TOWN EDITION.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2211, 19 April 1880, Page 2

TOWN EDITION.

AN ENGAGEMENT WITH NIHILISTS.

A correspondent of the “ Standard ” has telegraphed from St Petersburg the following account of a struggle with Nihilists in that city : —“A police officer in the Litenia district holding the rank of pomoshtnile, having hoard that three men and two women were living in a certain house under suspicious circumstances, determined to effect a surprise. On Friday morning at two o’clock accompanied by an okolotochuik, or sub-ofliccr, and several policemen, he proceeded to the house in question. Having posted some of the men on the back staircase he went up to the apartment alone, and knocked at the door. “ Kto tarn ?” (who is there) was the answer. “ A telegram,” said the officer,’ The door was opened and the police being recognised several shots were tired. The officer closed the door instantly and held it with all his might, whilst a messenger was despatched to the Gendarm Barracks for help. Meanwhile, those inside recognised their danger, and made a desperate attempt to escape. They fired several shots both through the door and from a small window overlooking the stair-case. The officer was struck in thehand by a bullet which passed through (he door ; but the cloud of smoke and the darkness obscured the po|ice and probably saved their lives. Upon help arriving the pomoshtnile took the offensive, and d shed into the corridor rcvolvcrin hand, iollowed by the gendarmes. As the room was full of smoke he groped round the walls, and succeeded in opening the window. The draught cleared the atmosphere, and in the centre of the room were seen two men and two girls, who, finding escape hopeless, and their ammunition being expended surrendered at discretion. Immediately afterwards a single shot was heard in the adjoining room, and upon entering it a third man was found dead on the floor, having blown out his brains. General Gourko, the Governor, and M. Guroe, the Pr?fept fif |hp town, arrived shortly, when a search was Instituted, whiph led to the discovery of two presses, a quantity of ? brochures,” and a complete issue of the revolutionary journal “Navodaja Volya” (the "Will of the People”); also poisons and explosives. The officer of the police received at once the order of St. Yaldimia and a step in promotion. The order of'St Yaldimia is, after the Cross of St. George the most coveted in Russia, carrying with it as it does, many privileges, amongst them the rank of noble in the higher grade of hereditary nobility, and the education of the bearer’s children at the expense of the State.