May 30, 1896
In the crush at Khodynka Field, where celebrations were taking place in honor of the coronation Nicholas II, more than 1000 people died.
You can hear bones crunching and hands breaking. (memories of a survivor)
The day before, posters were hung on the streets of Moscow promising free alcohol, a concert program, and a gift: a scarf with an image of the Kremlin and the royal couple, 200 grams of sausage, gingerbread, and 300 grams of sweets.
Thirty thousand buckets of beer and 10 thousand buckets of mead were prepared for the feast. The main souvenir was an enamel glass, considered a curiosity at the time.
And it would be so nice to put this mug in the corner under the icons and drink tea from it on major holidays! That's what each of us simpletons thought as we went to Khodynka.
In preparation for the festivities, special attention was paid to the emperor's safety: intelligence reports indicated that terrorists were plotting an assassination attempt. The tsar's routes, nearby buildings, and their occupants were subjected to a thorough search.
The issue of accommodating the huge number of people seemed unimportant. The large field, where for years they had dug clay and sand, held military exercises and fairs, was completely riddled with deep holes.
By morning, 500,000 people had gathered here. When word spread that there weren't enough gifts for everyone, people rushed to the distribution points. Some fell into pits and were trampled. Others died from lack of oxygen, their bodies remaining standing, moving with the crowd.
From time to time, a distinct cracking sound could be heard in the clouds of hot, noxious steam – it was the neighbor’s chest breaking.
According to official figures, 1389 people died. The celebration was not cancelled: the pits containing the bodies were covered with boards, and new groups of people stood on them, unaware of what had happened.
Until now, everything had been going swimmingly, but today a great sin occurred. About 1300 people were trampled! This news left a disgusting impression. (from the diary of Nicholas II)
That evening, as if nothing had happened, the Tsar appeared at the French ambassador's ball. Ten years later Konstantin Balmont will write prophetic verses:
Who began to reign - Khodynka, He will end up standing on the scaffold
