Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 23, 1905)
BLOOD OF MARTYRED RUSSIANS CRIES OUT RiOTSON IN MOSCOW Censorship Prevents the Facts Becoming Known. TROOPS TO COME TO CAPITAL Russian Government Has Made Ar rangements to Bring Many Regi ments From Places Outside of the City. SPECIAL. CABLE. ST: PETERSBURG. Jan. 23. Diligent efforts have been made to ascertain the situation in other parts of Russia. Sun day night. Tho officials declared that come minor riots occurred in Moscow, but that they were of no significance. The various news agencies here know no more. There is every reason to believe, though, that the internal censorship was being exercised with greatest rigor and that the rest of Russia knew as little of the situation in St. Petersburg as St. Pe tersburg knew of what was going on out side of the city gates. It became known at about S o'clock In the evening that the government had made arrangements to bring large bodies of troops from other cities to the captal. This indicated that the situation outside of the city was such as to permit the withdrawal of some of the regiments, at least, although it Is likely that the requi sitions ware made on country districts where not much is to bo feared from the populace. However, the report may have been based upon unconfirmed rumors. There were at that time still thousands of troops In the barracks whose service had not been ca'led upon. The officers In command refused all information. A pathetic incident occurred in the im mediate vicinity of the palace. Two sledges protected from mob violence by the signs of the Red Cross moved out into the open from one of the streets to a spot where six wounded and two dead lay on the snow under guard of half a dozen cavalrymen. The crowds, choking the various approaches to the square, were watching the movements of the am bulance surgeons with eager eyes. When the sledges had received their burden and started to move slowly away, the rioters uncovered their heads and from tens of thousands of throats burst the beautiful "Hymn of . Eternal Memory." which forms the last part of the burial service of the Orthodox Church. It is stated that General Eiler and Po lice Inspector Shornlkoff have been in jured. Late in the evening a conference of police prefects was called and then it was decided, notwithstanding the ugly look oi the rioters, martial law would not be proclaimed for the present. All the pre fects were instructed to send information from their various squares mo soon as iey came tcf the conclusion that martial laiflSHDeYbnc-jhccessary. Some of the prefects expressed tsas their opinion that the backbone of thestrike had been broken. The occurrences aJI around them belied this opinion. A news agency circulated the report late Sunday evening that Prince Svlatopolk-Mirsky. who is still considered to be at the head ot the Ministry of the In terior, had promised to receive a deputa tion of the strikers. This was soon after ward denied. PEACE MISSION A FAILURE. Minister of Interior Refuses to See Journalists and Professional Men. ST. PETERSBURG. Jan. 22.-Two hun dred Journalists and professional men met in this city Saturday evening to discuss means to avoid bloodshed.' A committee consisting of the authors Kharsenieff. Gorky. Annensky and Gessen. several professors and the workmen's advocate. Kedrim. was appointed to interview Min ister of the Interior Svlatopolk-Mirsky. They arrived at the Ministry of the In terior at 10 o'clock last night, but were received coldly, the officials declaring that It was impossible for them to see the Minister that night. The committeemen announcing their in tention to wait until the Minister would see them, they were persuaded to see As sistant Minister Rydeffsky. who. helng told their errand was to prevent blood shed, resolutely refused to call Prince Svlatopolk-Mirsky. and ironically told them they would better persuade the workmen to abandon their plans of a pro cession to the Palace. Thus rebuffed, the committee proceeded to M. WIttc's residence. M. Wltte re ceived them affably, and offered them tea. which they declined. Having heard them. M. Wltte expressed himself with great sympathy, but maintained that all meas ures had been decided without consulting him. adding: "1 am nothing in the army." M. Witte then referred them to Minister Svlatopolk-Mirsky, regretting his inabil ity to do anything, and advising them to get the demonstration abandoned. He i?aia tne workmen had taken a wrong course, which was Incompatible with au tocracy. The Emperor could only