The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1881-03-19
THE MURDERED CAR.
How the Ruler of Russia Met His
Death.

was successful, and was terrible affair in all
its details. The car was returning in covered
carriage from the Michael palace, at ST. Peters
burg, on Sunday morning at about eleven o'clock
with his brother, the Grand Duke Michael. His
escort consisted of quarter troops of Cossacks,
and several officers of the household accom-
panied him in sleighs. As the carriage was
passing along the banks of the Ekaterinofsky
canal, and at point Immediately opposite 10
the imperial stables, bomb was thrown by q
man who was standing behind knot of pedes-
TRANS who had stopped to see the emperor go
by. Itexploded with terrific crash right under
the body Of the carriage, the spiinters flying
across the street, but doing no injury beyond
tearing away the back part of the carriage
The driver, who had drawn up, descended from
his box and the Cossack escort, which was
few PAGES IN the rear, at once galloped up. At
this time there were not more than twenty per-
sons present The car, on hearing the crash
at once raised the window, opened the door and
jumped out, and while he was drawing his fur
cloak about him second bomb was thrown
from the knot of lookers-on, exploding right at
his feet. The smoke of the first explosion was
still hanging about and when the second bomb
Struck the pavement dense cloud enveloped
the carriage. There was howl of pain and
anguish from the Cossacks, some of whom were
killed and more wounded by the flying splinters,
and three or four of the lookers-on fell also
This crash brought squad Of police, who were
Just going on duty at the imperial stables. As
the smoke lifted, the car was seen living on his
back beside the wreck of the carriage, his legs
torn and shattered and blood pouring from
CHASTITY wounds in his thighs. His cloak and
wearing apparel were literally torn from his
back He was deathly pale and his cries to the
officers of the household for help were scarcely
audible. Colonel Djorjebky, of his suite, who
was badly injured by the second explosion which
had shattered his Sleigh raised the emperor
from the ground, and with the aid of Cossack
officers lifted him into sleigh and conveyed
him to the Winter palace. The bombs were
simply thick glass balls filled with dynamite.
All this did not occupy three minutes. As
the prisoner was thrown into a sled and driven
off under strong guard, Colonel Djorjebkys
sleigh, bearing the wounded emperor and two
or three attendants, drove rapidly through the
streets to the Winter palace, where a mounted
messenger had previously arrived with the
news BY this time the story was known
throughout the neighborhood of the palace, and
as the sleigh drove through the main gate the
people stood by uncovered, while hundreds and
thousands hocked to the scene of the tragedy.
The alarm had been sounded in the military
and police barracks and in trice the guards
on the Winter palace were doubled and the
streets lined with soldiery. The news soon
reached the churches and the congregations
rushed into the streets and made for the palace,
where squadrons of Cossacks and regular cav
airy kept them at bay. General Melikoff, the
military governor, was on the spot ten minutes
after the cars arrival and he at once called
out large detachments of cavalry and artillery
and telegraphed all the commanders in the city
and outlying posts TO hold themselves in readi-
ness TO move with their troops at moments
warning. There is no doubt that the authori-
ties half feared general rising of Nihilsts, but
If such thing had been contemplated it was
quite out Of the question, the whole city being
an armed camp before the clock struck twelve.
4,-1-~. n..If =.
out Tor fires, and the principal government and
municipal buildings were put under close
guard.
Meanwhile the Cossacks and the police had
charged upon the knot of people from which
the two bombs were flung Several persons
pointed TO man in the rough sheepskin garb
of peasant and declared that he had thrown
the first shell This was confirmed by the
Cossacks, who saw him hurting it. Colonel of
Police Archemaff seized him. The man strug-
gled desperately, and, as the now dismounted
escort closed upon him, drew revolver as
though intending to shoot the Grand Duke
Michael Whose escape from death by the sec
ond explosion was little short of miraculous),
but his hand was struck down, and in an in
slant he was thrown to the earth and securely
pinioned, the police putting irons upon him
and the Cossacks binding him with ropes. A
large body of military and police had gathered
by this time and active search was made for
Ten minutes after the first assassin was
arrested his fellow-conspirator fell into the
hands of the police. He had run from the
scene in the confusion that followed the sec
ond explosion and concealed himself in an old
building standing in lane near the western
wing of the imperial stables. A Gordon of
police and Cossacks had been drawn around
the stables, so that escape was impossible
The police routed him out of his hiding place
and he was bound and sent off to the dungeon
in the palace If justice under an escort of Cos
sacks. He admitted his guilt, and on being
told that his acco1nphce had also been arrested
said they were readv to die at am moment
He inquired if the czgr was dead and on the
police refusing to answer the question. glee-
fully exclaimed Ah know by that that we
have succeeded. Long live the people % Both
are young men and apparently of good birth
and education.
The car was carried upstairs on litter.
Besides the surgeons-ln-ordinary, the most
skilled men in the city were present, but the
case was hopeless. His left leg was feariullv
shattered, the greater portion of the foot and
ankle having been blown off; and his right leg
was nearly torn from his body. He was sensi-
bic, with brief intervals of Inconsistencies to
tbs last. He had lost an enormous quantity of
blood, and the shock had utterly Frustrated
him. The doctors efforts to rally him were
fruitless. At 1:30 P. N. the imperial family
were summoned to the bedside, where prayers
for the dying were being said by the Greek
patriarch and clergy. The leave-taking is said
to have been most touching. The czar kissed
them all and gave them his blessing. He bore
the agony of his wounds with heroic fortitude,
and said he trusted he was ready to die and that
Russia would never forget that he had been
sacrificed for upholding her institutions and
maintaining law and order within her borders.
Toward 3 P. NJ. it was evident that the end wal
near. The emperor's strength was waning,
and every now and then the blood streamed
from the ragged wounds. When the doctors
spoke in whisper oftrying amputation thedyine
man opened his eyes and motioned them away.
At $50 P. NJ. he breathed his last. A council
of state was forthwith convened, and as the
czarewitch who contrary to his usual custom
was surrounded by an escort, drove out Of the
palace yard the people hailed him as emperor.
The Grand Duke Michael was slightly wounded.
The first announcement ST. Peter sburg had
that the work of the assassins was complete was
the firing of minute guns, the tolling of the
church bells and the hosting of the national
flag at half mast upon the dome of the Winter
palace and the turrets of the principal build
ings. A minute later and flags at half.
mast and inverted flags 1.-THE latter is the old
Russian CUSTOM were dropping from the flag
staffs ON the houses of the nobility and gentry
and court, government and municipal officials,
and the long roll of kettledrums muttered the
tale in every street At 4:30 P. NJ. an extra OF