Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1906-09-22
TREPOFF IS DEAD
WAS COMMANDER OF IMPERIAL
PALACE AT ST. PETERSBURG.
This Remarkable Tyrant Dies a Nat.
ural Death-Guidine Hand of the
Reaction after Nicholas u Issued
His Famous Manifesto in 1905
Giving People Share in Government.

0lNlH9 TSoPiS S'oiN VI governments
General Dmitri Feodorovich Trepoff,
commandant Of the imperial palace,
died in his villa at Peterhof, Russia,
Of angina pectoris.
General Trepoff, whose name was
indelibly linked with repression in
Russia, was a remarkable man. He
was a natural despot, a tyrant by in
clination, education and conviction.
He was one of those men who have
constantly appeared in Russian his
tory just at the time when conditions
we're most promising for putting an
end to despotism to turn Russian rul-
ers from liberalism to reacuon.
1t was he who became the guiding
spirit of the reaction after Nicholas IL
had issued his manifesto in the fall
Of 1905, promising the people a share
in the government. Holding the posi-
ton of master of the palace, in league
with the court intriguers who were
determined to restore the old regime,
he constantly had the emperor's ear.
Like his father before him, Trepoff
was a police master, and the story Of
father and son was full of dramatic
incidents. The elder was a founding
Who his parents were was never
known. He was found one morning
on the back doorstep of a German
family by whom he was playfully
named Trepof, after the German word
for doorstep. The father distinguish
ed himself as a member Of the secret
police. During the height of the nj
hilist conspiracies, in the '70s, it was
to him that Alexander IL confded the
task of running down terrorsts plot
ting against his life.
The fight between liberalism and re-
action 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
Virtual Dictator of Russia.
Dmitri followed his fathers foot
steps, He attracted the attention OF
| Grand Duke Sergius, then governor
general of Moscow, and by him was
named police master of Moscow. Ire
poff soon became Sergius' right arm
in fighting the revolutionary student
agitation, of which the ancient capita
was the hotbed. When Sergius was
assassinated Trepoff was named gov
ernor general of Moscow. Later h'
was summoned to st. Petersburg anC
given the command of the imperia
guard and made governor general o
the city. He took up his residence il
the winter palace and became in fact
if not in name, dictator of Russia. An
archy prevailed when he arrived. Al
uprising on a large scale was momen
tarily expected. Thousands had fie
the city. But with Trepoff in con
mand the aspect of affairs changed
Troops filled the streets, and dea
walls were placarded with notice
that the street disorders would be sur
pressed without mercy And unde
his iron hand the city became quiet
During those trying weeks plot aft
er plot was discovered and frustrated
Two of his own nieces attempted t.
execute the sentence.
But in his dungeonlike room in tn
center of the palace, where no bonn
could reach him save by SCATTERING
iozen walls, with the telephone CON
SANITY at his side, he issued order
and received reports.
His personal courage was beyon
al question. He had almost a cor
tempt for death. 81 am no fool" h
said to the Associated Press CORE
spondent a few days after he assume
the dictatorship. q am no fool to b
potted in the street. / have work t
+ do, and I propose to do it. l hav
given my word to my imperial maste
, o maintain the tranquility of the CITY
md l will answer for the preservatio
IF order with my life"
The strain told upon him, and du
ing those memorable six weeks tn
: ines of his face deepened and his hal
md beard became streaked with gra.
He continued at his post throughot
he summer, and although there wa
much political excitement, no riot o
. Cured
/, Six actual attempts on the life {
! General Trepoff we're made within tn
asst three years, and only last yes
: General Kazloff of the headquartei
vas assassinated at Peterhof by a te
n ~orist who believed he was firing upc
o Trepoff.
d General TrepoL would have bee
S Il years of age in December.
Some Are Glad.
Relief, almost jubilation, Is the doi
nant note not only among the revol
. ionists, but also among the cad
group. A dozen leaders styled Il
r death of General Trepoff as "goC
v news"