The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-11

the murder was done by the women Win
their own hands, and in eacn case, also, a
wholesale purgation OF the harem followed,
dozens or women, suspec ed OF completely IN
dnmnad 1m leto 0 sbs INTO ,r ars snI-
tans We're strangled in their own rooms as
the result of conspiracies among officials, at
not including the three whose fate has al
ready been mentioned as doubtful, and VINO
probably died through the same agency; one
died from a love potion administered by
concubine; four were smothered in bed by
their guards, who heaped pillows over their
heads and held them down; seven were
stabbed 10 death by their attendants; one
was shot in his garden, one was beheaded,
one was thrown into well in the palace
yard. and one was put to death by opening
his veins and allowing the blood TO flow I'M
til life became extinct.
A CONSIDERABLE MONARCH
The kings and princes of the peninsula OF
Hindostan have not Jared better than
their brethren of Persia and Turkey. There
are preserved In the annals of the native
kingdoms and principalities OF Hindostan
the names OF Isl potentates, and a striking
illustration Of the dangers attending the
business Of sovereign in that quarter of
the world Is seen in the fact that of this
number 142 died by violence in one
form or another. 1t was so habitual
that they came to expect 1t and to consider
that 1t was only a question Of time when
they would fall by the dagger or poison OF
they contemplated their approaching fate
is shown by a will, made by a Rajah OF
the last century, who in this document first
named his successor and carefully provided
against any disorders that might occur at
his death by commanding that as soon as
he had been murdered his successor should
distribute a large sum of money among the
guards and troops TO keep them faith
full. He then proceeded to tell what punish
ments he desired to have melted out to his
III
commanded that this one should be fayed
alive, very slowly, beginning at his feet,
and If possible, the process continuing for
was to be fiayed, the other boiled alive; If
three, the third was to be nailed to a post
by his hands and feet and left to die; the
cher high as his chin, his head being
left out; the fifth was to be whipped to
the sixth to be hung up by the the
and wasps would worry him to DEATH the
seventh to be tied by the feet to the tail of
a buffalo and dragged about Whether the
Rajah's inventive genius gave out at this
point Is uncertain. but he certainly con-
templated the possibility of a greater num-
Der being concerned in his murder when 1t
occurred. for he commanded that addi-
tional culprits should be paired off with the
seven provided for. and also that the pun
ishments should be public, that all shops
and business places should be closed in
order that the people might have leisure to
attend and bless the. memory of their late
to privde so much entertainment for them
after his murder.
THE GEARS.
The business OF governing the Russian
empire Is not quite so deadly as the jobs of
a reigning Sultan or Shah, but still it is
about as dangerous as working in powder
mill. nearly one-half Of the rulers of the
Muscovite empire. since the time of Ruric.
in A. d. $50. having died at the hands Of
the assassin. The pathetic death of the Car
Alexander from the Nihilist bombs in 1881 is
still fresh in the public mind. but the most
brutal assassination before, in modern
times. at least, was that of the Car Paul, in
1901. There is little doubt that he was in
sane, for months before his murder he had
been acting in a manner so arbitrary and
devoid of reason that his conduct became
matter or comment even outside the court.
And the people in the streets OF ST. Peters
burg told one another that the Car was
crazy. and cited tales of his doinss to con-
firm the statement. A conspiracy was
formed to depose him in behalf of his son,
afterward the Car Alexander WHO entered
with great heartiness into the plot when
ordered his arrest. and would undoubtedly
put him to death. The officers of the city
garrison were. all in the plot, and towards
midnight on March "A, 1901. all the troops in
the city were put under arms, strong force
was marched 10 the palace, where the
guards. who were. in sympathy with the
out firing shot or drawing a sword a body
OF officers, the leaders in the conspiracy
entered the palace and penetrated to the pri-
vate rooms or the Gar. The sentinel at the
door was ordered aside. but refused to move.
upon which three four officers threw
themselves on him and took away his gun.
rose In bed just as the conspirators en-
tered the room. They presented him an
abdication,. and demanded that he should
instantly sign it; but instead of complying
or even or answering, he made an effort to
reach table at the head of his bed, upon
when lay case of pistols. He was seized
ana thrown back on the bed; half a dozen
men neld him, while an officer of the I'M
per1al Guards, of gigantic stature
and strength, strangled him with his hands
IL is said that Alexander was Mortified on
hearing of the death OF his father; but as
he was the head of the conspiracy, and
profited most by the murder. he said moth
ing; the public were told that the Car had
died OF apoplexy. and Alexander quietly as
cended the vacant throne.
OUR SAXON FOREFATHERS.
Murder was SO common among our Saxon
ancestors as to be a matter of almost ev-
eryday occurrence, and so attracted no
great amount of attention save among those
Immediately interested. They were a hardy.
Independent people, who did not permit
themselves to be lorded over to any great
extent, so that the establishment of a des-
potic dynasty was impossible. The mobiles,
too. considered themselves of almost equal
rank and dignity with the king, who, in
fact, had generally been Of their own num-
Der before his elevation, and whom they fire.
quently reminded OF the fact. They did not
wait for him to establish an absolute form
or government, but as he showed
signs OF such an intention they promptly
Killed him, and SCI up his son or some one
else In mis- stead. 1t would be reasonable to
suppose that, after few experiences Of this
kind, the Saxon monarchs would be little
careful in what they said and did,
learned BY the experience Of their prede-
cessors. and went on trying to domineer
and getting killed for their pains, until by
the general spread Of civilization, they ac-
quired intelligence along with other peo-
pie. They were not worse than their SUBJ
by treachery was so common that no man
trusted his neighbor. Every one has
heard of ''pledging a health" but compara-
lively few know that the origin of this Gus
one could trust even those with whom he
sat at the table and when every man was
continually on his guard against the sword
or dagger of the assassin. When the Sax
ons Toasted an indispensable part of the
table equipment was a huge flagon. con-
| tanning several gallons. and having two han
| dies, like an Etruscan vase. 1t was passed
around the table, and each guest In turn
| rose and drank the health OF the host and
| company. He was obliged to stand; the
| 1t with both hands, and as he drank his
| head was thrown back, his face was COW
cred with the opening of the great vase
| and he was peculiarly exposed to the thrust
OF a sword or dagger. In order that he
might drink with security, some personal
/ sword in hand, and stood by his side until
| he had drank his fill. A people with such