Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-06-19

The sentence against Alexander So
lovieG. who attempted the assassination
Of the Emperor Of Russia On the 14th
Of last April, and was convicted On the
9Th INST. before the Supreme Tribunal
of belonging 10 an association for the
overthrow Of the State, was carried out
on the 9th instant. He was hanged &C.
10 o'clock on The Smolenski fsld. Full
ly eight thousand persons were present.
A force Of military was called out to
preserve order, but there was no de-
monstration. The troops formed in .
square around the scaaold. Solovieh
met his death with irmness and comPc.
sure. He refused the priests entreaty
to KISS the cross.
Alexander Solovieff was o years Of
age. He was the son OF physiclsn,
received his primary education in .
gymnasium in the capital, and entered
the st. Petersburg University in 1870.
AT that time Russian students had come
TO attend more TO politics and schemes
Of revolution than to academical lec-
lures, and SolovieG Quilted the univer-
sity in the second year Of has course.
He became q village school teacher in
the province of Pscoif, in order the bet
ter to propagate the sentiments Of the
Nihilists, whose party he had joined.
But the police soon discovered his rev
olutionary connections, and ne lost bis
position. Alter that he busted himself
wherever his services were demanded.
On April IA, in St. Petersbnrgh, he at
tempted to assassinate the Emperor Al
exander while the latter was walking
in the gardens not 400 feet from the
Winter Palace. Just before the attack
he swallowed large dose Of cyanide
Of potassium, and persons who were
spectators noticed that as Solovief fred
upon the Emperor he was affected by
the poison. He fred four shots, none
Of which reached their object. AT the
first shot the Emperor turned and fled.
Several soldiers ran to SolovieE. and
one of these struck the would-be assas-
sin on the neck with has sabre and
brought him to the ground. where he
lay senseless and foaming at the mouth.
In this condition SolovieH was carried
20 the house OF the Chief Of Police,
whittier sk,llful physicians were sum-
moned, who gave him antidctes and
saved him from death. When he had
recovered he was told that his attempt
to poison himself would have been sue.
cessful had il not been that he had car
ried the poison so.long about his person
before taking il that il had lost is vir-
tue. He exclaimed. 81 am sorry; did
not suspect that" and of one Of the
physicians he Piteously inquired. "Why
did you try to save me 20
Solovieff was incarcerated IN Fort
PetropavlOvsky, and was not removed
from his prison, even for trial. until he
was led out to execution. His sentence
was long since determined on. and he
vas kept only in the hope that he might
discover his aecompliees. Hewss4fied
without jury and was not allowed coun-
sci. He was senteneed 10 be hanged.
The sentence was executed in the same
Reld where thirteen years ago was
hanged KarakozoG for . similar offence.
In Russia. as IN France. although exe-
euiions are public, no notice 10 given Of
the day. on which they are TO take place.
The prisoner Is led out in the early
morning before people are as:ir. A
number Of regiments march with bun
10 the ield Of execution, which i about
four miles removed from the city,. He
makes the journey in carl. which .
painted black, and he 10 also dressed in
black throughout. and chained hand and
foot. A priest sits by his side in the
cart. Mounted soldiers surround the
cart. and at the scaHoId soldiers form 10
. square about the PrisOner. 80 that the
people are kept half mile away, and
may not hear him when be speaks.
These precautions are especially o.
served a this time ID order q guard
against an uprising. There are always
double as many soldiers - people sssn
exeeution. and 10 chance occurs ior 4
demonstrators. 1.-THE condemned man
Is privileged, as was Solovie9 - as-