Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-04-11

The Cars Life.
Among the forbidden literature now
circulating in Russia is the story of one
Of the most dramatic plots ever recorded
IN the history of political assassination.
The narrative is founded on events
which are said to have taken place in
St Petersburg shortly after General
Gourko had been called from Odessa to
act as quasi Military Governor of the
Russian capital. One bright MAY
morning, when the excitement was at
its height. the watchful eye of police
man posted at the top of the Nevsky
prospect caught SIGHT of an equipage
coming up the thoroughfare at trot.
1t bore armOrial devices well known in
the Russian capital; the coachman was
there who persisted in being wigged in
defiance of his masters orders, to the
great merriment of st. Petersburg
jehus; on each side rode the regular es-
cort Of six mounted Cossacks; each
holding his lance in rest and wearing
his ball of forage slung over his
shoulder more as if he was campaign
ing on the Don than upon civil service
in the streets of the capital. General
Gourko and his escort--the guardian of
the peace had easily recognized and
hastily saluted his chief, the new Pre-
feet of Police-turned into the cavalry
parade, at the top of the Nevsky pros
pect, and at onse made their way into
the Alexander. Square, on the Neva side
of which rose the massive and some
what fantastic outlines of the win
ter palace. The e9uipage having
drawn up at the side entrance of
the building, the General alighted
aud rang. On the doorkeeper
presenting himself--an officer of the
Emperor's private guard-the project
briefly stated the object of his visit. He
desired an immediate conference with
the Car. The hour was early, day
having only just dawned. At the
same time his business brooked no de-
lay--it concerned the safety of the EN-
peror himself. The ianitor was at first
memorable. expoStu 'RtiDg that his i'm
perial master had been already in bed
an hour. Yet at last he yielded. Up
the broad staircase they went together.
They trod on gorgeous carpets, brushed
past the wealth of the winter palace in
ma'achite and lapis lazuli, only pausing
in their ascent when they had reached
landing giving access to one of the
capacious saloons. At this point Gen
eral GOurkO was instructed to wait. At
this point, too. the CZar's officer seems to
have repented of his decision. The mar
ratiye represents him as closely scrutin-
izing the prefect of police in the grow
ing light, and of subsequently proceed
ing IN the direction of the Emperor
sleeping apartments, in no great haste
To arouse royalty from its first slumber.
The man did not arouse the T. ar at all.
What he did was To descend to the
guard room aud dispatch messenger.
The man left the palace on the Neva
side. He there took a droshky, and
drove past the side entrance into the
Nevsky. During his absence the Car
calmly slept on; General Gourko i'm
patiently paced the saloon, and the
military guardian of the imperial bed
chamber went about giving some orders
to the palace guards.
In quarter of an hour the messenger
returned. He had been sent to General
Gourko's residence, in the Nevsky pros
pect, and he brought back the informa-
ton that the Project of Police was mt
that moment in bed. The early visitor
was thus an imposter. He was some
thing more, for from his pockets, after
he had been seized and pinioned, they
drew forth n siX-barreled revolver and
a two-edged hunting knife The Car s
life had been'saved, yet had hung for a
few moments in the balance. The
fnade-up Gourko--the Project of Police,
initiated down to the minutest detaiIs
of hair. complexion and wig-might
have deceived even the Emperor him.
SELF Not a whit less perfect was the
art which had reproduced the Gourko
coach and escort. Only the sham Pre-
feet was secured, and not his confeder-
ates. simultaneously with the arrest
guards had rushed from the palace to
seize the latter. But the equipage had
gone, the Cossacks were gone, the
coacaman was gone. A policeman after
ward told how he had seen the caval-
cade pass over one of the Neva bridges
and disappear in a thoroughfare OF
Basil Island The carriage was never
found, and, for all that could be ascer-
tanned concerning them or their steels,
the six Cossacks may be mounted and
riding. lance in rest, TO this day. AS
for the chief actor in the plot, the con-
spirator who only failed in his imper-
sOnation of General Gourko because OF
his inability to be in two places at one
and the same time time, his personality
has never been d iscovered. He is the
one mystery which the Nihilists them
selves have never been able to pene-
trate. His secret remains with him,
and he keeps it to the present moment,
for he is still a prisoner in the island
fortress of Peter and Paul.-N Y Her.
aid.