The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-20
SLAIN BY RUSSIAN SPIES.
AN EXCITING INCIDENT OF THE
RUSSIAN spy sYsr EM.

ratkow Relates the True Story
Never Before Printed in an Amer.
can Newspaper OF the Staying of
the Russian Gen. Silverstoff and
It's Revenge on American Soil.
Co.ntess Marathon in Neto York Advertiser
The anniversary OF the Russian emper.
or's remarkable escape from death in the
railway accident" near Borki, Oct. II,
1855, was commemorated recently in the
churches throughout Russia by the cslebra-
ton Of the "Te Deuni" In memory of tina,
disaster, in which the imperial train va.
demolished, though the car and bis family
escaped unhurt, there have been erected
over 700 churches and chapels and nearly
5000 crucifxes.. lamps, clocks and images.
This anniversary recalls one OF the mos,
startling tragedies Of modern times-ao cpl
sode in recent Russian history, of which the
true facts have never yet been given TO En-
glish readers. ] refer to the shooting OF
Gen. Silverstoff in Paris spd TO the mystic
rious and trsgic death in Texas of his assas
sin. Stanislau Padlewski. Biographical
sketches Of these conspicuous figures in Rus
sian affairs are published in late issue OF
the Noroe Vremya, together with much in.
terssting Information concerning the events
which led up to the sad results. The article
Is from the pen Of political celebrity who
claims to have been known intimately to
both of the victims, and to whom l am
indebted for most of the facts which follow.
The incident am about to relate serves
to emphasize the unerring Nemesis which
nature employs In working out her re-
cfHik llUa az z rNfk 10
apparent fatalism the world has not seen
for many decades.
1t has been stated that the Borki disaster
was attributed by the car 60 accidental
causes, yet immediately after the explosion
ne gave imperative orders to the chief Of
the secret police that the authors of this at
tempt on his life must be discovered and
punished at all hazards" Accordingly
Gen. Silverstoff was appointed leader Of
the spies who were thus commissioned. He
was then on the retired list of the army, an
ex-governor of PenZa and owner Of many
large estates in the province of Tula, Tam
bof and Saratoff. He owned also anumber
Of factories. in which over 5000 men were
employed.
Michael Silverstoff was O terror to the
nihiliets. as he was known to be an expert
SPY. From the time of his appointment as
deputy chief OF the gendarmes the Russian
revolutionists met with many failures, in
Guiding their dynamite attempt in Paris in
1890. The Terrorist" branch of the nj
hilists, therefore, resolved TO ''movs" him.
as they did Strelnikof, Miezentzoff, Saydi-
kin, and many other high government
officials.
In the course Of his investigation Silver
stof received an inkling of certain facts
which took him hastily to Paris, where he
engaged suite of rooms at fashionable
hotel. He gave strict orders to bis Finnish
servant, Kof. to keep the door locked and to
admit no one not personally known to the
general. About noon on the day of the lat
ter's death his valet informed him that a
stranger had called with letter from NJ
Bernoff, proprietor OF the Salon Francois
Russo.
Suspicious OF even the most trifiing incl
dents, SilVerstof refused to see the visitor,
but.directed Kof to obtain the letter if pos
sible ana bring it TO his master at once
Tho stranger gave the letter to the servant
and it was delivered Immediately. It was q
polite invitation to the general TO visit the
salon, whore, 1t was alleged, sons of the
bellies Of the French capital were DESTROYS
of entertaining him. Seeing the familiar
signature of IL. Bernoff, SilversGoff ordered
his valet 70 admit the messenger while he
wrote reply.
On entering the apartment the stranger
introduced himself as Stauislau Paddle wsk,
when. according to the contemporary report
OF the government organ in St Petersburg
the following brief dialogue took place be-
tween the chief Of the SPIES and the distin-
gushed revolutionist:
''As you see, my young friend" began
the generai~sI am old; yet pretty women
are mad about ms because h4ve plenty Of
money. Here in this bureau / have bonds
representing over l.C00, 900 francs, besides
$1,000 francs in cash. My annual income
from my Russian estates is over 1000, 900
ru, les. 0, yes; the reports concerning my
wealth are not exaggerated. my friend ~
Il congratulate you, general" replied
Pedlewski.
Young man how much do you earn as
an employee of NJ. Bernoffs And would you
not accept more profitable employment II 1t
were rendered you?" ...-...
al earn very little indsed, sir; and |
should certainly feel very grateful to any
one who would offer me better situa-
tion.n ...... ... --.,,..
That being the case, my young friend. l
think l can provide you with a more re-
muperattve occupation. All you will have
TO do is TO report to me. concerning all that
goes on at Bernoff's' and to assist in shad-
owing Russian immigrants in Paris. For
this you will receive" .--..>......-
AT this point the generals remarks were
interrupted by the report OF pistol, the
contents of which struck him IN the left
temple, killing him Instantly.
With the smoking revolver in his hand,
Padlswski stood motionless for fsw mo-
ments. expecting that Kof would soon ar
rive with the police 10 arrest him. But as
the faithful" valet was amusing himself
with the servants in the hotel basement, he
did not hear the shot. AS no one attempted
TO enter the room, Psdlewskf proceeded 70
rifle the tureau OF the official documents
which it contained. Among the valuable
papers which had been collected by Silver
stoH and his assistants were q number con-
tanning the plans and methods OF the spy
and his government. and covering many
years OF service.
Leaving the hotel unobserved, Padlewski
hired cab and directed the driver to raks
him to the homo of his friend-Duc d'Aue-
rey-s well known French socialist. Un-
fortunately, however, the duke was not At
home but realizing the necessity OF imme-
oiate action, the nihilist consulted with his
friends wife, stating the case unreservedly
70 her. The woman determined to save him
from the police and accordingly concealed
MIN in her house for three days. at the end OF
which period it became obvious that Padlew-
xxi must remain no longer in Paris. There
upon Nine. d'Auerey consulted with her
friend Nine. Severine, the author OF sew
eral books of a revolutionary character. II
was decided to seek the aid Of NJ. LsbrenyeT
OF the French ministry, who readily con-
sented TO assist Padlswski In effecting his
escape from France.
Taking advantage Of his reputation as an