Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-16
GENERAL TREPOFF IS DEAD
Evil Genius Of Emperor Nicholas Dies
Suddenly Of Angina PeotOria
PRUsslAN DICTATOR A REMARKABLE MAN
He was a Natural DespOt. n Tyrant
By Inclination, Education and
COnvictiOn-six Attempts
... 90 XIII Him.

W nh NhAaAs
ST PETERSBURG. Sept. i5-General
Bmitri Fodorovich Trepoff, commandment Of
the imperial palace died at 6 o'clock this
evening IN his villa at Peterhof. of angina
pectoris.
General Trepoff. whose name was in
delibly linked with reaction and oppres-
sion in Russia, was a remarkable man.
He was natural despot. a tyrant by in
ciination. education and conviction. He was
one OF those men who have constantly APP
peared in Russian history just at the time
whent conditions were most promising for
putting an end to despotism to turn the
Russian rulers from liberalism to reaction.
1t was he who became the guiding spirit
of the reaction after Nicholas III. had
issued his manifesto in the fall OF 1905.
promising the people a share in the govern
ment. Holding the position of master of
the palace, in league with the court in
triguers, who were determined to restore
the old regime, he constantly had the en-
peror's ear.
Like his father before him, Trepoff was
a police master with all that the name in
volved in Russia, and the story of father
and son Is full Of dramatic incidents. The
elder was a founding. Who his parents
were was never known He was found one
morning upon the back doorstep of
German family, by whom she was piayfully
named "Trepo-Hof' German for doorstep.
The father distinguished himself as a mem
Der of the secret police. During the teight
OF the Nihlists conspiracies in the late
seventies. It was to him that Alexander II.
conflded the task OF running down ter
rorists plotting against his life. The fight
between liberalism and reaction then. as
later. under Trepoff's son was in full swing
and then. as later, the energies Of the
police were directed against the student
agitation.
Dictator of Russia.
Dmitri followed his fathers footsteps
He attracted the attention of Grand Duke
Sergius, then governor general Of Moscow,
and by him was named police master Of
Moscow. Trepoff soon became Sergius
right arm in lighting the revolutionary stu
dent agitation, OF which the ancient capt.
tai was the hotbed. When Sergius was
assassinated Trepon was named governor
general of Moscow Later he was sum-
moned to st. Petersburg and given the COM
mand of the imperial guard and made gov
ernor general Of the city He took up his
residence In the winter palace and became
In fact, II not In name, dictator OF Russia.
Anarchy prevailed when he arrived. An
| uprising on a large scale was nomentarily
| expected. Thousands had fed the city.
but with Trepoff in command the aspect of
AFFAIRS changed. Troops filled the streets
and dead walls were placarded with notices
that the slightest disorders would be sup
pressed without mercy. And under his
iron hand the city became quiet.
During four trying weeks plot after plot
60 lrfI1 4.
Two of his own nieces attempted to exc
cute the sentence. But in his dungeon-iike
room in the center Of the palace no bomb
! could reach him save by SCATTERING. a
dozen walls. with the telephone con-
| stantiy at his side he Issued orders ana re-
ceived reports.
His personal courage was beyond all
question. He had almost a contempt for
death. II am no fool he said TO the
Associated Press correspondent a few
days after he assumed the dictatorship. II
am no fool to be potted In the street.
have work to do and l propose to do II.
have given my word to my imperial mas
ter to maintain the tranquility Of the city,
and I will answer for the preservation OF
order with my lfe."
The strain told upon him, and during
/ those memorable SIX weeks the lines of his
face deepened and his hair and beard be-
came streaked with gray. He continued at
his post throughout the summer, and al
| though there was much political excite
ment, no riot occurred.
TrepoR FtEhts New Regime.
Trepof made a pretense OF acquiezcing in
the manifesto of October Of that year and
in Whites elevation to the premiership
But in reality he was only awaiting a
1 favorable opportunity to.give battle TO. the
new regime. And when the orgie Of liberty
which followed the manifesto was in full
blast, threatening to sweep away the
| foundations Of the government, even White
was glad to turn to the great police master
to restore order. He accomplished his task
and was hailed by the ,reactionaries as tho
savior of the situation The emperor was
made to believe Trepoff alone was capable
Of safeguarding the lives OF himself and
| the imperial family. And so, with the
populace bowling at his heels. he retired to
| Tsarskoe-Selo to become master of the
palace. There. in a more congenlal atmos
phere. he took the direction Of the cam
paign for the restoration of the old order.
| Personally Trepoff was handsome man.
tall, square shouldered,, with chose cropped
hair and beard. his whole face and figure
instinct with life and alertness. In ali six
actual attempts on the life OF General
Trepoff have been made within three years
and only last July General Kouioff of the
headquarters staff was assassinated at
Peterhoff by terrorist who believed he
was firing upon Trepoff
Fifty Years Old.
General Trepon would have been 81 years
old December Is. For several months he
| had been suffering from a heart affection