Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-10-02
and Duncan and the
rest of the American Com
mission Refused to run
for Their LIVES" and saw
the Simply Awful Spec
tacle of Democracy in
Song, Speech and Parade.
(By Charles Edward Ruseeu.)

open sweepstakes free-for-all demon
day for all the nation, and
and devastation were to mark its
course. Five hundred thousand
or a million or two million low COM
persons were to parade the
ace next and then with curses fling
our mangled remains into the Neva-
gentlemen of the English
speaking colony ran about in q state
of uncomfortable emotion. A special
train was hastily provided for the
to take us into Finland
and safety over Sunday, and WI were
told to be ready to depart that even
ing at 8 o'clock.
you can't tell what might hap
pen," was the favorite wisdom of the
ones. with all these violent
persons let loose and armed there will
certainly be scene of terrible slaugh-
ter and your only safety is to get out
of the city until the rioting has ceas-
If any Of us protested or said that
perhaps not quite everybody in Petro-
grad that day was to be put to death
was told with plying condescen-
sion that he knew nothing about Rus
STA.
I'VE that have lived here SO many
years or all our lives or some other
period, we know Russia,
and we tell you that it is absolutely
dangerous for you to be in Petrograd.
You CAM tell what might happen"
Jim Duncan, who Is about as u b
ject to scares as a wooden Indian is
to chillblains, remarked hat SO far as
he was concerned If he went out of
Petrograd that day it would be feet
first. He said that If there was going
to be any fireworks he wanted to see
them, because he hadn't seen any in a
long time that were really good, and
fireworks were his fancy. Also he said
that il the working people Of Russia
were of the kind that riots, ruins and
revels in bloodshed, he has sized them
up all wrong, and ought to stand by
and lake notes on his mistakes so that
he shouldn't make it again. Also he
said that in h course Of his interest
ing visit to Russia he hadn't noticed
that the gentlemen now performing
h hysterta stunt were world heaters
as infallible guides about Russian at
fairs, and If they said he was about
to have his throat cut he would take
his chances that they had the wrong
dope.
Anyway, 1t was nix on that special
train, and gents from the English
speaking colony lamented all day our
foolhardiness and consigned us to an
early and unmarked grave. -
When evening came they, returned
to the charge with triumphant vigor,
certain now that they should be able
to save u lives in spite. Of ourselves.
Conclusive evidence had been discov-
cred that the terrible Bolshevics plan
ned to attack the palace and destroy
US. The evidence was in the hands of
the government, which was convinced
that we had better get out of the city.
The special train had been re-engaged
and would cave at midnight from the
Finland station. Pack up your hand
baggage in a hurry and get down to
the station lest the blood thirsty Boil
shevics discover they are about to be
heate Of their prey and begin the
massacre tonight.
Jim and I had a speaking a
ment that night to address 5000 SOL
diers at a big Coney Island kind Of a
place outside the city, SO we missed a
lot OF this show, but those that got
the whole of it told me afterward it
was fine, and h excited persons that
always 60 around seeing visions of
wholesale murder and Russia sunk in
a sea of disorder did a great turn and
well worth the price Of admission,
We got back from our speaking
stunt about 3 a. m. and turned out at
8 to see the horrible outrages begin.
A vast army of people was already
moving down the Nevsky Prospeckt
accompanied with bands. I never saw
so many bands in any one place, and
didn't know there were SO many in all
Petrograd, but the explanation Of the
mystery was simple. They were the
regtmental bands Of the garrison and
heard about the demonstration they
volunteered to furnish the music, and
certainly did a good job.
There was n fact about these
bands that struck me first as remark
able and then as very significant.
They played only two tunes.
Behind them marched in broad.
straight rows men, women and ch.l-
dren; From early morning until 2 p.
down another until they came to the
great Field Of Mars, the old parade
ground of the troops and present CO.
lossal Speech Vent Of Petrograd.
Between the playing Of the bands
they relieved their souls by singing.
Also by carrying banners expressive
OF their varying emotions. Let the
Council be Supreme was the favorite
text. some called for the elimination
that were no socialists. some de-
nounced the capitalists Of the world,
some demanded that all the warrtnk
nations should lay down their arms
some demanded the vigorous prosecu.
ton Of the war.
All OF the banners were red and
white except the banners in the tiny
anarchist section. They were black.
Six hours they marched like this.
Inere was not 9 disturbances, not a
sign Of riot, not an alteration. no a
row. No blood was shed and no ahots
nred. Except in the songs and an oc-
casaonal cheer, there was no voices
raised. o
When they reached the Field Of
Mars they piled up their banners on
the graves OF the mon and women thaf
iell IN the revolution, broke up into
eroups n listened to oratory until 1
p. m. Then they went home.
AZ ~ true that at one stage Of the
made Q move toward tho Winter Pal
ace, whore the American comnis.tor
was Quartered. --
They came TO cheer the "Amertcan-
skies" until they wero hoar,e. "a sar-5
,.enade ~ with their lne banda and ~.
leturn our acknowledgements by wav-;
ny their caps In the Air and shoutins.
their cheerful situations.
a group stopped Ambassador Fr.n.
oss IN nis carriage In . side street, md
cheered him until he stood nm an6
made them . cracking eoods snesnh
then they chssred him soms rnora
20 ended thl1 TERRIBLE day of rinfs
q oloodahod. There Naansf 49, ~
Arr0et, and the noAx0o ssnrra1SN
any nrttvofkDt TINT finn Duncan ~ 7:
hence ~ 10 Wa the maNch,fSaay
9Sosgaf.sJi1 doesn't moke.