receive a deputation by application through prop er channels. He then telephoned to Minister Sviatp-polk-Mlrsky. and tried to persuade him to receive the committee. The Minister, however, still declined, and the deputation departed. Late tonight, at a conference of editors of St. Petersburg newspapers, it was agreed to address to the censorship ad ministration a nrotcst against the censor ship of She day's events, and it was also ate with the workmen's union regarding tne resumption or worK oy tne printers. TWO THOUSAND ARE SLAIN. Peport in Paris of Massacre on Vas- sili Ostroff. PARIS. Jan. 23. Matin has received a telegram from St. Petersburg saying troops Invaded vassill Ostroff and shot and sabered every one they met on the street. Tho dispatch says 2000 people were Killed in the massacre. Ciuunberlaln'c Couch Ketnedy Absolutely Uarmles. Every mother should know that Cham berlain s Cough Remedy is perfectly safe for children to take. It contains nothing harmfu" and for coughs, colds and -croup is unsurpassed. For sale by all druggists. ,!SESSS?3r "- sarBlf WITH CURSES ON LIPS RIOTERS ARE SHOT AT A RANGE OF TWENTY PACES. Mangled Bodies of Persons of All Ages Are Strewn Over the Sidewalks by the Volley. (Continued from First Page.) into a gallop, heading straight for the I Molkia. where they wore lost in a. cloud of snow. Shrieks from the wounded re sounded. Then came a deadly silence, broken only by the galloping of ambu lance horses. - Slaughter Comes Suddenly. The next 20 minutes passed without in cident. Nothing Indicated the approach of the horrible butchery which was destined to stain the corner of the Ad miralty Gardens with human blood. The crowd there refused to move on. clamor ing for the Emperor and continually hurl ing abuse at the troops, but attempted no violence. Two companies of the Proebrajonsky Guards, of which the Em peror himself was formerly Colonel, which had been standing at ease in front of the palace, formed and marched at double quick toward the fatal corner. Events followed with awful swiftness. The commanding officer shouted "Dis perse, disperse, disperse," three times. Many in the crowd turned to flee, but it was too late. A bugle sounded, and the men In the front ranks sank to their knees and both companies fired three volleys, the first two with blank car tridges and the last with ball. A hundred corpses strewed the side walk. Many women were pierced through the back as they were trying to escape. The Associated Press correspondent, standing behind the troops, saw mangled corpses of persons of all ages and both sexes strewn on the ground. One boy of 13 had his skull pierced and rent by bul lets. Great splashes and streams of blood stained the snow.. Volley at Very Close Range. Only a few of the victims remained alive, for the fatal volley was fired at a distance of not more than'twenty paces: and so the ambulances had little work to do. The police recruited a large number of droskies (6leighs) to carry off the dead. Heartrending scenes were witnessed as wives, husbands and mothors came up to claim their dear ones and were carried off with them In the sleighs. Meanwhile the crowd had drifted up the Nevsky Prospect, yelling "Murderers! Murdorers!" and the square resumed Its calm aspect, except the troops returning to their stations. It was now the turn for the crowd stationed at Morskaia en trance to the square, where the Horse Guard$ repeated the exploit with which they had cleared the Moika and drove the people pellmell down the thorough fare. From thenceforward the Palace Square ceased to be the center of Interest. The Associated Press correspondent went to the Grand Morskaia and stood a whole hour near the corner of the Nevsky Pros pect. The fashionable hotels on either side of the Grand Morskaia were crowded, but the doors were locked, except to well known visitors. Fashionable jewelers and other stores wore barred and mostly un shuttered. Prominent People Watch the Scene. Quite a number of prominent persons stood on the sidewalks watching the de velopments. Secretary Spencer Eddy, of the Russian Embassy, chatted with Grand Duke Boris, who had driven up in a stylish sleigh, drawn by a magnificent trotter. Bompard. the French Ambassa dor, drove past with his 'wife. As a couple of squadrons of red-capped THE MOENING. OBEGONIAK, MONDAY, . JANUARY 23, 1905. TYPICAL VIEWS IN ST. PETERSBURG, WHERE THE Hussars trotted by, tho officers gave the command, "Use the fiat of your swords." Then the troopers moved off and disap peared down the street, the crowds