New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-31
PLOTS or THE NIHILISTS.
CONFESSIONS OF A CONspIRAToR

PLOTS or THE NIHILIS7S.
CONFESSIONS OF A CONSPIRATOR.
LEO HARIMANN's LETTER, IN WHICH HE DESCRIBES
THE PLOT TO Br.Ow UP THE CZAR-oTHER DE
TAILS OF INTEREST.
Leo Hartmann, the Nihilist, who recently ar
rived in this country has written letter The Herald
The letter is prefaeed with Hartmann's commission
from the Executive Committee of the Russian Social
Revolution party In he ia nrusted with the OF
organizing and founding in Europe and America perma-
nent bureaus for the purpose OF disseminating Nhstc
doctrines. The commission also authorizes Hartmann to
accept pecuniary aid, u) for the purpose Of making
known Nhilistc doctrines abroad; (2) for charitable
purposes In the interior of Russia and 81 for aiding the
oppressed victims Of the Russian Government.
Harmanns letter opens with reference 70 his escape
from prison In 1875 where he had been locked up
having distributed revolutionary pamphlets He made
his way TO ST. Petersburg, among friends, and
learned OF the brutal fortunes inflicted on men and
women Hundreds OF his friends had fallen under
blows q the Government but It decided
recourse to Violence but TO continue the spread
ing Nilnstic ideas secretly and peacefully among the
people In the meantime acts of violence, emanating
from individual groups of Nihlists, hut strictly
speaking acts of the party whole, instead az exct-
ing the hatred of the agans. the organization
gained It sympathy and support not only among tho
working classes, but also among the higher and middle
ranks. This suggested the advsability OF terrorism
Early in 1879 the tortures inflicted on some
OF his comrades In st. Petersburg by the secret
police led to the conclusion that no Improvement in
public life possible long the spirit OF CARBON
survived aud long the spirit OF slavery which bid
the people obey was not shahon. The socaed reforms
OF Alexander H. Hartmann writes, had proved to be
miserable shams, and terrorism the only method OF
warfare left to the Nihsts The attempt
the life of the Car by 5ooveR caused the
of the band TO which Hartmann belonged to scatter all
over Russia and this man took up his quarters NJ vii
ase on the banks OF the volga. Delegates from St.
Petersburg brought reports him Of sympathy and the
ism became apparent A new convention OF delegates
AIRY party split in two. one faction resolved TO adopt
terrorism Immediately the other preferred to continue
gandi. In st. Petersburg the division took plnco
Congress- resolved to call on ali revouonsts to enter on
an open warfare against the Government.
THE FOURTH PLOT or ASSASSINATION.
After the Congress Hartmann remained for some time
on the Voga and he there conceived the plan OF tho
fourth attempt of killing the Gar. The plan Of the I'M
foreground mine was selected as the efficient
the purpose The terrorsia from all parts the ooun-
try met in ST. Petersburg the committee was
elected, and three OF Its members-Sopbie Perovsky
kvatkovsky Doth since put to DEATH and N'--.were
chosen an administrative council the highest military
authority IN the party. Hartmann submitted uncon-
ditonallv to all commands of the council and he was
made member OF the executive committee. He then
communicated his plan to the administrative council
and ordered 20 investigate the system of st
petersbnrg IN order to determine in whai measure II
IulPht DC used TOT mining purposes. This idea WAS
abandoned because OF the mashy tho ground
every railway line running south on wh,h the cz ~"
l might pass pass ON his way home from the Crmea
railway station aud its surrounding. tgi
available a starting point Tor mine "''s'' DC
agoyt had to was G IN st. Petersburg An
t9e OF te city, 100 feet distant from the
on or 1s po h he by which the Gar
ne Admihistratye Council resolved 70 purchase and
80 s'hin was instructed 10 go Immediately to Moscow
Ia
9aIg part NJ 80 serious business sophie Poroysky
thu &C. PetcsSg iSrres ' Sma tMS o1SSl
oesSed by nun ar nhs hq nns Ss
SSnas or h oCr a9 passed @ wife The
devised plans, and workmen secieted In the house
tunnel SO inches at its base and As inches
sn iqur Get heiSw me surface OF the ground had to
s %0rS prncpay on account OF heavy rains Finally
~ we rWay traek over which the was to travel
va. NV was iTnnd tnat che supply of on hand
burg fos eighty pounds OF the explosive Word MAS
for Moscow NovenSer 1 was pa to b G9ye spheopo
odenberg was arrested Four days later the Car was
hand Copper cylinders feet long and "reh.iS
n foot N diameter IN, We're filled with dynac and we're
To- them communicated with barn which overlooked
THE GEAR NOT KILLED
The morning the eventful day dawned Tho .
who were 10 accomplish the explosion were alone g., %
house They were Sophie Perovsky and another m,
former had TO observe the approach OF the
and to give the signal The lattsr was pos.ed IN tho
barn and had to close the galyonic choin
on hearing the signal A train approacbea
the ssgiai was given and q deaf,pn0 ronort
followed column OF earth over the bed of tho
railroad, two lifted into the air and ,voro
thrown with terrible violence into the fields below T.,
moment all was confusion The whole district seemod A
be in craze of fright. In the meantime sopbo poro
SKY and the somebody crossed the yard to It's further
ehd passed through an opening In tho railing into t,
neghboring yard then through the doorway ino n
situated OH the side OF the houses opposite To the raa
ana sauntered off quietly into the city Wher. tbnv s
tsred safe place OF c0nceamen before Drenarod Sr
thcin EIt the Gar not killed He had chen oo1
trains lew miles before he reached Moscow aud "a
had saved him for the time "i" 'hiS
Hartm nm concludes his letter by saving that oil bis
comrades III the Moscow affair were Intelligent we'll
euucated people, all former pupils of some unversitv
or technical high school. ~ ""''eis'oy
- All or us ana many thousands OF our friends - ba
writes, strcwn all over Russia passionately ard,ntv
ucscd 20 XIII the Gar. Had succeeded In dom, M
we should nave been AZ happy ana triumphant as we
were on the 18th OF March of this year. Now mt o
yourself the questionam !, NV comradcs nriynt
many who are inclined TO answer The oueson
tlVely om unable to consider either myscif or ,',
iriends the terrorsts as criminals On the contrary
,hihK we are honest men who risk and sacriace ,,r
lives for noble, honorable cause" ~ 'i"eo our
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