The Hazlehurst signal., 1884-04-10
The Cars Lift.

ut .
Among the 'forbiddcn literature now
circulating in Russia is the story OF Que
II tho most dramatic plots ever recorded
In the history Of political assassinat ou,
The narrative Is founded on events
which are said {, have taken place 10
Sc. Petersburg shortly after. GenersI
',iourko had been called from Oslesss 10
act ns quasi military Governor of the.
Russian capital. One bright May
morning. when the excitement was ~
its height, the watchful eye Of police-
nan posted M the top of the 'Nevsky.
prospect caught sight OF nm equipage
coming up the thoroughfare at q trot
Il bore armorial devices well known In,
the Russian capital; tho cpachruan Ma.
there who persisted In beng wigyyd iq
defiance Of his masters orders, TO tho
great merriment Of ST Petersburg
lehus; on each side rode the regular es-
curt Of six mounted Cossacks,l each
holding his lance In rest and wearing
his ball Of forage. sluug over 9hisi
shoulder n orr a. n he was catipuigri.
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 salutcd his chief. the new Pre-
feet of Police-turned into the cavalry
parade. at the top OF the Ncvsky pros
peci, and ut once made their way into
the Alexander Square, On the Nc'a side
of which rose the massive and some
what fantastic outlines of the win
ter palace. The enipage having
drawn mp at the side entrance of
the building, the General alighted
aud rang. On the doorkecpcr
presenting himsclf-an officer Of tho
Emperor's private guarl--ihc project
briefly stated the object Of his visit. He
desired an immc late conference with
the Car. The hour was early. day
having only Just dawncd. At the
same time his BUSINESS brooked no dc-
lay--it concerned TIM safety oi the En-.
pcror himself. The janitor was Mt first
ineNorsble, ,eNpoStu'atiD that his i'm.
prrial master had been already in bed
an hour Yet ut last he yielded. Up
the broad staircase they went together.
They trod ON gorgeous carpets, brushed
past the wealth ii tue winter palace in
ma!achitc and lspis lazuli. only pausing
in their ascent when they had reached
n landing giving access to one OF the
capacious saloons. At this point Gen
eril GonrkO was instructed to wait. At
this point. too. the Cars o'llccr seems to
have repentcd OF his decision. The mar
ratiyc represents him rs closely scrutin-
izing the ptcfec. Of lolce in the grow
ing light, and Of subsequently proceed
in. in the direction of the Emperor :
sleeping apartments, In no great haste
to arouse ROYALTY from it, first slumber.
The man did not arouse the Car ut all.
What he did was 10 descend To the
guard.roOm aud dispatch messenger.
The man left the palace on the Neva
side. He there took droshky. and
drove past the side entrance into the
Ncvsky. 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
10 the palace guards.
In n quarter ~ IN hour the messenger
returned. He had been sent Ia General
Gourko's residence. in the Nevsky pros
pect, aud he brought back the in!orma-
| ton that the Prcfcct of Police was at
that momcn, in bcd. The early visitor
was thus an impostcr. lie was soiuc-
thing more, for from his pockets, after
he had been seized and pinioncd, they
drew forth ,ix-barrclcl revolver and
u two-edgcd hunting knife. The Car =
life had been'saycd. vet had hung for n
few moments in the balance. The
ma,le-up Gourko--thc Prcfcct Of Police,
initiated down Ia the minu,c,t dc'alIs
OF hair. complexion and wig-might
have deceived even the Emperor HIM
self. Not whit less perfect was the
art which had reproduced the Gourko
coach and escort. Only the sham Pre-.
feet was secured, and not his confcdcr.
ates. simultaneously with the arrest
guards had rushed from the palace to
seize the latter. But the equipagc had
zone. the Cossacks were gone, the
coachman was gone. Apoliccman after
ward told how he had seen the caval.
c:.le pass over one Of the Ncva bridges
aud disappear in thoroughfarc of
Basil Island. The carriage was never
found. and. for all that could be asccr-
tanned concerning them or their stccds.
the siN 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 failcl in his impcr.
sona,ion of General Gourko because of
his inability to be in two places at one
and the same time time, his personality
has never been discovered. He il the
one mystery which the Nihilists them
selves have never been able to penc-
tratc. His secret remains with him,
and he keeps II TO the present moment,
for he is still prisoner in The island
fortress Of Peter and Paul.-N l. Her
I'D.