shrieking, "Murderous dogs." A few who were wounded were picked up and con veyed to a drug store on the opposite cor ner of the Grand Mqrskala and the Nev sky Prospect. Xo troops were visible for as much as 'half an hour. A crowd quickly gathered outside the drug store, and an orator was found for the occasion. Standing on the steps of the drug store, he addressed the impromptu meeting thus: "Comrades: We came humbly and peacefully to meet the Emperor and lay our grievances before him; but the Em peror refuses to see us. and instead soldiers were sent to shoot us down. Then all I can say is. he Is no Emperor." "Down with the Emperor!" shouted the crowd. "We have suffered under the sway of the Chlnovniks," said the speaker. "Down, with the Chlnovniks!" "We hoped for redress, but hope is no longer possible: we can win our rights only by fighting." "Down with the autocracy!" yelled the crowd. "Our only chance of redress Is from representatives of the people." "Long live the constitutional assem bly!" "Then all I have to say Is. 'To arms, comrades, to arms!' " "To arms!" was the thundorous re sponse. Mob Capture General's Sword. The crowd, now aroused to a state of frenzy at the sight of the woundtfd, who were being brought out of the drug-store and placed in an ambulance, saluted them as martyrs. Every head was uncovered as the victims were conveyed away. The wilder element In the crowd had now got the upperhand and proceeded to attack every officer In sight. A General, driving up the Nevsky Prospect was mobbed with shouts of "Murderer!" His sword was captured as a trophy, the crowds shout ing "Hurrah!" Another General was nearly dragged from his sleigh, but clutched the driver desperately, and in escaping was struck on his bald head by a glass bottle and stunned. Swords wore wrenched from several passing officers, and the crowds shouted. "Break their swords, but do not beat them." The appearance of several companies of infantry restored order, but the crowds refused to disperse, and several volleys were fired and a number of people killed. Half a dozen policemen were surrounded by a crowd in a neighboring side street. The policemen drew their revolvers and fired, and one of them was killed by. a comrade's misdirected fire. FIRING CEASES AT MIDNIGHT Workmen Decide to Renew the Strug gle With Arms. ST. PETERSBURG. Jan. 22. It was feared that the mob might begin to loot and pillage and even burn, but beyond the breaking of a few windows in the Nevsky Prospect and the pillag ing of fruit shops, little disorder was reported. Most of the theaters were closed, but at the People's Palace, which was open, two liberals attempt ed to harangue the audience, propos ing at the close that the audience testify to their sympathy with their fallen brothers. The orators were promptly arrested, but the audience walked oul By midnight the sound of firing had ceased, except on Vaslli Ostroff, where the troops met a renewed dem onstration with several volleys. In the meantime strike leaders assembled ana decided to continue the struggle with arms. No day was fixed for the nex demonstration. The strikers are so persistent, that trouble Is expected L flll limWll nUHUHtUb WILL. Ul t FOR EVERY tomorrow. At a bis: weeting tonight the following 'message from M. Gorky1, the Nationalist, was read: "Beloved Associates: Wo have no Emperor. Innocent blood lies between him and the people. Now begins the people's struggle for freedom. May it prosper. My blessing upon you all. Would I might be with you tonight, buj I have too much to do." A workman, who -was introduced to speak In Father Gopon's name, made a fiery speech. He appealed to the lib erals to furnish arms. The meeting adopted a letter denouncing the offi cers and regiments that fired on the workmen and another letter cxtolllns the Moscow regiment which refused to fire. GOPON NOT HURT. (.Continued from Flret PasO Sunday were his most faithful subjects. He gave the command through his offi cers to fire on us. and the command was carried out to the letter. This is the be ginning of the battle of the people for freedom and liberty: for the right to live like men and not downtrodden serfs. I bless you all. I love you alL I will be with you again today and will lead you to victory. I am now very busy, but the result of my labors will be for your good. "FATHER GEORGE." The number of casualties at this hour are unknown, but arc variously estimated as being in the thousands. A police of ficer, who has had an opportunity to look at the official records, declares that they will exceed 