The Labor enquirer., 1886-02-27
cHATOoRINE.
History Of the Attempt to Blow
Up the Cars Winter Pal
ace in February, 1880.
Patiently Working asa Mechanic,
While Watching and Prepar-
ing the Dynamite Mine.


The Russian Czars Must Not be Left to
Think That the Workmen are
Cowardly and Ignorant.
[Chatoorine was hanged at Odessa. on
March 5, 1882
Translated by NJ. S. wahrhaftig,l
Up to 1879 Chatoorlne was known by
his work in the propaganda and organi-
zation of the laboring classes at st.
Petersburg. and in that respect he was
regarded asa most energetic and able
member. He appeared as Revolutionist
in 1873 and in 1878 he was very popular
among the workmen. under an assumed
name, Stepan, because Of his several at
tempts at organization on a large scale.
Fhe Northern workmen's union, founded
by him, numbered its members by the
hundreds, and though it did not hold
long it demonstrated, however, q colos-
sal attempt at pure labor organization.
Not less was he known for his attempt
to publish strictly labor paper. Its
printing Office was established on the
means and bY the assistance of q work
mems group. The staff of both the
printing and editorial offices also con-
sisted of working people only. Unfor-
tunately the paper with the printing
material was confscated almost before
the first number was completely issued,
and nothing was left but the memory of
an attempt at the publication of a
strictly labor paper; an attempt which
has never been repeated since.
Under the influence of such failures
and the hardship of accomplishing any
thing, while the imperial police kills the
slightest labor movement at the very
moment it makes its appearance, Chat
oorine determined to protest against it
by taking the life Of the czar. There is
no doubt that such a thought came to.
him as independently as in the case of
Solovieff Changed May %, 1879, old style,
for shooting at Alexander IL, March I4).
True, that thought was also enter
tanned by manv others. Alexander III.
must be killed by workman" said
Chatoorine 'the Russian czars should
not think that the workmen are towards
and do not know their true value in the
nation" He thought, that the czars
preying upon the Russian nation, ought
to perish from the hand of one out of the
midst of that nation. It is believed that
he consulted with some working people.
Chatoorlne himself always claimed that
he worked thus by order of some labors
circle. Whatever the start may have
teen, In the fall of 1879 he appeared be-
fore the executive committee, offered
his services and put forward plan Of
action. halfof which he had already ac-
complished.
+. Having determined to kill the czar.
Chatoorine was planning way of get
ting at him. As skilled carpenter and
a man of large acquaintance among the
working people of st. Petersburg, Chat
oorine had no difficulty in finding his
way into shops, palaces, cloisters and
barracks. After some research he actu-
ally found his way to yacht of the
car. undertaking the "fxing up" and
vanishing. Chatoorlne had great rep
utation as ,varnisher and composer of
different kinds Of varnish. While there
he once met a member of the Imperial
family, probably the czar himself, but
all he aimed at was only to recommend
himself, as a good and skilled mechanic
and then get employmentin in the Winter
Palace. OF course those who recon.
mended him knew nothing of his being
an illegal person those who live under
assumed names are so called in Russia)
and Revolutionist. Having succeeded
in that, Chatoorine, as before said, ap.
peared before the executive committee,
offering to blow up the Winter Palace
and probably the whole imperial family.
OF the executive committee he asked
only some information and supply of
dynamite. As at that time the execu-
tive committee had under consideration
several plans to the same effect, Chatoo-
rine's offer was accented, and it was also
agreed to have the explosion at the pal
ale accompanied by many other events.
1t happened the reverse however.
Chatoorine entered the palace about
October, 1879, and,availed himself Of all
opportunities of finding out what was
going on in that world that was so new
to him. The czar was at Lyvadia then
and the palace. therefore, was rather free
from the usual restrictions and espoin-
age. The habits and customs in his new
surroundings astonished him. He was
first struck by the total absence Of order
in management. The disorder among
the servants and their wholesale indul-