The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-25
THE IMPERIAL FAMILY.
'fhe Present Emperor and His Wife-The
Assassination of His Predecessor.

rfhe Present Emperor and His wife-The
Assassination of His Predecessor.
ST. Petersburg Letter.
Alexander Alexandrovitch, the third Alex
ander who has become Emperor of all the
Russas, is the eldest son of Alexander II
and the Princess Maria, daughter of the late
Grand Duke of Hesse- Darmstadt He was
born Feb. &c, 1915. As child his education
was such as might be expected, having in
view his future. He was an apt pupil, and
his knowledge of civil and military affairs is
said to be considerable. As boy he had the
, reputation of being obstinate, capricious
md bad tempered, and it was matter of dis
appointment to his future subjects when the
unexpected death Of his elder brother
placed him next to the throne. They had
always been close companions, and in 1855,
when but ten and eleven years old, respect
lively, they were taken to the death
bed of the Emperor Nicholas to
receive his blessing. Nov. g. 1866,
Alexander was married to Maria Dagmar,
Their nineteen years old, daughter of the
King of Denmark. On her rebaptsm into
the Eastern church, she received the name of
special request of Alexander's elder brother.
to whom the Princess Dagmar was first be-
throthed. To many the request seemed
hardly natural, but it has been surmised that
the dying youth remembered that Maria was
ambitious and had set her heart upon one
day being Empress. By his marriage Aler-
ander III became brother-in-law of the Prince
of Wales. The imperial pair have four chill
dren-the eldest, Nicholas, boy of 10; the
second, George, about IL, who bears a strik-
ing resemblance to the early pictures OF Alex
ander III; and two younger ones Xeni and
Michael. The Czarina has accompanied her
husband to all parts of European Russia, and
has gained the affections of the people, par
ticularly the Poles. Before the death of his
father cont adictory stories were told regard
, ing the political views entertained by the
heir apparent After his marriage he con-
ceived hearty dislike of the Germans In
1879 he came to an open rupture with his
father on the question of their common in
heritauce OF rule over IS, 900 900 of people
The Gar then informed the Czarevitch, it
was reported, that during his reign not
single constitutional experiment ought to be
made. The sons reply was that his father
had no right to compromise the future of the
dynasty by denying reforms which were de-
manded by many ministers and generals, by
the administrative senate, and most of the
army. Alexander's manner is described as
abrupt and wanting in cordially; he has
great physical powers of endurance.
March 10, 1884, Alexander III was assas-
sinated in st. Petersburg. The execution of
. the terrible plan was confided to three of the
Nmost trustworthy men in the Nihilist broth
erhood. There was a wall facing the scene
chosen for the attempt. In that wall three
inches had been contrived for watchmen to
shelter themselves when necessary. Each of
the Nihilists occupied niche. The first was
ordered to allow the Emperor and his snite
to pass. The second was to throw the first
dynamite bomb as soon as the backs of the
escort were turned. The third was ordered
to do nothing unless his eomrade should
fail. The order was faithfully executed As
soon as the Emperor and his escort passed
the second Nhilist threw his bomb. which
exploded with terrific effect killing horses
and Cossacks and blowing the Emperor's car
rage To pieces But the Gar was unhurt.
Then the first Nihilist, with his deadly
missile concealed under his armpit. forced
his way through the crowd and flung his
, bomb before the feet of the Gear, Just as the
latter had extricated himself from the wreck
of the carriage The act was both suicidal
and murde rous-a deed of assassination not
without heroism. for the Nihilist himself was
instantly killed, while the lower portion of
the Emperors body was actually blown off,
Then the third Hihilist forced his way
through the ring of Mortified spectators
lifted the shattered body of the Car and ex-
amined the victim. All this while he had
his bomb ready for use hut seeing that the
Emperor was already beyond all hone he
Aplaced the mutilated body in the hands OF
the Emperor's brother and the aides decamp
md then retiring into the crowd Disappeared
Subsequently betrayed by the woman Helf-
man, he was arrested and tried. The details