2000 killed and S000 wounded. Many of the latter, by the very nature of their wounds, must die. WORKMEN ARE ARMING. Preparation Made for the Renewal of the Struggle. ST.'PETERSBURG. Jan. 22. During the evening there were more foot passengers on the streets than might have been ex pected, but nothing like the gaiety and bustle of an ordinary Sunday evening. Comment on the action of the troops and authorities Is very bitter, and sarcastic remarks are made that officers are braver against the defenseless public than against the Japanese, and that "ammunition may be scare in the Far East, but it is too plentiful here." Returns from only three of the numer ous hospitals give 22 dead and 123 wound ed. Many of the wounded have been taken to their homes Broken windows and im bedded bullets are found at long distances from the scene of the firing. The rioters broke windows in the palace of Grand Duke Alexis. The workmen to night were arming with every available weapon for a renewal of the struggle. They have few firearms, but are Impro vising trade Implements into weapons. Prayers in Washington Churches. WASHINGTON. Jan. 22. Fervent pray ers were offered In many of the churches today for the Russian Emperor and for his people. Intense interest in the strug gle at the Russian capital was manifest ed. Count Cassini. the Russian Ambassa dor, arrived here tonight from New Tork and was driven at once to the Embassy, accompanied by Colonel Raspoff. the Rus sian Military Attache. The Ambassador immediately upon his arrival received from a correspondent of the Associated Press dispatches which had come since the Ambassador left last night and early today. Disturbing as were the facts told in these telegrams. Count Cassini was never more calm than as he carefully scanned their contents. Offclally the Ambassador had nothing of the situ ation and for this reason he would make no comment. STRIKERS WERE SHOT Reaction in Russia May Mean Great Change in Europe and Asia. SPECIAL CABLE. LONDON, Jan. 23. All of London's morning papers comment at great length today upon the events at St. Petersburg. The Post says: , "The Emperor's refusal to accept the "workmen's petition means that autocracy has taken sides with bureaucracy. The workmen now know that if they want a change they must get It by force. If the workmen are organized, and the appear ances suggest that this is so, bureaucracy must collapse, and for every person killed yesterday thero will be a hundred to face the same death for the same cause. "The inevitable reaction has begun, and with it a new chapter in Russian history, and probably also the history of Europe and Asia." The Standard's editorial leader points out the significance of the methods the Russian authorities adopted to suppress the outbreak. This, the paper says, is tho culmination of years of discontent and it indicates a belief that the Czar is a bcncficlcnt despot. In the end autocracy stands condemned by the results of its own policy. It has proved absolutely in capable and oppressive and its inefficiency is only more likely to encourage revolt against Its brutality. "Therefore," the Standard concludes, "we must look upon the frightful scenes of yesterday as possibly only the begin ning of greater convulsions." REVOLUTION HAS BEGUN. Comment of London Papers on the Situation in Russia. LONDON. Jan. 23.-Such phrases as these, extracted from editorial articles, in the London morning newspapers, suffi ciently indicate the opinion held here of yesterday's events In St. Petersburg: "Revolt has been quelled, but revolution begun." "The bureaucracy has declared its pol icy: it Is the policy of Blagovestchenk massacre." "The inevitable reaction has begun, and with It a new chapter in Russia's history, and probably also In the history of Eu rope and Asia." "The revolutionary movement in Russia has received Its baptism of blood, its crown of martyrdom." "Is there a Mirabeau or even -a Danton In Russia today?" "A very grave responsibility lies today at the door of the Czar, who has failed to grasp his unique opportunity." "The 'Little Father' has become the murderer of his people, and it remains with him to save the country from disas ter. Even at the eleventh hour, he may do so, but only by recognizing that au tocracy has gone forever." It Is pointed out that the fate of Rus sia does not depend upon the people of St. Petersburg alone, but op the masses throughout the country: and it is consid ered that the events .of recent months connected with the agitation for consti tutional reform sufficiently attest the people's temper. Some of the special dispatches from St. Petersburg this morning comment upon the unexpectedly determined attitude dis played by the Russian workmen yester day as putting a new phase in the char acter of the patient masses. Special correspondents give extraor dinary reports. For Instance, the corre spondent of the Daily Mall says that 20. 