The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-12

BLOODY REVOLT IN SERVIA
King Alexander, Queen Draga, Others of the Royal
Household and Cabinet Officers Slain.

eral doors leading to the royal apartments
were blown in by dynamite Colonel Maui
movies himself bursting in the door of the
royal bed chamber with bomb. The Of
ficers had called on the King TO open, but
he had curtly refused. AS the door fell the
King rushed TO a window and appealed for
assistance. but no answer came Realizing
the situation, he returned TO the Queen,
holding her in his arms to protect her, and
awaited the conspiratorS.
Colonel Naumovics and the officers then
entered the room. Naumovics presented TO
the King a form of abdication for his sigma
ture. The document contained the statement
that by marrying public prostitute the
King had degraded Servia and that he must
abdicate. The Kings answer was TO draw
revolver and kill Naumovics on the spot.
Colonel Mischics picked up the document
and presented it again. King Alexander
waved IL from him. The officers then, with
their drawn revolvers, fired hail of bull
lets and the royal couple fell together to
the ground The King fingered until 4
o'clock this morning. when he died.
The band who carried out the assassina-
tons appeared to have met with great re-
sistance on the balcony side of the palace.
where the curtains are torn and the window
broken, as though the occupants had tried
articles of soldiers clothing lie scattered
below. This resistance was probably Of
fered by two loyal aids-de-camp. who were
killed.
THE MURDERS ANNOUNCED.
A single cannon shot announced the ex-
ecution of the plot, all the terrible details
of which perhaps may never be accurately
known. Detachments of troops imme-
diately marched 20 the bureaus OF posts
and telegraphs and the railway stations
and occupied them. Other troops imme-
diately marched to the barracks and pro-
claimed Prince Karageorevitch King A
body or mounted officers with Lieutenant
Colonel Gruics, son of the present ambas-
sador at Constantinople, at their head,
rode to the center of the town and an
nounced the army's choice to the people,
who. now alarmed, were thronging the
streets.
Enthusiastic shouts were raised of
Long live Karageorgevitch" and '1ong
was extended to Queen Draga's brother
in-law, Colonel Maschin, one of the reg
ieides; ;s. , The troops at the ~ barracks re-
one objector, General Nikolics, command
er of the Danube division. who was
promptly shot down and severely wound
ed. but not before he had shot and killed
Lieutenant Gagics.
Places of business are closed and many
inhabitants have left the town. Even with
pass II Is difficult to obtain admission to
Belgrade so carefully guarded Is it,
The newspapers are almost unanimous in
approving the revolution. Some compass
sion Is felt for the unfortunate King, but
the people generally, admit that no other
solution to an intolerable situation was
possible. The radical papers assert that
the recent ScanQalOuS elections were the
chief causes of the conspiracy. There is
some talk of republic, but the majority
OF the people desire the accession of Prince
All remains quiet tonight, an encour-
aging effect being produced by the abso-
lutte unanimity which prevails regarding
the choice or new ruler. whose procla-
nation as King by the army will undoubt-
edly be ratified by Parliament. This quiet
acceptance of the revolution is apparently
the same throughout the country, but
a "a m nod ha toot<r
be made on projects and communal
authorities. The government, therefore,
has taken strong measures to suppress any
A PROCLAMATION.
After the formation of the provisional
government the following proclamation was
issued:
ITO the Servian People: Last night the
King and Queen were shot. In this grave
and fateful movement. friends Of the father
land have combined to form a new govern
ment. While the government makes this
announcement to the people 1t Is convinced
the Servian people will gather round 1t and
lend 1t their aid to maintain order and Sc
curity throughout the land.
The government hereby makes known
that from to-day the constitution of April
8, 1901, comes In force. A meeting of the
national representatives, dissolved by the
proclamation of March "a, is summoned to
meet at Belgrade. June 15.'
The proclamation was signed by Jovan
Avalkumovicz. premier; l.. Juboneur Kalie-
vicz, foreign minister; Stojan Protics, min
lister Of the interior; Georg Genschics. min
lister of commerce: Gen. Jorvan Alanzok-
vics. minister of war: vogislav velikovics,
minister Of finance; Col. Alexander Machin,
minister of public works: L. Jubomir
Schekovecs. minister of justice.
The new Ministry tonight published the
following statement:
Certain differences which arose at court
have led to the Intervention of the army
and conflict in which the King and Queen
lost their lives. With a view to maintain
ing peace and order in the country, at the
present moment difficult and fateful, the
representatives of all the political parties
have hastened to come to an understanding
and to form a provisional government in
order to re-establish the constitution, exist
| ing before March %. 1903, and to reassemble
the representatives elected under the con-
stitutiOn of April 6, 1901. AT a sitting to be
held on June Is, the national representa-
tives will elect a sovereign and assume con-
| troll OF the situation. According to the
reports received up to the present from the
civil and military authorities order has
| not been disturbed in any part of the coun-
try and the government will take steps to
maintain It. The government feels con-
vinced that by acting thus IL will insure
| for the new order of things the sympathies
of all the European powers"
~