The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-12-22

~N~@-OAN
and flremen are replaced by members Of the
imperial suite and their attendants This
system, however, has proved unsatisfactory.
The recent catastrophe on the Caucasus
railway, near Borkz station, on which occa-
sion the imperial train was derailed through
mismanagement, the tar and tzarina re-
ceiving injuries while many others were
wounded and some killed, plainly showed the
impracticability of setting ''shoemakers to
make candies" At first the enraged tar
ordered all the offenders to be tried, and APP
pointed large number of different commits
sioners to investigate the matter. But he
soon softened, seeing from the reports of the
commissions that the poor fellows merely
tried to do their best, and issued his pardon
to all concerned. So much for the firm
ground and airy space protection.
A few lines on the marine protection of the
emperor will not be out Of place
OF the Russian imperial yachts, the latest
built is the Lwadia-a namesake of the i'm
perial summer palace in the Crimea- She
was built in England-it is always safer 10
trust such secrets as the designs of imperial
ironclad trains and ironclad pleasure yachts
to foreigners-in accordance with the plans
of prominent Russian admiral named Po-
poff. The principle followed in the design of
this yacht is the same as that upon which the
two men-of-war commonly known in Russia
as ''Popofkos," and forming part of the naval
squadron of the Black sea, are constructed.
The two boats-screw propelled-are true
cylinders Although their engines are very
powerful, they never venture far from the
shore, the intense heat in their holds soon
driving up the sailors to the pure air Oh deck.
But in turning round on their vertical axis
they act wonderfully quick, presenting to the
enemy gun after gun radially projecting from
their centers.
Very likely the yacht Livadia would not
have been built at all were the Popofbos of
any use to the emperor in case Of emergency.
All they were expected to do in time of peace
was to occasionally leave Sebastopol and 90
to the Livadia palace, some thirty miles or
so distant, and anchor there, but they failed
to do even this in times of peace, while dur
ing the Russo-Turkish war they rested undis-
turbed in the harbor of Sebastopol. A COM
pany of Russian merchants-commissari
contractor-requeSted the government to
lease them the Popofkos, intending TO trans
form them into flour mills, but the PROPOSE
ton was not entertained. Unlike the Popof-
kos. the yacht Livadia is more vessel like in
shape, its length being slightly greater than
the width. 1t is more like ferry boat.
However, the intention to give her the great
est maneuvering ability was far from being
neglected in her design.
To turn round quickly was one of the prin-
cipal objects of the designer, only that those
waters being much more dense than the air,
the ship ma rally could not turn round and
face the enemy with its narrow side, as could
a man. The yacht was lavishly decorated, at
an immense expense, and, though internally
provided with ironclad chambers and case
ments for the safety of the imperial traveller,
she proved an unseaworthy vessel, and on her
maiden trip to the Black sea she nearly went
to the bottom before reaching Gibraltar
Ere long, with the first sign of the emper-
| or's intention to start on his yearly trip to
Copenhagen, the crew, marines and officers
OF the selected man-of-war are surrounded by
horde of detectives, watching and following
everywhere the unfortunate tars-men in
whose fidelity to the cause of their country
no doubt is entertained. But they are
searched and subjected to all the indigni-
ties which in Russia are inseparable from
suspicion.
The presence of the tzar or one Of his fam
ily in foreign city affects first, and most of
all, his own subjects who may be residing
there. The governments of France, Ger
many and Denmark have repeatedly expelled
those of them who seemed to be suspicious,
and instituted a vigilant watch over the
others. But the government of England
never consented to resort to such means, not
withstanding the threats and intimidations
which the secret agents of the tar lavishly
employed to scare the English police.
Some six years ago, while brother of the
present emperor of Russia was visiting Eng
land, Russian secret agent residing in
London named Troghaine resorted to de
vice calculated to excite public opinion
against some nihilist refugees among
them-who were at this time in London.
Troghaine placed q dynamite cartridge on
the line of the Great Western railway, which
was discovered just before the grand duke
passed over the road. Troghaine fed from
London to the continent, leaving behind all
his effects. A few moments delay would
have placed him in Blackwell prison, for the
Scotland Yard authorities had already proofs
discriminating him.
A few years before this occurrence, Rus
sian secret agents resident in Paris went so
far as to establish secret factory for coun-
succeeded in duplicating number of Polish
refugees, and then escaned to their homes,
not, however, until the French, Belgian and
Swiss detectives were at their heels. But al
such acts are mere variations CT one and the
same principle of despotic rule in Russia. 1t
places the personal interests of the tar above
all others to the exclusion of decency, hon
esty and all those elements in human nature
which distinguish a man of principle from
rogue. Was not Alexander of Bulgaria kid
mapped by order of the Russian tar! Was
it not the Russian tar who issued secret or
ders to his representatives in Bulgaria to
murder Prince Alexander if he could not be
Kidnapped
However, the interests of Russian absolut-
ism required this measure-it was measure
of defense. Still no one can say that the
ways and means employed for the defense of
the tzar's person are exhausted. There is
yet large field for invention before the
tzar's officials Experience may suggest new
means and thus further block the machina-
tions of the nihilists. Even l could suggest
some good ideas, although lam of somewhat
different inclinations. If my countryman,
Capt. Zalinsky, invented dynamite gun, he
is Just the man to invent q superior arrnor
for the ironclads to make the gun useless. 1t
is nearly the same case with me. would
suggest Chat a new imperial train of car
riages be built in England and covered from
above with American bed springs, elevated
one foot or so above the roof of the car.
When covered with American mattresses
they will the easier repel any bullets and bal
looms that may descend from above.
1.Eo HAR-MAE