River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-09-30
The Trap for Alexander


Pesther Lloyd: Some gentlemen
who were passing the Princes palace
about , o'clock in the morning met a
body of troops marching toward the
konak. Soon after they heard shrill
cries of agony and despair breaking
the silence of the night. After this all
was silent again. Several of the
palace guards had been murdered. and
their colleagues then surrended,
finding themselves too weak
too offer further resistance. Al: the
entrances and staircases of the palace
were occupied by the troops, and the
conspirators were then able to enter
the palace. The Prince Friday morn
ing received an anonymous letter
communicating all the details Of the
plot against him, but with his generous
disposition he could not believe
that his soldiers would turn
traitor and be disregarded the
warning He showed the letter TO his
brother, Prince Francis Joseph, and
several gentlemen, and then threw it
into the waste-paper basket. None of
them entertained any real suspicion,
although Sophia was denuded of troops,
except one battalion from Kustendii
and two companies of cadets, who
joined in the conspiracy. The whole
of the Sophia garrison was sent to
Sllynitza on the strength of cOntiden-
tial reports to the Bulgarian Govern
ment, announcing that it was the in
tention os ServIa shortly to attack Bull
garia, matter about which the Porte
and Servia exchanged notes. Aroused
by the shrieks of the murdered guards.
one of the palace officials and Prince
Francis Joseph proceeded to the court
yard, which they found filled with con-
spirators. Prince Alexander also
awOke, and when only half dressed
joined his brother and the other gen.
tlemen.
What is the matter?' asked the
Prince.
His mere appearance among the con-
spirat rs so overawed them that they
sdluted him. Thereupon Maj. GreUff,
Commander of the Kustendji Battalion
and two other officers stepped forward
and said to the Prince; The welt are
of Bulgaria requires that you should
abdicate.'
The Prince abruptly declined. but
Gruetf insisted, saying hat the whole
army passionately demanded the
Princes abdication, and the protection
of the Gar, whom the Prince had so
deeply offended. rueffpointed to the
cadets present as proof of his asser-
ton as 10 the feeling of the Bulge rian
troops. The facts evidently made a
deep impression on the Prince, as the
School of Cadets was his own creation.
Leaning his forehead against the win
dow, through which he could see the
troops surrounding the palace. he said
witt considerable emotion: well,
draw up your form of abdication and
[ will sign it. If am deserted by the
officers and soldiers whom | have
led to victory | have nothing further
to do here. Write whatever you like,
hut quickly,
The Prince then left the vestibule of
the courtyard where this scene took
place, and, mounting the steps to his
bedroom. on the first floor, finished
desSing himself Greuff and several
others followed the Prince to his bed
room. and placed before him the form
of abdication they hal brought with
them already prepared to the palace.
The Prince read the document in sill
ence. and with a firm hand signed it in
two line. Alexander: God save Bull
garia"' Greuff thereupon pressedf or
the immediate departure of the Prince.
who consented. only asking that he
might be accompanied by his brother.
The cOnspirators on the whole were
polite, but in addressing the Prince no
longer called him Your Highness.
but simply .'Knas'-that IS. Sir.
Walking through two heads of sol
diers, Prince Alexander was then con-
Quoted to the adjacent War Ministry,
where little later Prince Francis Jo-
seph also arrived. The two brothers
were then placed in two carriages,
each with two officers and an armed
soldier on the box, while several cIval-
~ soldiers headed the procession
toward BerkovltZa.