperative that imme-
late measures be taken, because to-
morrow will be too late. The last
hour has come when the fate of the
fatherland and the dynasty are being
decided
Appeal to the Army.
Similar kilograms were sent to all
the commanders at the front with an
appeal for their support Of the Duma'
action before the Emperor. Gen.
Alexis Brussiloff, Comman0er-in-Chie
OF the armies of the southwestern
front, and Gen. Nicholas Ruzsky, COM
| mander of the northern armies. re-
piled promptly. saying they had car
ried out the request.
The visible signs Of revolution be-
gan on Thursday, March s. Strikes
were declared in several big NUM-
tions factories as protest against the
shortage Of bread. Men and women
gathered and marched through the
streets, most Of them in an orderly
fashion.
Squads Of mounted troops appear
ed, but during Thursday and Friday
the utmost friendliness seemed to ex-
list between the troops and the peo-
pie. There was practically no VIC
lence. The patrols rode slowly
through the crowds to keep them
moving, joking with the people and
| being cheered by them. On Satur-
day, however, apparently without
provocation, the troops were ordered
to fire on people marching in Nevsky-
Prospect. The troops refused to fire,
and the police, replacing them, fired
rifles and machine guns.
Then came a clash between troops
and police, which continued in desul-
tory fashion throughout Saturday
night and Sunday. The Nevsky Pros
pect was cleared of traffic by the po-
lice and notices were posted by the
commander of the Petrograd military
district. warming the people that any
attempt to congregate would be met
by force.
The factory strikes and street dem
onstrations, comparatively innocent in
themselves, provided the spark which
set afame the growing unrest and an
cry discomfort with the government
that, pervading the entire population
| OF Russia, had reached the ignition
point Thurs small manifestations of
hungry factory workers crying for
bread changed in a single day into a
revolution which swept the whole CITY,
spread to the government troops who
had been called to hold the crowds in
check, and, supported by the Duma,
ended in the downfall of the govern
ment.
The scene at the Duma before the
revolution was in full flame was ex-
traorthnary. The members stood about
the broad corridors talking calmly, the
serious priest members in long black
gowns, with flowing hair, and MEM
bers from the provinces, in top boots
and b1ouses,, mingling with we'll
groomed and frock-coated representa-
tives. AT the front gates the troops
began to assemble. They were with
out arms. They were revolving regi-
ments One body in marching order
entered the side gate and halted be-
| fore the entrance. A Dunna member
spoke from the steps, explaining the
attitude of that body and assuring the
regiments that the Duma was with
them.
Auto trucks packed with men, sol
diers and civilians, with and without
arms, rolled up the circular drive and
stopped before the door while some
occupant delivered lurid grafton and
then went on cheered by the crowds.
Then came a small army Of citizen
soldiers, factory workers, clerks, stu
dents armed with rifles taken from
the captured arsenals, their pale faces
and black winter clothing forming a
strange picture against the snow piled
high in the D1ma garden.
an hor1r thav stood in mora or