The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-03-16


7 cannot he gis~a. Hs.putta L. s"ppo
Many tim~. before. his death has
/ OF the iast report hss been made.
SAN FRANCISCO, March
l6.-Rasputir. . iow-born peas
ant In the WORLDS most auto
cratic country. was a man OF
mystery.
| Ne rose TO WELD q power
that made ministries totter and
! which threw a shadow across
the very throne OF the cxar.
Gregory Rasputin was born In
the little Siberian village OF Pok-
rovsky. IN Tobolsk His father
was wealthy. but a poasant-what
In Russia Is called n "moujik," A.
boy he was auarrelsome. he
would not work and did not get an
education.
Drank Lots Of Vodka
Most OF Gregory's time vas
spent In the vodka shop. where he
talked much and loudly and picked
IA many quarrels as he could. How
over. the wits OF the vodka shop In
hts native town soon became too
dull 10 make 4, amusing for Ras-
putin 10 entangle them,
lie started on pilgrimage. IN
every village he drank vodka, more
than was good for him. At last he
reached Moscow. where he found
those who could make him. with
his lack OF learning. seem ridiou.
lous. He began TO learn to read
and write.
Religion and Women
Religion was his paSaion--re-
ligson and women.
III. delved into the lore OF the
Russian church. journeyed TO kior.
To Mount Athos. 10 Jerusalem. then
went 10 sea. Once back In Russia
he became a moujik priest. an I'M
ordained monk.
som. one introduced him In the
salons Of a Countess lgnatien n
P.trugrad. at whose receptions
men Of letters. science and tho
church assembled. Al once he be
gan his intrigucs with women. and.
altho no stlil wore miserable cloth
| ing and his manners were at best
uncouth. some of the beautiful
women OF Petrograd showed him
marked favor. and more than one
husband threatened him. Hut ev-
erythlng Rasputln did was under
cover OF religion
IL Is said by men who know that
more than one woman OF Peuo-
grad. who could turn the hearts OF
the finest manhood OF tho city.
washed the feet and kissed the
hands OF this shaggy. boorish monk
in their religious fervor-onls
sometimes the religious aide wa.
outgrown.
Predicts Son TO Cxsrina
Then came his first real oppor-
tunity for political power. The en-
peror was still without an heir. Hs
was dissatisfied. There was talk
of a divorce, and tina emperor and
empress we're seldom seen to-
gether.
For the fifst time In many
weeks they rode in the same ca
riage during public ceremony
Suddenly above the thousands o.
cheers voice doomed out:
Thou shalt bear SON
IL was Hasputin's voice.
Tho cxariuA half rose and then
sank back In her carriage. but
later she received the monk at the
Court In Petrograd In less than a
sse.af.hAfHE heir
was born to the czar. Rasputins
name was on every ones lips and
he became more and more Ia
vorite
From then on his power grew
and 40 his intrigues. Time ana
again his life Was threatened aud
at one time Madame Guseva. whose
two daughters had paid the price
OF certain favor. tried to kin him
Was Pro-oerman
RaRputin was the leader OF what
Is called ths pro-German party in
Russia He tried his best To pre-
vent the present war with Germany
aud steadily worked for a separate
seace.
IN ltGtuDfI sNAuf VI i"aN s'"A .
according to adyices from Russia.
two young men. aristocrats. drove
to a house in Petrogrsd, where a
man. assumed Ia have been Ras-
putin. entered their automobile.
The car was driven TO Yussupofl
palace.
How He Died
Cries were heard and when the
police came. attendants explained
that dog had been shot. LOW
ever. the story goes that an auto
drove from the palace TO an island.
Investigation led to discoyery OF a
hole in the ice and divers recov-
cred the body OF Rasputin.
The supposition Is that he was
taken to the palace. invited to the
garden and handed revolver load
cd with blank cartridges.
Finding himself at bay. he turn
ed the weapon on his enemies and