000 people from Kolplno were met at the Moscow arch, on the confines of St. Petersburg, with six volleys, and that 1000 fell dead and 1500 were wounded. Other correspondents state that the workmen have proclaimed their Intention to attack private property, and that Minister of the Interior Svlatopolk-Mirsky has consented to receive a deputation of workmen today. While many estimate the casualties at anywhere near 20D0 killed and 5000 wound ed, there is everywhere conclusive evi dence of the impossibility of yet estimat ing with any degree of exactitude. PARIS IS GREATLY EXCITED. Comparison Made With Opening of French Revolution. PARIS, Jan. 22. The news of the bloody events la St. Petersburg have caused a profound sensation here. The newspapers Issued special editions throughout the evening giving dramatic details ot the FOR VENGEANCE DOWN BY THE SOLDIERS street ighting, and these were eagerly read and discussed In the boulevards, at the theaters and In other public places, the tragedy being the univorsal subject of comment. Officials here have received advices practically the same as those made public. The general view, including that of the officials, is one of the deepest apprehen sion that the events of today may precipi tate in Russia a period of revolution such as France has witnessed. The Temps' St. Petersburg special correspondent tonight makes a graphic comparison between the position of Emperor Nicholas II and King Louis XVI on the eve of the Reign of Terror. After a careful analysis of the situation the correspondent concludes that most of the military forces of Russia will remain loyal to the Emperor, although he fore sees prospects of some of the artillery regiments playing the same role that the regiment of the French Guards took on the fall of the Bastile, at the outbreak of the French Revolution. The corre spondent also points out that Emperor Nicholas withdrawal to Tsarkoe-Selo places 21 kilometers between him and the excited populace. The prevailing tone here is one of a magnitude of horror. The Socialist jour nals do not disguise a strong sentiment in favor of the people and of indignation at the course of the government. BLINDNESS OF RUSSIA. Historical Lesson of Freedom Has Been Unlearned. CHICAGO. Jan. 22. "Russia has neglected the lesson of freedom so elo quently taught by history," declared Rev. Newell Dwight Hillis. of Plym outh Church. Brooklyn, in a sermon before his old congregation of Central Church, preached in the Auditorium. "A new statement of our lesson is to be found," he said, "in connection with that great empire of Europe, which now is disturbed with the preliminary tremblings of a social earthquake. Three hundred years ago the conditions which prevail in Russia today could be found in England. "Later in France a noble, when the poor people of Paris asked for bread, said. "Let them eat grass,' and the next day they butchered him in the streets. "Today we find in Russia a nation where the lives of the lower classes are filled with misery and squalor. "In the warm, rich atmosphere of the twentieth century these conditions ex ist. One part of society arrayed against the lower classes ia saying. We will be blind to the teachings of history.' and is ignoring the inevitable consequences which follow the enslav ing of human souls and bodies. A lit tle handful of men own all the land, possess all the titles, hold all the priv ileges. This Is a country of which it can be truly said: The lessons of his tory have been in vain.' But perhaps even now that lesson Is upon us." Times in Calm Tone. SPEOAk CABLT. LONDON, Jan. 23. Commenting upon Sunday's riots in St. Petersburg, the Lon don Times today says editorially that the brutalities committed by the troops and police upon people whose original Intent was plainly peaceful, must, be con demned. "It is quite Impossible." continues the Times, "to gauge the' Importance of the events which have transpired in the Rus sian capital. They may develop into an other revolution, and they may not. The outbreak proves the existence of wide spread and profound discontent, for no Socialist intrigues or harangues, no mat ter how artful and fiery, would lead thou sands to