The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-02-21

Square. and within a stones throw OF
the great bell of Moscow. Grand Duke
Sergius. uncle and brother-in-law OF
Emperor Nicholas and the chief OF
the reactienaries, met terrible death.
The deed was committed by single
Terrorist, who threw beneath the car
rage of the grand duke a bomb
charged with the same high power
explosive which wrought Minister Won
Plehve's death. The missile was
packed with nails and fragments of
iron. and its explosion tore the i'm
perial victims body to ghastly frag-
ments. which strewed the snow for
yards around Every window in the
great lofty facade of the palace OF
Justice was shattered, and bits Of iron
we're imbedded deeply in the walls Of
the arsenal. a hundred yards away.
The assassin belongs to the noted
Fighting Group" of the Socialist Rev
dictionary party. which has removed
other prominent officials, and long
since passed senteace of death upon
Grand Duke Sergius. The grand duke
knew that he stood in the shadow OF
death. He was the recipient OF re-
peated warnings, and elaborate pre-
cautions were taken to ensure his
safety; but all the resources OF the
gendarmerie. secret police and sol
diers proved unayailng against an at
tempt almost exactly duplicating the
procedure that caused the death d
Minister of the Interior Won Plehve
last July.
II was the irony OF fate that Ser
gius. after taking refuge in his coun-
try villa during the strike troubles OF
a month ago. and later seeking even
more secure shelter in the palace with
in the Kremlin walls. should be killed
while proceeding to the governor gen
erals palace beyond the walls, and
which he had abandoned to enable
the police to better protect him. Grand
Duchess Elizabeth. who has been en-
gagged daily in the task Of preparing
comforts for the sick and wounded
Russian soldiers in Manchuria. was
about TO drive to the palace to join
her husband When she heard OF
what had befallen the grand duke. she
was driven in haste to the scene OF
the tragedy, and knelt hatless and
coatless on the blood-stained snow.
and murmured prayers for the wei
fare of the soul of her slain consort
Ghastly Scene After Explosion.
The scene of the crime was the
great open triangle within the Krem
lin. bounded by the arsenal. treasury
and courts of justice, in one angle OF
which is the Nicholas, or little palace.
where the grand duke dwelt. A few
minutes before the bell of the gate
sounded the hour Of 3 the equipage OF
the grand duke emerged from the
gates OF the palace and proceeded. fol-
lowed by sleighs containing secret pO-
lice 1t swept at a smart pace TO
wards the Nikolsky gate. In a min
ute the carriage was in front OF the
courts of justice, where the walls OF
the triangle approach, forming a mar
row entrance to the Nikolsky gate
There a man, clad in workman's at
tire. stepped forWa ard from the side
walk and threw bomb which he had
concealed beneath his coat. A terri
Bile explosion followed and a hail of
iron pelted the grim stone walls Of the
arsenal and courts of justice. A thick
cloud of smoke. snow and debris arose.
When it had cleared a CHASTITY sight
was presented. On the snow lay frag
ments of the body of Grand Duke Ser
gius, mingled with the wreck of the
carriage. The grand dukes head had
been torn from his body and reduced
to a shapeless pulp. and the trunk and
limbs were frightfully mangled. A
finger bearing a rich seal ring was
found lying several yards away. The
crimson tint and a sickening smell
Of blood were everywhere. Only
few fragments Of cloth indicated that
the body had been once clothed. The
coachman lay moaning with pain be
side deep hole In the pavement The
horses, dragging the front wheels OF
the carriage, had dashed of, madden
end with pain. to sink dying before
they reached the gate