Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-16

BY Associated Press.
ST. PETERSBURG, SEPT. 15,-Gen.
eral Dmetr Fogorovich Trepoff, com
rnandant of the imperial palace. died
at o'clock this evening in his villa
at Peterhof of angina pectoris.
General Trepoff, whose name was
linked with reactiouary repression in
Russia, was a remarkable man. He
was a natural despot, tyrant by in
clination, education and conviction.
He was one of those men who have
constantly appeared in Russian history
Just at the time when 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 IL.
had issued his manifesto in the fall of
1906 promising the people share in the
government.
Holding the position of master of the
palace, in league with the court in
friguers who were determined to re-
store the old regime, he constantly had
the emperor'S ear.
Like his father before him Trepoff
was a police master, with all that the
name involved 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 on the back
door step of a German family by whom
he was playfully named Trepohof Ger
man for door step.
The father distinguished himself as a
member of the secret police.
During the height of the Nihilist con-
spiracies in the '70s it was to him that
Alexander II gave the task of run
ming down those who were plotting
against his life.
This 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.
Follows Fathers Footsteps
Dmetri followed his fathers footsteps.
He attracted the attention of the Grand
Duke SergiuS, then governor general of
Moscow, and by him was named police
master of Moscow.
Trepoff soon became Sergius right
arm in fighting the revolutionary stu
dent agitation of which the ancient cap
ital was the hotbed. When Sergius was
assassinated Trepoff Was named gov
ernon general of Moscow. Later he
was summoned to st. Petersburg and
given the command of the imperial
guard and made governor general of
the city.
He took up his residence in the winter
palace and became in fact if not in
name dictator of Russia. Anarchy pre-
vailed when he arrived. An uprising
on large scale was momentarily ex-
pected Thousands had fled the city,
But with Trepoff in command the as
pect of affairs changed.
Troops filed the streets and dead
walls were placarded with notices that
the street disorders would be sup
pressed without mercy.
And under his iron hand the city be-
came quiet.
During those trying weeks plot after
plot to kill him was discovered and
frustrated Two of his own nieces at
tempted to execute the sentence.
But in his dungeonlil1e room in the
renter of the palace, where no bomb
could reach him save by shattering a
dozen walls. with the telephone con-
stantly at his side, he issued orders
and received reports.
His personal courage was without
question He had almost contempt for
death. II am no fool" he said to the
Associated Press correspondent a few
days after he assumed the dicta torship.