Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-21
Associated Press1

AsTAPOVA, Russia, Nov. 20-The
crowd that gathered around the hut
where Tolstoi lay dying in the early
Sunday morning hours awaited
breathlessly a verdict of DR.. Thtchu-
rowsky and DR.. Usoff, two of the lead
ing heart specialists of Moscow, who
had been hurriedly called into con-
sultation
The former had carried Tolstoi
safely through a similar crisis in 1901
in the Crimea and the hopes Of the
people rested on him.
| The examination was brief, lasting
| less than half an hour. Tolstoi failed
| to recognize either of the doctors, and
asked:
"Who are these strangers?'
When informed, he said, What fine
meni"
In spite of their natural reluctance
| to spread discouraging reports, the
| two physicians could not hold out
ray of hope. However, they hoped to
lessen the pain of the aged patient,
whose parting hours were mercifully
free from physical suffering. His
heart succumbed shortly after he had
come from under the influence of an
injected Stimulant. He died without
regaining consciousness.
In the interval between the last two
attacks Of cardiac failure the patient
seemed to be comfortable and his face
was clear of pain.
Throughout heart breaking night
A. motley crowd made up of the most
varied elements imaginable pressed
around the low hut. There were dis
tant relatives of the aged author, Toll
stoians, villagers and many church.
men, among them the abbot, Varso-
fonius, who did not lose hope until
the end of seeing Tolstoi and extend
IL. ,oI1 M hnh
of the church.
CROWDS STAND sPELLBoUND
All alike stood spellbound. knowing
that a matchless personality was de-
parting as the Sunday dawn dispelled
the raw November night.
Virtually the whole population OF
Astapova were there. Then voice
from the hut came, quietly:
LEO Nicholaievich is dead"
There was a moment of silence.
Then every head was barred and there
were sounds everywhere Of sobbing.
One called out. His heart was
burst by his unbounded love for hu-
manity," and this and similar phrases
rang from mouth to mouth among the
weeping Russians
Later in the day all the peasants in
the district flocked here. None was
excluded from the death chamber.
NON-NNNN--
stream of visitors, including many
school children.
The chamber is decorated with pine
branches.
The body has been embalmed and
will be transferred to Yasnaya Poll
ana. All visitors have been given per
mission to photograph the body II they
wish.
M. Gunzeberg, the sculptor, will take
a death mask.
II is said that Tolstoi expressed a
wish to be buried on the hill at Yas-
naya Poliana, where he played as q
child. but that the funeral should be
simnle. without ceremonial or flowers.
The family, however, has agreed not
to interfere with any honorS the public
NAV desire to pay. Friends of the dead
writer have started a movement for
the ACQUISITION of the house where he
died, as a national memorial.
Grand Duke Nicholas Michaelovitch
has sent a message to Countess Toll
stoi, saying
"My whole soul is with you and your
family at this sad moment"
Numerous other kilograms of SYM
pathv have come from organizations
and individuals.
Tolstoi's death occurred peacefully, at
6 o'clock Sunday morning. 1t was due
directly to heart failure, following in
flammation of the lungs.
KNEW DEATH WAS NEAR
He quilted his home and family ten
days ago to find solitude In the belief
that the hand of death was already
nron him. True to his answering and
uncompromising search for truth, he
died as he had lived without recon
Citation with the church, his dying
words breathing sympathy for afflicted
humanity:
.Many millions in the world are suf-
fcring; why are you concerned for
me?"
Only the physicians were present in
the room at the time of his death.
members of his family. including his
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