The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-08-08
THe FALSE psMsTRlus.
btrange story OF the Priest Who Made
Himself the Cxar OF Eussis.

INTEREST, success anu kinSiS hb'AiDh%o
of the many ''pretenders" who in times
past have endeavored TO seize the crown
of Russia. stands Dmtri lyanoyitch-
or, as he has variously been called, the
False Demetrius." "the Young Demet-
rius" and "Demetrius the Impostor.'
For centuries his identity was as much
a mystery as was that OF "the Man in |
the Iron Mask" the author of "Junius"
and many other historical enigmas. Re
cent research, however, has completely
demonstrated the falsity OF his preten-
sions, and yet has stamped him as the !
most successful, the most daring and |
the most capable adventurer that his
tory can point 10.
Ivan the Terrible. having in fiji OF
passion slain his eldest son with his own
hand. left the throne by will 20 his sec
ond son, Feodor. a weak and incapable
prince, who soon fell under the domina-
ton OF his mothers brother, Boris
Godunov. OF Ivan's second marriage
an infant son still survived, bearing the
name of Dmtri, and who, failing issue
| Of Feodor. was next In succession tothe
throne. In 1891 10 was suddenly an
nounced that young Demetrius had
committed suicide In the town OF Cg-
Itch. and that the persons responsible
for his safety had persisted in the lumult
that followed his death.
Seven years after Feodor died and
Boris succeeded TO the imperial power.
The mystery with which he had sur
rounded the death OF the boy Demet-
rius was well calculated 10 favor the
ambition OF any impostor clever enough
10 take advantage OF the credulify and
| ignorance OF the lower classes. and IL
was az this point that this Perkin War
beck OF Russia appeared upon the scene.
He is first discovered in n mental ca
pncity in the family OF Polish noble
man Of ancient birth, 10 whom he an
nounced himself as the actual son of the
terrible Ivan. stating that he had es-
capped death by the help of physician
whom Boris had employed TO murder
him He was young. hnndsomeNand
winning: he displayed the imperial seal
and n golden cross set with emeralds--
gifts (as he said from his father; and
these. joined to his ability 20 shoot,
ride. read and write. rare accomplish
ments in those days, sufficed 70 enlist
numbers in his favor.
The most generally received opinion
OF the antecedents OF this extraordinary
youth is that he was an unfrocked monk
whose real name was Gregory Otriepiev;
and many think that the plot was
simply an affair concocted by the Jesu-
its in the hope Of bringing Russia into
the pale OF the Latin church.
Boris took fright and tried 10 get the
conspirator into his power, but the pre-
, tender eluded him everywhere. and was
, received throughout Poland with royal
honors. 81 length he settled down at
the court OF George Mnizek. Palatine of
Sandomir. 70 whose beautiful and am
| bilious daughter. Marina, he became
. affianced. Aided with money by
, Sigismund III. Of Poland, and with a
large force at his command, he was
& ready for the contest.
, Boris gave him battle ON January 81,
! 1908. NJ Dobrinchi. near Orel. and,
: despite tho great courage and general
| ship displayed by the pretender, scored
, n signal victory. The false Dmitri re-
, tired with the remnant Of his forces
. and remained inactive for three months,
: when the welcome news was one day
> brought him that Boris SON was de-
? clared his successor, but in a short
: time proved too weak To hold the reins
/. OF power His adhcrents gradually fell
off, and the impostor made triumphal
= entry into Moscow on the 30th of June,
: 1905
q One OF his first acts was to visit the
. widow OF Ivan the Terrible. who imme-
dately recognized him as her son; but
seeing that later on the good lady as
readily declared him AN impostor not
much importance is 20 be attached "a
her testimony.
For IL months the new car reigned
:, wisely and well He displayed great
- ability in all matters touching tho
, state, great clemency TO those who hao
: opposed him, great gratitude 70 thos'
u who had favored his cause. His only
mistake was a deeper attachment 10 the
manners, religion and customs OF the
. Poles than 10 those OF the nation ovei
= which he had SO miraculously come q
rule. 4 plot was formed against him
o and il was decided 10 raise to the throne
Basil Suski, or Chuskoi, a descendant o
. the old ear i'm the female line, Who's
- life the pretcndcr had shortly before
- spared when he had been detected in
conspiracy.
= While tho car (for car he then was
wae celebrating his nuptials Will
Marina. who had travelled from Polan'
d To join him. the palace was entered, TIL
~ czarina arrested, and the ear himSel
"a seized and killed. Suski was pro
az claimed emperor, and the mutilate'
body az Demetriua. after having bcei
IN publicly exposed for three days, wa
burned Thus ended the life of thi
III mysterious an-undoubtedly an i'm
postor. and yet one who, in his brie
space 81 power, proved himself as vel
" fitted 60 rule as any monarch that be
p fore or after him occupied the plac