Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-11
A NEW CZAREWlTCH
Grand Duke Midnasf Now the Heir
to Russiaaas Throne.
SKETCH OF TEE DEAD DUKE
Long an Invalid by Reason Of In
ri III
jury From a Fall.
4 ROMANCE IN HIS LIFE

BY the death yesterday of the Grand
Duke George. who was the eldest brother
and heir apparent to the Car of Russia,
the Grand Duke Michael becomes the Gar
ewitch. He is at present in London. He
accompanied the Prince of Wales to the
volunteer review on the Horse Guards pa
rade Saturday. 1t is understood that the
czar will shortly issue a ukase ordaining
that, in the event of a minor succeeding
to the throne, his brother Grand Duke
Michael, is to act as regent.
The present Gar of Russia has three
children. but they are all daughters. The
youngest was born about a week ago In
the absence of sons born to the reigning
emperor his eldest brother was the heir
presumptive to the throne, and was dig
nified with the title of czarewitch The
Grand Duke George. who held this posi-
ton. was the second son Of the late EN-
peror Alexander III, and was born on May
8, 1871.
Injured His Spine.
For a long time past he has been an in
valid, and several occasions his life was
despaired Of The beginning of his illness
dates back to 1891, the year in which he
started, with his brother, the czarowitch,
and his cousin, Prince George of Greece,
on tour around the world, acting as the
commander of the Russian ironclad
which the party Travelled. All three princes
were of bright, jovial disposition. and
many stories are told of the mad pranks
with which they enlivened their journey.
Grand Duke George fell from the maintop
of his ship to the deck and seriously in
jured his spine. The injury was SO severe
that the doctor ordered him to discontinue
his journey. and to return home.
whit rJ,
supposed to be typhoid fever, contracted
in the Red sea, but which proved To be
consumption. This malady Is hereditary
in the family of the Romanoffs. 1t was
of consumption that his uncle Nicholas
died at Nice. in 1855 while already en-
gagged to the present DowaSer Czarina,
whom, in his last moments. he pathetically
urged to marry his younger brother Alex
ander, the late car. Everyt thing possible
was done to cure the Ora I'D Duke George
but without avail. For while he stayed
in Athens: then, not improving, he went
to Algiers. The illness disconnected the
plans of the imperial family. A visit which
they had proposed to make to Central Asia
was abandoned. and summer tour of the
Crimea was also given up.
His Malady IncurabIe.
After spending a winter on the Riviera
the grand duke finally went to the eau
casus, where he resided for two years
The climate of st. Petersburg was con-
sidered by his physicians absolutely I'M
suited to his complaint, and his return to
his family in the fall of 1894 was one of the
earliest as well as most significant indjca-
tons to the outside, world of his fathers
real condition. 1t was then generally ac-
cepted that the Grand Duke George would
never regain his health. and since then
the only thing that could be done was to
make his remnant of life as comfortable
and enjoyable as possible. The late car
was always deeply attached to his second
son, and his later life was greatly en-
FILTERED by the knowledge of his incurable
illness. ar.ns I...
Loved a Telegraph Girl. --tIa.
Some years ago a romantic story was
told about the young prince whose death
is now announced. 1t was to the effect
that the grand duke had fallen in love
with a pretty telegraph girl whom he had
met with in the neighborhood of his quar-
tiers and whom he was determined to
marry. The girl in question was Mile
lsch of Tifis. and she is said to possess
marvellous beauty. She is the last de-
soendant of one Of the Oldest noble fami-
lies of the province but she is poor, and is
Obliged to earn her living in the telegraph
office at Tffiis. 1t was there that the
grand duke met her when he was sent to
the Caucasus for the benefit of his health
He was first introduced to Mile Isch at
a ball at the house Of the provincial mar
shall of nobility. 1t is said that the late
car ana czarina favored the marriage of
their son and the young woman, but the
grand dukes father did not live long
enough to witness such a marriage, if he
ever favored it.
The Grand Duke Michael, who now be-
comes heir presumptive to the throne is
the third and youngest son of Alexander III,
and was born on December 4, 1873. He is
described as a young man of strong char
acter. with more Of liking for soldering
than either OF his elder brothers ever
showed.
Russian Court in Mourning.
ST. PETERSBURG, July n.-Three
months court mourning for the death of
the cZarewitch, Grand Duke George of Rus
STA, brother of the czar. who died yesterday
of consumption at Abbas Tuman in the
Caucasus, has been ordered