Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-02-25
Another Attempt on the Gar.

ihc snttiiiktuct oo"No aho's Nv
Petersburgh that another bold attempt has
been made to violently take the life OF En-
peror Nicholas. On Tuesday Of last week,
just at the dinner hour, an explosion occurred
in the winter palace Of the emperor, where
he is now stopping, making hole in the
floor of the dining-hall ten feet by six, kill
ing five or six soldiers and wounding forty
five more, several Of whom have since died.
It seems that the dinner was appointed for
six O'Clock, and II II had not been accident
ally delayed, all would have been seated at
the moment of the explosion. As 1t was,
their escape was very narrow. The emperor,
accompanied by the princes Of Hesse and
Bulgaria, was about TO enter the dining-hall
through one door, and the other members Of
the imperial family, except the empress, by
another, when the explosion took place. The
force of the explosion was such that mum.
Der Of windows of the palace and adjacent
houses we're shattered, while the gas was
blown out and complete darkness prevailed.
The mine was laid under the guard-room Of
the palace, which is Immediately under the
dining-hall.
Another account says the car was in such
deep conversation with the Prince Alexander
Of Bulgaria when dinner was announced, that
the announcement was upheeded. Shortly
afterward the servant returned. As he
opened the door the emperor rose. At that
instant terrible explosion was heard. The
car had taken the Prince Alexander's arm,
and was walking to the door. lie stopped
short at the sound. He then diseDgaged
his arm and raised his eyes to heaven in
gratitude. Neither spoke word. The
car was perfectly calm, and an hour later
sat down quietly to dinner beside great
gap in the floor. The empress was asleep
and heard nothing of the explosion. Ex-
press orders were issued that she should be
left in ignorance. Many of the aristocracy
fastened to offer congratulations, but the
police had strict orders to let no drovesky
pass the gates At an early hour the follow
ing morning the emperor drove to church
aud returned thanks to the Virgin for his
fifth preservation from death.
General Gourko, encouragement of st.
Petersburgh, was engaged at the winter pal
ace during the night on the 18th instant, in
vestigating the circumstances connected with
the explosion. 1t has been ascertained that
the dynamite was fred by an electric bat
terry, and that several pounds of that explo.
sive must have been used. The cellars OF
the palace have long been used for storing
purposes, and appear to have been occupied
by four workmen, three Of whom have been
arrested. The train can be traced to cellar
in the inner court, where quantity of fuel
is stored. Many arrests have been made in
the winter palace and its immediate neigh
borhood.
Assuming that the explosion in the cars
palace was the work of his impacable enc
mics, The audacity of the attempt and the
degree TO which success was carried are ex
traordinary. That the car in venturinp
into the public streets should be fred upon
can easily be accounted for. But here he
was hedged in within the recesses of his own
palace, whose approaches are all guarded
by military outposts, regularly garrisored
stronghold, provided even with such modern
appliances of fortified places as electric
lights, to prevent the stealthy approach OF
the enemy by night. This palace has been
it would seem, mined and partly blown up
like besieged redoubt. How were the
miners able to triumph over such precau-
tions Is it impossible that the car can
trust the fidelity OF even the sifted and tested
among the chosen with whom he is sur
rounded2 Strange thoughts must be in the
minds Of the imperial household that so mar
rowly escaped destruction.
In connection with the foregoing the fol
lowing description of the cars winter pal
ace, furnished by St. Petersburgh cores
pondent, will be found interesting:
All who have visited St Petersburgh know the
winter palace. 1t IL considerably larger than the
Louvre and the Tuilleries put together. Its snite
OF splendid apartments galleries and halls. filled
with marbles, malachtes, precious stones, vases
its walls adorned with portraits Of the great
princes of Russia occupies the site Of the palace
which burned to the ground in 1887 1t rose
ont of its ashes finished and furnished, painted
and decorated in one short year. In order to com
plete the task at the time appointed BY the ear
the interior works were continued during the
great frosts; and. when the thermometer outside
was thirty degrees below zero OF Reaumur, ak
thousand workmen were daily shut up in halls
heated to thirty degrees OF Reaumur In order that
the walls might dry, quicker; so that these poor
wretches had to endure difference OF sixty de-
grees OF temperature A considerable number OF
them died daily; and it is said that those who
were engaged to paint the interior Of the most
heated halls were obliged to place on their heads
kind Of bonnet of ice In order to preserve the
use of their senses under the burning tempera-
ture. Piled up thus In hurry to please caprice
without a consideration Of the misery its execu'
ton entaie1, since the completion the events with
which 1t has been associated. have not nnfre-
quently been Of gloomy character. 1t was the
theater OF the tawdry pomp and lavish display Of
the beginning OF Nicholas reign, but 1t also wit
messed the numerous disappointments OF his latel
years, his WEAKNESS OF spirit and his broken heart
Its gardens were the scene OF the abortive at
tempt Of Solovief on the present ear.