The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-12
The BELGRADE TRAGEDY
A VISIT TO THE KONAK, THE SCENE
OF THE AssAsSINATIONS.
The Servian Chambcr-QUeen Draga's
BOudOir-Au the Rooms Impress
One FavorabIy.
Letter in London Telegraph.

A<CNtCA III LOAAAO LtAt6AdPAl.
Perfect tranquility continues TO prevail
in Belgrade and throughout Servia. The
authorities here are doing their utmost to
obliterate all traces of the heinous crime
which put an end to the royal dynasty. The
number OF persons actually killed on the
historic night is eleven, many others were
wounded, and several of the latter have
since ~succumbed, but many officers are still
missing. This morning the palace project
authorized myself and a few colleagues to
enter the Royal KOnak and TO view the
apartments in which the awful tragedy
tooksplace. A considerable crowd stood IN
the street outside awaiting permission to
enter, which was finally refused. The ante
chamber was tastefully arranged. a great
bear standing on its hind legs to the left
and hard by q large mirror, the glass of
which was shattered. Opposite the entrance
was a finely wrought oval silver frame
about eighteen inches long. leaning against
the wall. 1t had once contained a portrait
Of the King, and, was still surmounted by
his crown, but the lower portion was dam
aged by fire. This ante-room was guarded
Oh the fateful hight by Captain Milkovitch,
who lost his life there. The door was locked
and was hammered first with a hatchet
and then burst open with a dynamite cart
ridge. Great splinters of the smoothly pol
Shed floor are still loose, and/A consider
able portion is singed. Under the picture
frame lay the ak used against the door,
and probably also employed TO cut out the
Kings portrait.
This entrance chamber is situated at one
extremity of the suite of royal apartments.
which form a segment of a circle, the CEN
ter of which is occupied by the hall. Out
or the ante-chamber a door leads into a
simply furnished room used as a council
chamber, wh1re the ministers were wont
to meet under the presidency of the King.
A long table. covered with green baiZe
cloth, stands IN the center, and a number
OF sheets OF f~oolscap paper and well-pared
pencils marked the ministers places. The
walls are decorated with oil paintings. rep
resenting scenes from the Servian war of
independence, with an excellent portrait or
the late King In picturesque military Co.'S
tune. Costly Oriental carpets, Persian
and others, hang on the walls, and an ar
tistically executed marble bust of Queen
Draga gives an adequate idea of the late
Queens charms. On q polished box stands
a bust of the late President Sadi CARROT.
This apartment and all its furniture re-
manned absolutely intact on the night OF
terror. From here a door leads into the
winter, the late monarch was accustomed
TO spend several hours weekly, seeking a
surcease of care III regicides passed
so-called Arabic room, which is fitted up
in a uniformly Oriental style with Eastern
carpets. inlaid little tables, and roomy
m Here, too, everything IL intact.
All these apartments lead into each other
and are all furnished with taste, not with
out q certain elegance, but with no at
tempt at luxury or extravaganza.
THE sERvIAN ROOM.
From the Arabic apartment one enters a
| cheerful-looking chamber, fitted up in the
Servian national style and known as the
Servian room. Bright colors harmonious
Iy blended meet the eye everywhere. Fin
embroideries, wrought by the hands of
Servian women. in blue, red, yellow, black
and Slavonic emblems, give this room its
characteristic impress. Here the story of
the night of blood Is but remotely limited
at. The furniture is not damaged, the old
arms still hang on the walls, the narghileh
smoked by the Kings forebears when Ser
via was still subject 10 Turkey retains its
place, and the soft, springy sofas look as
fresh as when they first left the upholster-
ers' hands. But opposite the entrance two
admirably painted portraits rivet the gaze
of the beholder. One is a likeness Of the
beautiful Lady Julia Hunyady, who once
sat on the throne Of Servia as consort
of a former reigning prince. This oil paint
ing was deliberately ruined by a number
of revolver bullets driven through the fore
fCdu w liz lhC OlliC Jul a Ii
In water colors and represents the grand
father of Queen Draga, who loved to think
of her family as socially equal TO that of
the royal house. That picture Is likewise
riddled with revolver shots through the
forehead. The door between this apartment
and the hall still bears signs OF the dyna-
mite explosion, huge of the floor
having been swept away.
The salon into which one enters from the
Servian chamber bears no marks OF vio-
lence anywhere, except about the doors,
u-hfrh nnnCi6Qro hlU AomQUad Tho
walls are covered with pretty silken hang
ings Of various tints, in which gold pre-
walls. A great open fireplace lends a
CHEEKY aspect to the apartment. Over the
door hangs King Milan's portrait in oils,
representing him as chief of an Austrian
regiment in his colonel's uniform, with the
green sash of the Order of st. Stephen.
Near the window stands a small pianino in
ebony, inlaid with portraits of King Alex
sic case containing a considerable number
of Servian and Russian pieces. The entire
room is decorated with portraits of King
Alexander at all ages, from infancy up
ward. Queen Draga's portraits are also
visible here and elsewhere, but / was struck
with the circumstance that nowhere
Is Queen Draga represented, either as z
girl or as the wife of the Engineer Mashinl
when her charms were still more attractive
the Queen to be found In the palace datee
Kings bride.
QUEEN DRAGA'S LITTLE BOUDOIR.
From the salon a door leads to the little
boudoir of the Queen, where a coffee serv-
ice still stands as il stood on the memora-