The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-06-27
An idiot Carlow Elizabeth Became
Empress of Russia.

Empress OF Russia.
The night of the 25th of November,
741, was bitter cold in the Russian
Japital ON the Neva. 1t has been snow
ng all day, and at setting in of dusk a
urious gale had sprung up, and rendered
he cold almost intolerable. Neverthe-
ess the Annikoff Palace where the
Grand Duchess Elizabeth, Peter the
Greats daughter, resided was the scene
IF gay festival.
1t was the birthday of the Princess,
and her sumptuous apartments were
ing with elegantly dressed gentlemen,
who congratulated her with all the sub
usually displayed toward |
crowned heads.
Elizabeth herself was radiant. She |
was not exactly beautiful, but still a
most attractive woman. Her form was
perfect, her complexion was dazzling |
white, and face, dotted with two hazel
eyes, constantly Wore commanding,
majestic expression. She looked very
much like her illustrious father, and on
the present joyous occasion more SO than
ever.
The large bell on the st. Isaac's dome
proclaimed the hour of nine, when an
elderly gentleman, with Machiavel
liam face, approached and whispered to
her in French:
"They are in the cabinet, your Impe-
rial Highness."
The Princess replied, smilingly:
sI shall be there in a few minutes"
She bowed graciously to the assem-
bled guests, and said, with the most en-
gaging smile:
Gentlemen, / have to retire for
short time. Will you meanwhile drink
my health ?'
Strangely enough, they responded to
by shouting in an enthusiastic manner:
I" Bong live our CzarinaW
She kissed her hand to her guests and
then disappeared.
A few moments later she entered her
private cabinet, where she found DIR.
Lostocq, her French physician, NJ. de la
Chetardie, the French Minister to Rus
sia, besides several superior officers of
the famous Life Guard Regiment Preo-
brazensky.
Every thing is ready, Your Imperial
Highness," said the Doctor to the Grand
Duchess.
The latter looked at the officers of the
Life Guard Regiment.
"Can l trust your regiment?" she
asked.
"We will 60 through fire and water
for our Czarinap' they replied enthusi-
astically.
"You know, if we fail, officers"
she rejoined, slightly inclining her proud
head, SO the scaffold awaits you. If you
succeed, each of you will receive three
hundred thousand roubles and regi-
ment of his own"
We will succeed, Czarina!" cried the
officers.
"Then proceed to the Imperial
Palacs," she said; CDR. Lestocq will 60
with you, and tell you what to DO"
They wrapped themselves up in their
costly furs, and left the room, shouting
enthusiastically:
"Long live our Czarinap'
She returned to her guests, and the
officers, headed by Lestocq, fastened to
the barracks of the Preobraszensky
Guards. They found their soldiers under
arms ready to march.
Forward to the Imperial Palacep'
shouted Colonel Samineff to them.
They tramped silently through the
deep snow. Upon their arrival at the
Imperial Palace, they dismissed the SEN
tinels, and with crossed bayonets rushed
up the great staircase.
At the landing they were met by a
beautiful, fair-haired woman, who held
an infant in her arms.
"What do you want?' she said, in ter
ror, to the officers that headed the column.
How dare you invade the palace OF
your legitimate Carp
three months old, and yet it was under
of all the Russias
"He is not the Czar,v shouted
Lestocq, brutally. "Our Czarina is
Elizabeth p
Traitorp' replied the lady, who was
no other than Anna of Lourland, the
mother of the infant Gar. You shal
mount the scaffoldW
Enough! enough!" cried Lestocq
"Send her and her brat down stairs
Put her into the carriage
"What is all this?'' asked man wht
suddenly appeared by the side of Anna
He was her husband, Prince Anthony
Ulrick, of Brunswick, a lazy, indolen
sort of fellow.
"Take him down stairs, tool" ordered
Lestocq.
Several guardsmen hustled Anna, VIII,
was speechless with terror, and VIII,
closely clasped her little son, Ivan, t,
her bosom, down stairs. Others dragge,
her husband after her.
In front of the palace large travelin,
coach awaited them. They were thrus
into it, and the watchman, who sat b,
the side of the coachman on the box
whispered to the latter:
"Io Riga~
The ride lasted twenty-four hours
During these twenty-four hours, moi
withstanding the inclemency of tn
weather, not morsel of food was give
to the prisoners.
At Riga they were delivered, in
truly deplorable condition, to the com
, mander at the citadel.
Put them into a solitary cell an
, have them watched with the utmos
vigilance. If they escape you will loos
your head. Such are the orders of He
/ Majesty, our new Empress Elizabeth.
/ In the mean time Elizabeth had bee
proclaimed everywhere as the legitimat
) Czarina.
The old Russian party supported he
except the ecclesiastics, who refused t
7 believe in the story that Ivan Iii ws
dead. That story was circulated
: Elizabeth and her instruments, and tn
t most rigorous measures were adopted |
prevent any body from circulating th
I report that the young Gar was sti
alive.
Meanwhile Ivan and the ill-fate
parents remained for eighteen months
, Riga, then they were taken to tt
! gloomy State Prison at Dunamund
: from which young Ivan was transferre
! to the fortress at Oranienbaum, viii
! his parents were sent to Castle Kolom