confront with death, unless they were convinced that their lives under present conditions were unbearable." Fired on Prostrate Men. ST. PETERSBURG. Jan. 22 (6:45 P. M.) At the Narva Gate the troops fired on a crowd led by Father Gopon and Father Sergius. the priests carrying a cross and Ikon and a portrait of Emperor Nicholas. Father Sergius was killed and the por trait of the Emperor was smashed. At the Putlloff works the scenes re sembled a sham battle. There the work men facing the troops when . the order was given to fire threw themselves upon their faces on the ground. The troop3 fired on them as they lay prostrate. Father Sergius Is Slain. ST. PETERSBURG. Jan. 23. Father Sergius. one of the notable figures la the Greek Church In St- Petersburg, was In stantly killed by a rifle bullet while urg ing a mob to disperse. His death gave rise to a report that Father Gopon had been slain. "I mppose It wastis taking her out laillns that evenicR last Summer that started all this scandal." "Xo. Jt was the coeaips who san him takinar ber out saillns that started the icaadal." PhilxcelphU. Piesx- FURY IN THEIR HATE CZAR IS NO LONGER THE "LITTLE FATHER" TO RUSSIANS. Suppliant Workmen Are Undeceived When Troops Open Fire Wit! Rifles Upon Defenseless. (Continued from First Page.) while they retreated. Men harangued the crowds, telling them that the Emperor had foiled them, and that they had come to a climax, and began to build barricades In the Nevsky Prospect and other points using any material that came to hand, and even chopping down telegraph poles. Troops Rush Barricades. Fighting meantime continued at various places, soldiers volleying and charging the mob. The whole city was in a state of panic. Women were running through the streets, seeking lost members of their families. Several barricades were carried by the troops. Toward S o'clock in the evening, the crowds, exhausted, began to disperse, leaving the militia in possession. As they retreated up the Nevsky Prospect, the workmen put all the lights out. The little chapel at the Narva Gate was wrecked. On the Kaminlstov Island all the lights were extinguished. Every officer wearing the uniform of the Emperor who was found alone was mobbed. A General was killed on the Nicholas Bridge, and a dozen, officers were seized, stripped of their epaulets and deprived of their swords. Witte May Be Dictator. It is rumored tonight that M. Witte will be appointed dictator tomorrow, but the report Is not confirmed. The authorities, while they seem to realize the magnitude of the crisis with which the dynasty and the autocracy' are confronted on account of today's events, apparently are para lyzed for the moment. An official statement was promised at midnight, at which hour it was announced that it had been postponed till tomorrow. Intense indjgnatlon is bound to be aroused all over Russia. The workmen and revo lutionists expect news from Moscow and other big centers, where the troops are not of the same class as the guard regi ments of St. Petersburg. A member of the Emperor's household ia quoted as saying today that this conflict will end the war with Japan, and that Russia will have a constitution or Em peror Nicholas will lose his head. The Warsaw & Baltic Railroad is re ported to have been torn up for a mlla and a half, but the damage is said to hava been repaired. There are rumors of trouble in Finland and disaffection of the troops. CUBAN CITY SHAKEN TJT. Three Earthquake Shocks at Santiago in Twenty-Four Hours. SANTIAGO, Cuba. Jan. 22. There have been three distinct earthquakes of increasing force within the last 24 hours, causing much excitement. No serious damage was done, but there is fear that there will be more shocks. Sigsbee at San Domingo. WASHINGTON. Jan. 22. Rear-Admiral Charles D. Sigsbee, Commander-in-Chief of the -Caribbean squadron.' reported here his arrival at San Domingo City to day in the flagship Newark. Both the Newark and the Castfne "are now repre sentlisr the United States in Santo Do mingo waters. Looked for Thief Got Runaway. OREGON CITY. Or.. Jan. 22. (Special.) While at Canby yesterday looking for the men who burglarized a store at Gas ton. Washington County, Chief of Police Burns apprehended Roscoe Thomas, an escaped charge of the State Reform School, whom he turned over to the of ficers of the reformatory. Thomas was committed to tne Reform School from Pendleton, and with a com panion escaped from the school three days ago. Thomas companion was suc cessful in boarding the overland train at Canby, and has not yet been capture. 4