New-York tribune., 1908-07-10
VICTIM OF A DUEL
Heir to the Greatest Fortune an
Russia Killed.

Copyright. 1905 by the Brentwood Company
Count Nicholas Sounarokoff- Elston. who was
killed last Sunday at st. Petersburg In duel py
Count Manteuffe was the elder of the two sons or
the colossally rich Prince and Princess Youssor-
pof. whose wealth IS said to exceed even mat OF
the Demidoffs. being derived In great part from
the richest turquoise mines In the worin-H'hes
that virtually inexhaustible. The young count
like his father the prince, may be said to have had
American blood In his veins, being descended from
American of the name of Elston who took UP
his abode in Russia In the days of Peter the Grea'
and became Muscovite citizen The rather OF the
prince was plain Mr. Felix Nicoaiovitch Eiston
when, on his marriage with the only child and
heiress of the last of the ancient noble house OF
Soumarokof he authorized TO assume the
name and the arnorial bearings of his wiIe RS wen
as the title OF count by her father Their
son. Count Felix Soumarokoff- -Elston, was fortu-
enough to secure in 1882 the hand Of Princess
Zenaide Youssoupoff only child and heress OF
Prince Nicholas Borissovitch Youssoupoh, last oI
his line the death of the latter, IN 1891 was
permitted by Alexander III to assume his father-n-
laws and princely title, becoming III lhiS
way Prince Youssoupof.
There was quite a romance in connection with
this marriage, which may be said In fact TO nave
been largely brought about by Emperor Alexander
for Zenaide Youssoupof af1anced to Prince
Alexander Of Battenberg, who was then reigning
Bulgaria, and would undoubtedly have De-
come his wife and have shared his throne had 1t
not been for the late Czar, who hating his Batten-
berg cousin with an intense animosity, vetoed the
match and insisted her marrying instead man
Of his choice, namely. Count Felix SoumarokoH-
Elston. The late Prince Youssoupof was IN MS
day famous as the most avaricious miser IN the
Russian Empire. and innumerable were the stories
and anecdotes related of his almost 1ncreolole
meanness. He never ceased to grumoie about the
hardness of the times, and so anxious was ne 10
save his kopecks that henever he gave one or MS
rare which were practically
forced upon hin, much against his Willie always
made a point of Fastening to blow out the CANDIES
and the lights the last guests were lea'-
Ing his salon. For time he was master OF cere-
monies at court but shabby and sordid was MS
dress and disreputable his aspect that means
had to be found for dispensing with his services.
He married one Of the Narischknes, very beautl-
full woman. and left her at his death with an only
daughter, namely, Zenaide, now Princess foussou-
poff. His widow declined all the tempting offers Oh
marriage which she received until. when nearly
sixty years of age, she fell in love with a young
Breton peasant of the name of Chauveau After
having purchased him at Rome the Italian titIe
of MARQUIS de Sierra she married him. and settled
down a magnificent estate near Qulmper' IN
Brittany which, her young husband having pre-
deceased her, she bequeathed on her death In loSo
to the department Of Finisterre token of al
fectionate regard for her second 'patrie