"RED SUNDAY."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 104, 31 May 1909, Page 4

"RED SUNDAY."

HOW IT CAME ABOUT. THE MARCH OX THE WINTER PALACE. BLOOD-DRENCHED STREETS.

"You see, it was t'liis way," observed Dr. L. A. Bornanioff, who participated in 'the carnage in St. Petersburg on the memorable Red Sunday, and who is on a visit to Wellington, when asked by a Times' reporter to give a connected narrative of that sensational occurrence. "Red Sunday tod been organised months before it took place, January 29th, '1905. : "A petition was to be presented to flie Czar on behalf of the proletariat from the inteflectuiak Tliitt failed with the Executive. Then there was another dispute a month lata". The point was, should the masses go armed to tine Winter Palace! Tolstoy advised us to go •without arms in the procession to the Palace to present the petition to the Czar. The petition asked for a eonstitutfon—that those who were paying 'taxes should know Where the money Svas going; that if we are to fight, to know exactly what we are lofiing our lives for.' In full words, complete democratic institution. Wc didn't want fo 'take the throne from the House of Roaiianolf, but we wamted to have a say in the matteT." FATHER GAPON.

And where did Father Gapon come in! I ''He had at that time forced himself into the Tolstoy movement," replied the doctor. "Prior to that he was an ordinary priest in the Government of Tverri He said he would guarantee to bring into St. Petersburg people who would stand their ground in the procession, and produced a list of signatures of 0000 souls. After many discussions in the Executive, ■which was composed chielly of Radicals, Social Democrats, Communists and Liberals, a resolution was passed and adopted by a. majority that wc should march to the Palace unarmed with weapons', protected onlymorally. Headed by 2000 women and children, 42,000 souls marched out. Different bodies organised at different corners. We met at the Nicolivff railway station, St. Petersburg, at 9.30 a.m.

AT THE WINTER PALACE. "The blood ran in, sfreams through the snow," and the doctor shrugged lis shoulders.

"At the Winter Palace we were met by an enormous army, with artillery, hca'ded by the late Grand Duke' Sergius, who did butcher's work in the cause of Immunity. The conflict with the troops came about in this way: The moment we arrived on the spot we hoisted our flag. Father Ga-pom, who was with us, hoisted his ikons and shouted: They will not shoot at us because ! I have grasp of the emblem of God.

"Dr. llersky, lecturer at one of the Medical Schools. St. Petersburg, and NiekraeofT, Lecturer on Logics at the University of St. Petersburg, tad charge of the petition. It was never presented. We said:

We don't move until we present our petition on behalf of the toiling masses of Russia. "We refused to move. A volley of bullets was fired right into the crowd. Wtomen and children fell right and left. The snow was deep, and we all laid down. Then came another volley, and even a third. For fifteen minutes everything was quiet. As each roused himself and looked for his comrade, we saw the white snow red with blood. "It was a .Surprise to us that Fatter Ga.pon, who was in the front of the procession, escaped so early, without being injured. That was the first suspicion raised against him. We still, however, protected him. The reason for that protection was that he was a spy—lucky enough to escape death in the carnage at the Winter Palace, he would at any rate 'be useful for us to deal with later on. We sent him to Switzerland, and from there to Paris, in the interests of Justice." XTXE HUNDRED KILLED.

Dr. Boranoff, reflecting on the scene he has just described, continued:— "We found our mistake in not going to tlie Winter Palace armed. There were over 000 killed, men, women and children. The streets were full of injured—it was impossible to get a correct account of them. For days and days afterwards there were patrols, armed with guns an:! cannon, in every street in St. Petersburg. Police spies were paid 100 roubles ('ClO) per head for every arrest. Tlie consequence was that people were arrested who had nothing whatever to do with the movement."

A TRAITOR. . But to return to Father Ga.pon? "Ifc certainly proved himself » traitor, by selling his cause ami-denouncing 'his co-paHrints' work for a cause for which he himself never pretended In work. There i.s f«fW to say. about his death. It was AzolV, the great Kuss'iaii s,py, who was lately denounced by the Reform Movement, who killed him. Azof!' was at that time working for Czardom, and wanted to show that his cards were playing all the time trumps. He undertook to kill Alexieh" (Minister 'of the Interior) and Gapon at the same time, because both were spies, workiii" backwards and forwards. Azoff arranged an interview for the two at the same place, at the house of one of the Government officials in a little village about thirty miles from St. Petersburg. "Azoff hanged Gapon. The house was matched both by the police and the revolutionary agents, and Gapons body remained there for a fortnight. Amongst the effects found on his body was a visiting card from Alexieff, offering an excuse for his non-appearance, and saving that he would make an interview a little later in the week. AZOFF.

"That incident gn.ve great prominence to Azoff in the Reform movement, and thereafter lie had a chance to have pretty well his own way, Some comrades ni Paris, however, subsenuentlv discovered him guiltv of treachery and a committee, of which 'Prince PeterKor. potkin was chairman, was' set up to 'iiyestigatc Ms we. Azoff was condemned to death. V, one, however, knoivs where he is now. There have been various bogus reports in London papers about him. He will certainly not escape from Europe. But be is a remarkable impersonator, and has a specialty in disguis'cs He is a qualified civil engines, and a so a Doctor of Science, but he has ji ust ior money-ahd women. He must live well, „ 0 matter where lie

T.-ESSOXS OF KEI) St'XDAY. Then Dr. Boranofr was asked what he essons of lied Sunday were, so far a- the Relorui. movement was concern-

•fust tins: I pcivonally mn „| a<l cf mLI ' th °"" 11 - wtimiliy, lam pained to see so much unnecc-s'sarv fcioiuMiri. It U a tng-of-wnr. Tf Cn r•loin would not pull so stro,,gl v . there would be no opposition, but since there '•racv C 'l,;\,H r0 " !; -, p, " n b - v ll,;o «'«"«>. uac> the other s ,de must null stronMv. •too. because it apjieurs to me fool's nla'v to suppress tnitl, and justice and love )'o.r every head cut off/millions arc rising m defence. The Mor«, movement is «i strong ,n Siberia, that the milit.r.'v cft-cles are birgrfy affected, including the Lossacks. n

t "\ es,» cnnt<!iided the 'doctor seriousiv tlie iiioveiirent will go on and on and oil. I here may be some calms before he stwin: (1,,.,-e may be what to the lay mind appears a fruitless' storm, but wl "reach" 1 7>Yr i . C f W,plc Whom U «;i ic.uli 1,, effwt. every ev I will n-,,g foPil, a,, evil. The only reniedv ,s to M >*b »■ '"Hi do what is good." '