The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1897-12-18
PRINCE kRAPOTKlNE.
Romantic History of the Famous Rus-
sim NihtIist.

Romantic History of the Famous Rus
sian NihiIist.. -.-, /,
Prince Krapotkine, the nihilist agi-
tator, is a remarkable man with re-
markable history, and the nihilists are
fond of asserting that he has n bet
ter title to the throne of Russia than the
present car. He is directly descended
from the ancient house of Rurik, which
ruled Russia for centuries before the
present Germanic dynasty of Romanon
came upon the throne. He was educated
at the colleges of the pages in st. Peters
burg,to which only the sons of members
of the imperial court are admitted. and
afterward studied atLeipsic, Heidelberg
and Zurich, proving his superior schol-
arship at each university. Upon his re-
turn to Russia he was assigned to scien-
tific work under the government and
shortly afterward became secretary OF
the Imperial Geographical society. A
few years later he entered the service
of the court as grand chamberlain to
the wife of Alexander III.
While he was at Zurich Krapottine
became infected with socialism and
JOlUCu IUt pONltNN VI 'iiN ih'Ni 80 'S''>'N'
But he concealed his views and his re-
lations and served at court for more than
ten years without being discovered.
During the latter part ofthis period he
was in active communication and par
ticipation with the nihilists in st. Pet
ersburg and is said to have planned the
unsuccessful plot to assassinate the en-
peror in 1866. All this time he managed
to preserve his confidential relations at
the palace, was actually in charge OF the
person of the empress. looked after all
her private affairs. employed and dis
charged her (sefvants and attendants.
Rad constant access TO the apartments
of the emperor and was in his presence
almost daily. But this sort of thing
could not last forever. A successful
raid was made upon nihilistic as
sembly and to the CONSERVATION of the
court and the amazement of the whole
empire, the notorious Borodin, the most
dangerous and infnential agitator in all
Russia. for whom the police had been
searching for years and who appeared
and disappeared a. If by magic, when
his disguise was stripped off, proved to
be Prince Krapotlline. the trusted serv-
ant of the car and the steward of the
czarina's household.
Because of his imperial lineage,
Krapotkine was not executed with the
rest of the conspirators. but was SEN
fenced toperpetmal imprisonment in the
citadel of SITS. Peter and Paul. There he
lay in dungeon until it was thought
he was dying. when he was removed TO
a hospital in the city, from which
friends assisted him to escape. II was
the habit to haul wood into the court
yard of the hospital in the fall Of the
year, when the gates were kept fire.
guently opened to admit the wagons.
The physicians having ordered that
Krapotkine should have plenty of air
and outdoor exercise. he was allowedto
walk in this court. attended by single
nurse, his physical weakness being such
that no one thought he would attempt
to escape. But it appears that one Of his
attendants was bribed. Through him
an arrangement was msde 10 have a
drosky and swift horses outside the
gates, and one day. when they were
opened to admit load Of wood, IRA
potkine and the nurse slipped out, en-
tered tie vehicle and were driven to
place of concealment, from which they
finally succeeded in escaping 10 London.
Krapotkine has since been. foremost
in the councils of the nihilists. and his
rank and record have given him great
influence. His speeches in this coun-
try, however. have not added to his
reputation. heard him in New York,
where his audience was small and indif-
ferent. His address read well, but was
delivered without any force and in
tone of voice that was not audible to
many in the hall. In his early days he
was famous for his dramatic and in
fammatory speeches, but now he is an
old man, feeble and almost decrepit.
and has entirely lost the fire of his
outh-Chicapo Record