Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1905 — SCENE OF RUSSIAN SLAUGHTER. [ARTICLE]

SCENE OF RUSSIAN SLAUGHTER.

Bire’s-Eye Diagram of the Tone of Awful St. Petersburg Massacre. From the accompanying bird’s-eye diagram of the zone of the awful St. Petersburg massacre and the barricade battles of Sunday and Sunday night, prepared by the Chicago American from cabled reports and photographs, the readers will be able to inform themselves as to the "lay of the land” and the real events of that day and night of slaughter. On Vassili Island (see cross), where the great government iron works in which the first of the strikes was declared are., situated and whereTEe great mass of the St. Petersburg industrial class lives, the concentration for the march of the strikers to the Winter Palace took place. The great assemblage of peaceful-mind-ed artisans, intent only on presenting a humble petition to the Czar, “their little father” and the head of the church to which they are devoted, then split into two sections, one taking up the march to the palace from Vassili Island via the Troitsky bridge (in the background) and the other section going over the great Nicholas bridge (see arrow). Large numbers of both sections reached unmolested the splendid section of the city occupied by the Winter Palace, the spacious gar-

dens of St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Nevsky prospect and the government buildings, where they were re-enforced by thousands of other striking workmen and also by revolutionists. Then, when the great throng of marching workmen were fairly in the great military trap prepared by the authorities “to teach them a lesson,” a merry trumpet call rang out. It was the signal for slaughter. Stopping their merry games and fun, the soldiers of “the little father”'drew up in line of battle at the bridges over which the two processions were still passing, in the palace square, on the Nevsky prospect and in the cathedral gardens. Another signal and the first volley was fired. It was, of blank cartridges. “Thank God,” cried the leaders of the marching host, “the Czar W ill not kill his children.” The sol-, dibrs grinned. Another signal. And another volley. Real bullets this time. Scores fall in every spot where the troops are met. Then the fighting began. Barricades were thrown up in the places, shown in the diagram. Before the day and night of slaughter had ended 2,000 had been killed and 5,000 wounded, these awful figures being maintained by correspondents in face of official reports minimizing the massacre nnd which are said to be prepared with intent to receive the Cznr and the outside world. On Nicholas bridge the infantry at first refused to fire on their brethren and threw down their arms. Then the merciless Cossacks, armed with sabers, were turned loose on the by this time fleeing populace. And this is the story of Russia’s “St. Bartholdmew.”