The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-09-20

! FALSE DEMETRIUS
xAAA&&AAAAAA&AA&A&AA&A&&AS

terest, success and kingly attributes Of the
many 'preten6ers' who in times past have
endeavored to seize the crown Of Russia
stands Dimitri Ivanovitch-or, as he has
variously been called, "the young Deme-
trius'' and "Demetrius the 1mpostor. I"
For centuries his identity was as much q
mystery as was that Of "tho Man In the
Iron Mask, the author of "Junius" and
many other historical enigmaA Recent
research, however, has completely demon
strated tho falsity Of his pretensions and
yet has stSmped him as the most success
full, the most daring and the most capable
sdventurer that History can point to-
Ivan the Terrible, having in q fit Of pas
sion slain his eldest son with his own hand,
left the throne by will to his second son,
Feodor, q weak and incapable prince, who
soon fell under the domination Of his
mothers brother, Boris Godunov. OF
1van's second marriage an infant son still
survived, bearing the name Of Dimitri
and who, failing issue of Feodor, was next
in succession to the throne. In 1891 it was
suddenly announced that young Demetri-
us had committed suicide in the town of
Uglitch and that the persons responsible
for his safety had persisted in the tumult
that followed his death.
Seven years after Feodor died and Boris
succeeded to the imperial power. The mys-
terry with which he had surrounded the
death of the boy Demetrius was we'll calcu-
lated to favor the ambition Of any impos-
tor cleyer enough to take advantage Of the
credulfty AVID ignorance of the lower class
es, and 10 was at this point that this Per-
kin Warbeck OF Russia appeared upon the
scene.
He is first discovered in a mental capac-
itv in the family Of Polish nobleman Of
ancient birth, to whom he announced him
self Us the actual son of the terrible Ivan,
stating that he had escaped death by the
help of a physician whom BORIS had en-
ployed to murder him. He was young,
handsome and winning; he displayed the
imperial seal and a golden cross set with
emeralds-gifts, as he said, from his fa
ther-and these, joined to his ability tc
shoot, ride, read and write, rare accom-.
plishments in those days, sufficed to enlist
numbers in his favor.
The most generally received opinion OF
tho antecedents Of this extraordinary youth
is that he was an unfrockcd monk whose
real name was Gregory Otriepiov, and many
think that the plot was simply IN affair
concocted by the Jesuits in the hope ol
bringing Russia into the pale Of the Latin
church.
Boris took fright and tried to get thu
conspirator into his power, but tho prt
tender eluded him everywhere and was re
ceived throughout Poland with royal hon
ors. At length he settled down at tine courl
of George Mnizek, palatine of Sandomir
to whose beautiful and ambitious daugh
ter, Marina, he became a11ianced. Aided
with money by Sigismund III Of Poland
and with large force at his command, he
was ready for the contest.
Boris gave him battle on Jan. 81, 1906,
at Dobrinchi, near Orel, and, despite the
great courage and generalship displayed
by the protender, scored signal victory.
The false Dmitri retired with the rem
nant Of his forces and remained inactive
for three months, when the welcome news
was ono day brought him that Boris had
suddenly died of apople1y Boris son
was declared his successor, but in short
time proved too weak to hold the reins Of
power. His adhercnts gradually fell off,
and the impostor made q triumphal entry
into Moscow on the 30th Of June, 1905.
One Of his first acts was to visit the wild
ow of Ivan the Terrible, who Immediately
recognized him as her son, but, seeing that
later on the good lady as readily declared
to be attached to her testimony.
For II months the new car reigned
wisely and well. He displayed great abil-
ity in all matters touching the state, great
clemency to those who had opposed him,
great gratitude to those who had favored
his cause. His only mistake was deeper
attachment to the manners, religion and
customs of the Poles than those Of the no.
ton over which he had SO miraculously
come to rule. A plot was formed against
him, and it was decided to raise to the
throne Basil Suski, or Chuskoi, a descend
ant of the old czars in the female line,
whose life the pretender had shortly before
spared when he had been detected in a con-
spiracy.
While tho car, for car he then was,
was celebrating his nuptials with Marina,
who had travelled from Poland to join him,
the palace was entered, the czarina arrest
cd, and tho car himself seized and killed.
Suski was proclaimed emperor, and the
mutilated body of Demetrius, after having
been publicly exposed for three days, was
burned Thus ended the life of this mys-
FERROUS Internationally an impostor,
and yet one who, in his brief span Of power,
proved himself as well fitted to rule as any
monarch that before or after him occupied
the place he himself usurpsd Pail Mall
Gazette.