The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-18
DEATH IN The AIR.
st. Petersburg Is Stunned by
the Tragedy at Moscow.
None Can Guess Whose Turn
viii Come Next.
PRECAUTIONS DOUBLE.
The Police Are Kept Busy in
Making Arrests.
An Extraordinary Session of the
Imperial Council.
PRECAUTIONS DOUBLE


seems to be hanging over the Russian
capital. Bells are tolling and the peo-
pie in the streets are awe struck at
yesterdays bloody crime. Every one
seems to shrink before the contempla-
ton Of what may happen next The
tragedy struck deep into the heart of
the perplexed and tried emperor and
many who were unsparing in their
criticism yesterday today have only
expressions of sympathy for his un-
happy lot The bitter cup which dur
ing the last year has been pressed
again and again to his lips is once
more filed to the brim and in almost
pathetic words this morning he i'm
plores his subjects to pray for the re-
pose of the soul of his murdered
uncle.
Death is in the air and no one
knows where the next blow may fall
although precautions have been
doubled in every direction for the
preservation of the lives of the mem
bers of the imperial family and the
ministers and the secret police are
seeking out and arresting those known
to be associated with the fighting or
ganization. The authorities realize
impotency to ward off the swift acts
of terrorism, murder in the streets be-
ing possible at any instant. The only
behind palace walls and the imperial
family have been warned not TO ven
ture out
Although only the official papers and
the Grashdanin appear with black
borders, the editorials of all of them
are strangely sober. Some papers
which in the past have been ready to
lay almost any charge at the door of
Grand Duke Sergius are drawing back
before the prospect of the inaugura-
ton of a reign of terror, fearing that
1t may destroy the bright prospect of
reform and lead to an era of repres-
sion But even in the midst of uni
versal reprobation Of the crime the
majority express the hope that after
all the darkest hour comes just before
dawn Among the reVOlutiOnarieS,
however. there is a sentiment of Ella
ton They openly glory in the deed, |
proclaiming that it removes the most
reactionary influence at court and also
proclaim the general theory that IN
the absence of armed resistance only
by terror can concessions be wrung
from the hands of the autocracy- Ac-
cording to their view any weapon Isl
justifable. AS a matter of fact it Is
too early yet to say what the political
effect will be. For the moment every
thing is at a standstill.
Expressions of coincidence have
reached the emperor direct from prac-
tically all governments, those of Presi-
dent Loubet. Emperor William and
King Edward being especially warm
that several governments viii send rep
resentatives to the funeral of Grand
Duke Sergius.
An extraordinary sitting of the coun-
Gil of the empire has been summoned |
TO consider the situation resulting from |
the assassination of Grand Duke |
Sergius
Prince Friedrich Leopold. of Prussia. |
who had been visiting the emperor 1
previous. according to advices from /
Berlin. to going to Manchuria as an /
observer. representing Emperor William /
with the Russian army, started for Ber- |
lin at midnight
Tt was announced from Berlin yester-
day that Prince Friedrich Leopold was |
to go to the far east by steamer from |
Genoa. owing to the difficulty in send /
ing the princely train quickly over the /
congested Siberian line and that he /
would fist pay a visit to Emperor Mich
Olas-
A dispatch from St. Petersburg early
this morning. however. throws a differ
ent light on the princes visit to St.
Petersburg. It was intimated that the
prince was the bearer of personal rep
reSentations from Emperor William on
this subject and it was added that it
was positively known that the question
Of peace was discussed between EN-
peror Nicholas and Prince Friedrich
Leopold yesterday though it was i'm
possible to ascertain what. if any, con-
clusiOns were reached.
Mourning at Moscow.
Moscow. Feb. 1S.-The bells of Mos
cows 500 churches are tolling today
requiem masses are being celebrated
and before many shIines priests are
ceaselessly chanting prayers for the
repose of the soul of the murdered
Grand Duke Sergius- His remains still
rest in the monastery where they
were placed yesterday. The bier is
covered with flowers and surrounded |
by burning tapers. Two monks re-
main constantly at the foot of the
coffin reciting prayers for the dead.
The widowed grand duchess Eliza
beth is prostrated. She keeps to her
apartments in the little palace and
was not able even to attend the re-
been received by the grand duchess
from Emperor Nicholas and her sister
she empress.
Troops are patrolling inside the
kremlin all the entrances of which
continue to be closed to the public
The crime while actually not unanti-
cipated in view of the repeated threats
has nevertheless created a profound i'm
preston in the ancient capital
All the shops are closed and the
newspapers appeared with mourning
borders.
Some students have been roughly
handled in the streets.
Assassin Still Unidentified.
Moscow, Feb 1S--It appears to be
confirmed that the Grand Duke
Sergius when killed was on his wav To
the governor generals palace on Tvers-
l<aia, where he resided while gov
ernor general, for the purpose of taking
bath. The grand duke was a great
lover of Russian baths. those he had
arranged in the palace being most
numptuous- Vice Governor Sabouroff. l.