The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-31
How Alexander III Was Killed.

J. K. Muddock. in the Gentleman's Ms agazine.
The night before the eventful day the con-
spirators worked all through the hours Of dark
ness to complete their preparations, and day
light dawned on the dreary winter morning ev-
erythine was ready and each man was told off
to his respective position. Sophie Peroffskaya
drew plans of the routes and marked the spots
where the conspirators were to wait; and she
herself arranged to take up a conspicuous posi-
ton, and to signal the Emperor's approach. She
took under her especial charge two men named
Reesakof and Elnikof. The latter was quite a
young man, and is said to have been infatuated
with her beauty and ready to do her lightest
bidding. 1t was these two men who actually
committed the deed. On the signal being
given by Sophie, Reesakoff threw the first bomb.
1t exploded with tremendous report, Slightly
wounding the horses, partly shatter ing the car
riage. and killing on the spot the Cossack foot
man who rode behind. The coachrnan uu-
hurt and he implored his Majesty not to alight.
saying he would drive him safe to the palace.
But the Emperor was greatly alarmed. and in
sisted on getting out AS soon as he alighted,
Elnikof. who was only a very few yards away:
threw his bomb with so true aim that il fell
at the Cars feet. but, strangely enough, though
the force of the explosion was tremen-
dous, men VINO We're standing many
yards away being knocked down by it,
while hinge hole plowed in the
ground the Emperor was not killed outright, but
both he and his assassin fell to the ground ter
ward, but his Majesty fingered in dreadful
agony for several hours. His lower limbs and
part of the abdomen were torn and shattered to
pieces. and it is truly marvellous that he sur
viyed long. The rest of the gha5tly story is
well known. Of the two women aud eight men
who were subsequently, proven to have taken an
active part in the tragedy of the men
(Sablin) shot himself. Elnikof was killed by
the explosion of the bomb, two brothers tKoho-
zeffs) escaped, and the other four men and the
two women were brought to trial and
sentenced to be hanged, which sentence
was duly carried out on the 10Th of April, ex-
cept in the of Hessa Helfmann, who was
repriev red account of being with child. None
OF the conspirators showed any remorse for the
parent sign of fear. The extraordinary meas
ures that taken Immediately after the
Cars assassination prevented the other part of
the conspirators programme from being carried
1t bitter disappointment to them,
for nothing was altered, nothing changed. The
Car was no sooner dead than the cry was raised
of Long live the Czari" and the dropped
crown of Alexander IL was immediately
taken up by Alexander III. For the time being
Nihilism was scotched, but not killed. From
the blow it then received it has long since
ered and is now stronger than ever, and the Da-
moclean sword that so long swung over the head
of Alexander III swings now over the head of his
successor and the Nihists are sworn to ''exe-
cute" him If the opportunity occurs But the
tragedy OF 1881 taught the authorities a lesson,
and the looked-for opportunity may be a long
men and women who will stop at nothing,
shrink from nothing that will enable them to
degenerate their country" 1t may be am
bilious dream but those who dream it are per-
'suaded that the time is fast approaching when
the dream will be fulfilled.