Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-24
BURNING OF MOSCOW
Granddaughter of Rostopt-
chine to Tell Story.
WILL MAKE FACTS PUBLIC
Ancestor Gave Hopes of Napoleon
Their Death Blow.
SET THE BIG CITY IN FLAMES
Applied Torch to His Own Home,
Containing Wealth of Art OBJ
jects and Valuables.
SET THE BIG CITY IN FLAMES

The granddaughter of the man who
burned Moscow to save the city from
Napoleon is in this city. Her mission
is to make public the facts in the case
that have long been hidden. Countess
Lydie Rostopchine is the descendant of
the distinguished Russian patriot who
not only saved the ancient Russian
capital but gave the hopes of Napoleon
their death blow and changed the course
of history in Europe.
The countess is a guest at the Airing
ton. She will deliver "A lecture at the
Russian embassy, or possibly al the
Italian embassy in the near future. The
subject OF her talk will be the burning
of the Russian city, and the DUTY OF re-
lating the facts falls on her as the nearest
descendant of the man who was governor
general of Moscow at the time OF the
French invasion.
Date of Address Uncertain.
The countess does not know yet when
she will deliver her first address here
She says that so many members of the
diplomatic corps are away from the city
that she will wait a few weeks. She
is an enthusiast on the subject OF Gen
Rostoptchine. and says that in 1917 there
will be a centenary celebration in Russia
OF the retreat of the grand army. At
that time. more than ever before, tribute
Will be paid TO the memory Of the man
who sacrificed a city to save an empire
Countess RoStoptchine says that in the
burning of Moscow her grandfather acted
on his own initiative. 1t in the days
before the present railroad that covers
the distance from Moscow 10 St Peters
burg in eleven hours. \ courier then re
quired five days 10 make the trip each
way
Only day and a half elapsed between
the receipt of the news that the Rus
and tile appearance of Napoleon before
Moscow. The governor general had to
act on his own initiative and did 50 by
first Gripping the fire-fGhting apparatus
Then he liberated the prisoners from the
jaiis. supplied them with combustibles and
gave L EN- orders 10 fire the shipping and
barSes in the river with the whole of the
city 5 food supply on board.
Fires His Own Home.
The general proceeded 10 his country
seat fifty-seven kilometers outside OF Mos
COW. and fired il with his own hands. II
was magnificent villa filled with objects
Of art. for the governor was wealthy man
and j great collector. ON the gate lie
placed inscription that has been copied
by all the historians of the time and was
referred 10 by the French writer's in their
memories. Ii reads:
In this house | lived happily for
twelve years. and have burned it 10
save II from Dissertation by the French. :
The French officers who tried To eS-
tablish their quarters in the doomed city
found the chimneys of the houses they
occupied filled with Sunpowder and
combustibles. Every one suspected VINO
had given the order for the wholesale
destruction. but few Of the Russians
asked and none OF the French could find
out. Months after the destruction of the
city. when an acquaintance asked Gen
Rostoptchine If IL were true he had iirec
the town. he replied:
You ask question that even the
emperor dared not ask me at our audi
euCc.'
Ii was a deed that could hardly be dis
cuSsed at that day and time.
Countess Rostopchine says that she Is
sorry that she does not speak English
well enough 10 lecture in that language
before an audience but that she intends
To write a history OF her grandfather 5
life for publication in this country.
Mystery es to Identity.
There has always been considerable
mystery as to who set the city in flames.
The grand army of France had made
a victorious march 10 the frontier, had
won not an easy but satisfactory VIC
tory at the heights OF Borodno. and
thereafter had marched with suspicious
ease across the dusty. frozen plains to
the gates of Moscow There was activity
in the country and foraging parties were
cut off by bands of hard-riding Cos