The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-01-20

Affair. "."
BERLIN, Jan. 10.-Berlin society is dis.
cussing St. Petersburg scandal, to
which no ono, ,daros to refer openly.
Most OF the fifty or moro principals are
Russians, but few Of them are aristo-
cratic Germans, some OF them the high.
est otlicinls.
The St. Petersburg police recently in
formed tho Car that many men in his
councils and in Russian official life at
tended frequent Nihilistic meetings ut Il
mansion in fashionable street. These
gatherings wero peculiar for tho largo
number OF foreign diplomatists, espe-
cially Germans, who went to them.
Tho visitors arrived between 0 and Il p.
m. and straggledl away at 8 or 4 o'clock
III the morning. The police watched
the house four weeks before they re-
ceivcd orders to raid it. They wcro
then sure that tremendous Nihilistic
plot was Matching and force OF 200
police was called out TO make it sure
that not Il single participant escaped.
Tho police were supported by four COM
panies OF soldiers within call and were
directed BY General Gresser and small
bodyof detectives. Tho house in which
the meetings were held was surrounded
last Monday night by this little body at
midnight, when the usual number OF
visitors had been seen to enter GEN
cral Grcsser, who had carried the pass
word, gained admittancc to the closed
vestibule. He was closely followed by
his detectives.
BROKE UP A SCENE OF REvELRY.
The oorkcepcr was thrown down and
gagged, the inner door was smashed
with an ax, and with drawn revolvers
the detectives and policemen, led by
General dresser, burst through. They
were astounded to find themselves, in
stead OF in the sombre proceedings OF q
revolutionary meeting, at the open en-
trance OF n brilliant ballroom, filled
with music and flowers and CAV with
national colors. Some forty men and
women i'll light, flowing Grecian cos
tunes, were dancing. At small tables
in the corners half-intoxicated couples
drank champagne, and in small, private
rooms at the back several more couples
were found dining and drinking freely.
10 the mutual surprise and dismay OF
General Gresser and his officers the
fifty or sixty persons participating in
the orgies were found to be men and
women in the highest st. Petersburg
society. Several OF the women were
known to be received with favor at
court, and among the men were Russian
officers OF high rank and representa-
tives OF foreign legations in the capital.
To relieve the mutual embarrassment
temporarily, General Gresser took the
names and official titles OF all the men
and official titles OF tie husbands OF all
the women, and then hustled everybody
out OF the house. No prisoner was
taken to jai! by the police. All, how
ever received the next day patcrnal ad-
monitions or cuffs, according to his
greater or less enjoyment OF imperial
favor, from the Gar Alexander.
| lio" THE PARTICIPANTS ENTERED.
The fashionable house at which the
orgies were held was found to be owned
by a Russian Jew, who rented it to the
principals, as the debauchers were DO
litely termed. The police had been de-
ceived as to the nature OF the gather.
ings there by the fact that every at.
tendant entered in male attire, for a
rule OF the society was that, for the sake
| OF safety, the women must come in
coats and trousers. Each carnival was
devoted to the initiation OF the dress
and customs OF a particular nation. On
the night OF the raid everything was
Grecian.
General Gresser went to the Car
with his report in the expectation that
his sovereign would be relieved and
pleased by the explosion OF the theory
OF dynamite plot, The Gar, however
was in rage when he heard details OF
the corruption prevalent among the
noblemen i'll his army. The result OF
tho examination OF the names sub.
mittcd by General Gresscr was that
many Russian officers and officials were
transferred to places in the provinces
and that two secretaries OF legation
were compelled to take long vacations.
Two married women who participated
in the Grecian night have been ex-
cluded from court and another lett the
city before she was asked to co. is
\ list OF the Germans involved in the
scandal was sent by tho Car to En-
pcror William and the hope was ex-
pressed in the Cars accompanying let
ter that hcoifenders would be punished
severely. An inquiry will be made into
the St. Petersburg matter and into the
night lie OF the Berlin officials, whom
the emperor suspects OF being immoral,
as he has shown in several communica-
tons and remarks to commanders of
garrisons in large cities.