Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-03-27
Hundreds of People Held at
TSarSkoe-SeIo as PriSonerSi
Only Soldiers of Known
Loyalty in Charge,
RASPUTIN'S GRAVE
HAS BEEN 0ESECRATED
Nicholas Puts in Much Enjoy
able Time ShoveIing Snow;.
Health of Family is Better
Than Before,

Iuf MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED WiNRl
Tsarskoe -Selo, Sunday, March 25
(via London, March rs, 1890 p. M
Penetrating today into anG under the
vast prison-paiace of Nicholas Ro-
manoff, the deposed emperor, the
correspondent of the Associated Press
today obtained from the Jailer the
first reliable statement of the former
empcror's condition and later visited
the deseCrated grave of Gregory Ras-
putin, Russia's real autoCrat for a
decade and the unintending parent Of
the revolution.
Palace Closely Guarded.
Since the visit paid by the CORE
spOndent to the palace last week, Sc
we're measures have been taken to
guard the prisoner. These grew out
of rumOrs of an attempted flight
monarchist cOnspiraCies against the
temporary government and pressure
by extremist forces. The guards have
been increased and a special repre-
sentative of the council of deputies
put among them. On announcing his
desire to visit the grave of Rasputin,
the soldiers demanded his passport
of the Associated Press correspondent,
then led him to the kitchen entrance
of the palace-prison. which is the
headquarters of the guards.
Soldiers Carefully Picked.
Behind the kitchen entrance stands
. complex system of low buildings
built around courtyard and ending
in a series OF subterranean and semi
subterranean galleries, running the
whole. way under the palace. The
first Cf Tic tWG entries reads undet
ap arChed pOrtco INTO small. untidy
courtyard surrounded by one-stoiy
buildings. At the second entrance
were four sentries of the First Trial
lcur regiment from which, out Of the
five regiments now garrisOned in
Tsarskoe- Selo, were chosen the
guards as the result of the regiments
revolutionary conduct at kieV ten
years ago.
Everything Dirty.
Inside the second entry Il small hall
is crowded with soldiers and an i'll
painted ikon with red lamps burning
hangs over a dingy wooden desk at
which the soldiers note the names OF
al those entering. At the back of the
hall are two lateral staircases with
gallery on too.
All this part of the palace is dirty.
dngy, ill-lighted and unimpressiVe
mysterious part of the palace. Lead
ing away between the stairCases runsi
an interminable vaultcd gallery. AT
nearly every other door on the long
gallery telephone is affixed. Ask
ing soldier if those telephones were
connected with the spy and protec-
tive systems, the correspondent got
the answer:
"Precisely 90"
The rooms off the gallery seem also
to he underground. but judging by
their orhamcnted padlocked doors,
they are not cellars. Two only bear
an inscription, One reads: Ser I
wants of the Most August Children"
the other bears a placard from pre-
revolutionary times, showing y to-
have been the bureau of the officer
of the day of Emperor Nicholas un- /
derground guard. In this room, 20 |
which he was led by a soldier. the /
correspondent met the officer of the
day, Captain Bowers, who sharply !
censured the man for bringing I've
CORRESPONDENT. and who said TO him: |
you are the only person other
than a soldier or prisoner who has
passed through the galleries since Tie
revolution"
Gets Another Permit.
The captain sent the correspondent !
to the palace commandant, Captain OF
Cavalry Kotzebuc. Captain KotZe-
hue's headquarters are in an angle OF
an old and now untenanted section of
the Tsar- skoe-Seloe palace. He gave
the correspondent a soldier escort ana
a permit to pass along the road TO
Rasputins grave, The captain IS
Nicholas chief jailer. He is youthful:
and urbane, an officer of the guard
type. speaking perfect French ana
English.
ADFORMER CZAR IS. 6
THE former emperor is not under
detention, but in all respects a prls-
oner and IS treated accordingly
said Captain kotzebue. He is in
perfectly good health and in fairly
good spirits. When he is Wlth MS
own encourage he has fits OF cry
ing. He is no longer allowed in the
park but twice daily, from II to J
o'clock. he is permitted to walk for i
recreation in the garden between
the east and west wings of the pal
ace.
All Are Prisoners.
The regime of the Imprisonment
Of Nicholas is applied also to all
courtiers and servants who are plls-
oners. The former emperor is not
permitted to go into the garden eX-
cept in my presence. He walks ire
quently with other prisoners prefer
ring the society of the former en- !,
press. Count Benkendorff, former
marshal of the court; Madame Ma
rychkina and Countess Hendrikoff,
He is requested to converse only in
Russian when in the presence of
soldiers. II
The former cars chief occupa
tion Of shoveling snow in the gar