Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-14
Sketch of the Dead Emperor.

Emperor, who has fallen q victim at last to the
Nlhiiists, by whom he has so often been threat
ened, was the son OF the car Nicholas and
Alexandria Feoderovna Originally Cnarlotte),
a sister OF Frederick William w and William
l., OF Prussia. born April 20, ISIS. From the
cradle he was the object OF the most tender love
by both OF his parents Great care was taken
In his education, which was supervised by his
father until General FredericS, and afterwards
General Kavelin became his tutor. He received
instruction mainly from native Russians unlike
Alexander l. and his father, VINO were edu-
Gated by foreigners. On his 23d birthday he
was married to Maria AIeXandroVna daughter
OF the Grand Duke OF Hesse Darmstadt born In
1924. 1t was purely love match, the young
prince having made his own choice among
host OF German prnCeSses, and from the age OF
Is he was admitted by his rather to study the
dl1llcult task or governing the empire by attend
ing at all the sttings OF The ministers with the
Emperor; and when, in 1St6, Nicholas resided
ItT several months in Italy, he delegated to his
son all bis vast powers On the I'd OF March,
ls55, he mounted the throne at most critical
moment Tur Russia. His father, Nicholas had
left the country engaged siUgle- handed In a
var against England, France Turkey and Sar-
DINA with Austria as positive enemy. For
year Alexander unti!nchtngly continued the
strife. Sebastopol was taken in September.
1855, but the allies Won nothing more and the
Russian resistance continued. During the en-
sulEg winter the Neutral German states offered
mediation, and an armistlce was agreed upon
In March, 1856, and September I, 1856
Alexander was sOleInnly crowned at MOSCOW.
After that he relaxed the lines drawn TO the
utmost tension by bis predecessor. He began
with emancipating the nation from the military
routine which permeated every branch of the
government. He reorgaDZed the army, dis
solved the greater part of the military colonies
freed public instruction from military disci-
pline;and, instead OF placing discharged officers
as tutors and professors at the mead OF the ed
ucational establishments, appointed men fitted
by special studies for those positions. AT the
same time, the censorship or the press was re-
laSP0 ESOinn4pp Dr0hfAifad IA
corruption feTreted out and exposed. He ad-
Vanced young men in the public service, gave
new impulse to Internal industry and trade, and
aided the development OF the commercial
marine by encouraging merchants to extend
their trade with foreign countries. He annulled
the impediments which prevented Russians
eral amnesty to political onenders-Poles and
misunderstanding the eXlleS from Siberia
and allowed fuglt1ves to return. He inaugurated
vast system OF internal improvements by the
OF reform was 1.-THE emancipation OF the serfs,
which he had resolved upon in his earliest
manRood n1ald orcb bher emancipation was de,
out ot0 wsn 'h the So ooSng SS apa Two cgeasa aea
In 1865 he commenced a war with Turkestau.
and after resistance Of eighteen months the
Ameer was conquered, his army dispersed and
the city OF Samarcand occupied Dy the russian
troops. In March, 1867, while persevering in
his steady progress OF annexation in Central
Asia. the Car divested himself OF his foothold
on the American continent by the sale OF
Alaska to the United States for seven million
dollars. During the Franco German war While
Paris was besieged, the Car notified the
powers that he no longer considered himself
which limited his rights IN the Black Sea. This
led to the conference held in London early 10
ISL, when the parties to the treaty consented
TO It's modification, In compliance with the
Cars wishes. The expressions OF the Turks
upon the Christian population Of Herzegovina
and Bosnia caused revolt In 1876 and Russia
Instituted war that lasted for two years, and
resulted In the defeat OF Turkey and large
accessions to the Russian territory. On the 81
OF March, 1850, Alexander celebrated the 25th
anniversary OF his ascension to the throne with
most imposing ceremonies.
HIS FAMILY
-, Alexander had large family BY the Czarlna
Maria Alexandrovna. Their eldest son, Nlcho-
Las. born september 20, lS43 died at Nice In
April 1865, shortly after obtaining his majority.
Alexander, the second son, who now becomes
the Car, was born March TO- 1S45, and married
November g. 1885, the Princess Marie Sophia
Frederique Dagmar, OF Denmark. His younger
brother, the Grand Duke Alexis, visited the
United States In 1871, and was royalty enter.
ta1ned In many OF the larger Cities. The late
Cars union with the CZarlna, though originally
love match, had most unhappy ending. The
unfaithfulLess Of her husband ana his notorious
liason with the Princess Dolgorourki caused a
separation. On the Sd OF June 1880, the Czarina
breathed her last. and On the 18th OF october
following Alexander married the Princess Dol
golonrki, who was already the mother or several
children by him.
PREVIOUS ATTEMTTs ON HIS LIFE
The first attempt upon the Life of Alex
anoer was made On the 10Th OF April,
1866, by a workman named Dimitri Kara
kozoI, who fired at him when he was
entering q carriage at st. Petersburg. The
pistol was, however, turned aside by peasant
named Komis arOff, WHO Was ennobIed as q
reward for his action. The second attempt
BereZoWski Pole 1t occurred on the 9Th OF
June, when the Car and his two sons were
seated In carriage with the Emperor Napo-
leon. the assassin 1red Into the carriage, and
was about to repeat the shot when the pistol
burst In bis hands and disabled him. The oc-
cupants of the csrriage were unhurt. but the
horse OF one OF the equerrieS was wounded. At
ABOUT O'Clock on the morning OF the 18th OF
April, 1879, as the Car was taking his custom
airy walk, respectfully dressed man, wearing
military hat and cockade, rapidly approached
MIN, and as he did so, put his hand In his over
coat pocket, end drawing revolver fired four
shots In rapid succession, none of which took
effect. He was seized by the people, but before
ne submitted to arrest, again fired his pistol,
slightly Wound1ng by -Stander In the cheek,
On receiving the Congratulations Of the officials
OF the empire at noon, the Emperor said: "Ths
is the third time God has saved me-" The
name of the assassin was Solovieff. who, after
a brief trial, was convicted and executed.
Another attempt on the LIE OF the Gar was
MADE near Moscow on the night OF the 1st OF
December, 1879. The imperial train was fol-
ioneu w duOtutT UedTIEB Luo baggage Tne
latter train was mistaken for the one contain
Ing the Emperor and when 1t reached point
near MOSCOW mine under the track was
sprung, blowing one van to pieces and throw
Ing seven cars of the track. Fortunately, no
cody was hurt. The mine under the track was
connected by means OF wires with building
near the railroad, and it was thence the elec-
tric current was sent which caused the eXplO-
sion. The most disastrous attempt to Kill the
Car, SO far as the loss OF human life was con.
cerned, occurred IN the winter palace on the
18th OF February, 1880. The Emperor and i'm
perial family were about entering the dining
hall OF the palace, when a tremeD dous expl0-
sion under the principal guard-rOom occurred,
exiting u1shiDg the gas and sending timbers,
stones, &C, IN every direction. Fortunately.
neither the Emperor nor any OF his attendants
were injured, but eight soldiers OF Finland
regiment, on duty in the palace, were killed
outright and forty-f1ve more or less wounded.
One report had 1t that at the time OF the explo-
sion the Car was In the apartment of the
Princess Dolgorourk1, whom he afterwards
married. and was just about to repair to the
dining hall. At the time Of the explosion the
CZarlna lay sick In the palace, and on account
OF her critical condition the news of the at
tempt on her husbands life was carefully kept
from her.
David Howell, a station agent at Colchester
Ill, on the Chicago, Burlington ana Quincy
railroad, has dtSapD60r0d with A10 OOl