The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-04-22
Hartman's Story.

attempted regicide is as follows: "Of
course my real name is neither Hart
mann nor Mayer. have used many
My true name, however, is by no means
members of the Third Section, and even
to Loris Melikof. After conducting 8
propaganda in different parts of Russia
last summer, which led to my arrest
and escape from Kieff Prison, 1 was de-
tailed to carry out the Cars execution.
l have practical knowledge of military
operations and the force of explosions,
and l suppose it was ON that account
was selected to conduct the attempt.
Going to Moscow, hired small house
few miles outside of the city and stu
ated within some forty yards Of the main
line of railway. The house was in q
wretched condition. / was dressed as a
laborer, kept quiet and went about for
some time as if attending to my place.
After I had satisfied myself that all
suspicion was averted, 1 set tc work,
aided by two companions, one of whom
has long been my colleague. The
nearest house was barely visible, and in
the evening, while two stood on the
watch, the third undertook to dig a lit
tie trench with a spade in the frozen
ground. The trench was dug but spade
deep and wide, or five inches by five
inches. 1t ran from the railway to the
small clubhouse attached TO my dwell
ing. The ground was very hard, and as
we had to proceed cautiously, the dig
ging occupied several days. In the
Cd
insulated wires were laid, and every
night as we finished our work we filled
the trench that had been cut, carefully
removing all traces of excavation. The
trench was dug along a furrow in the
open field. The dynamite we made our.
selves in the house, and put it into four
strong iron TASKS, each of which held a
little over an English pound. When
everything was nearly completed, our
plan all but fell through. owing to the
failure of the Moscow electrician. whose
suspicion was aroused, to deliver the
batteries to fire the mine. This oc.
Cured the day before the explos-
ion. My comrades and myself almost
despaired, when but few hours be.
fore we had congratulated ourselves
on the completion of our task. The
TASKS containing the dynamite had
been safely wrapped up and laid in 8
deep hole dug between the metals and
beneath one of the wooden sleepers My
resolve was soon taken. / sent my com
rades away to a friendly peasant some
twenty miles off in the south, and Bel
out myself to secure the batteries. With
some little difficulty I persuaded the
electrician to intrust them to me, and
at once returned and passed the night
alone in the solitary house on the steppe
The wires l soon connected, and all was
in readiness for the coming train. My
explanation is simple enough. We were
kept thoroughly informed of the Czar's
| movements. We received warning thai
pursuing his usual custom he would
leave the official train, in which a figure
representing the Gar would be seated
| at window of the saloon-carriage while
the Gar himself, expecting thus t.
escape all danger, travelled disguised a!
\ railway y-seFvaH+----A-te4ee,ra told n1s
all was right, and the Gar was coming
and as the train passed / fired the mine
hoping to see the Emperor blown to the
winds. The wreck of the train wa
blown away from the house, but to my
chagrin I soon learned that the Gar
thinking himself safe from danger, hat
changed trains few miles off, SO as Il
enter Moscow in state. 1 at once set ol
in a sleigh and rejoined my friends. W.
remained quietly within twenty miles O
the scene for one week. and then Travelled
to Kherson, going thence to friends a
Odessa. Here we all shipped for Turke,
on board the Italian steamer Florentina
I being, in fact. employed as an engineer
From Constantinople we took passage t.
France by way of the Levant. On az
irving in Paris, ] went about with m,
friends. When walking in the Champ
Elysees, February IA, with three friends
the mouchards who had been followin,
us came up. Three of them seized me
and 1 was arrested. My companion
succeeded in knocking their captor
down and escaping, and was taken t
Mazas My friends went to M Clemen
ceau, who advised them to employ Engle
hart. municipal councillor, which the
did, and eventually was conducted b
n,ouchard to Calais and put on boar
the steamer for Dover. Although ez
PEELED from France, no official pape
was issued. My friends waited in
wine shop in the Avenue Vincennesgfo
my release, and wishout making then
selves known, accompanied me to Lol
don."