The evening leader. (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) 191?-19??, 1917-08-17
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF;
FORMER CAR AND FAMILY
SENT INTO EXILE IN SIBERIA
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~c>o>c-0~o-oc-~-c-~~c-~-~-
tied away under circumstances of ex-
IRENE mystery early yesterday morn
ing. No one except the local military
and officials especially sent from Pc
trograd witnessed the departure, and,
according to a statement made to the
Associated Press by N. v. Nebrasoff,
vice president of the council of minis
tiers, the account published in the only
newspaper which reported the depart
ure was imaginary.
Rides on Common Train
1t appears that the plan was to re-
move Nicholas before dawn, but the
train arrived at Tsarkoe-Selo several
hours late. Instead of the gorgeous
imperial train in which Nicholas was
taken to Tsarskoe-Selo from Mohiley
in March, an ordinary train composed
OF three sleeping cars, a dining car
and several third class coaches was
sent. A second train was assigned to
take the baggage and servants, fifty
of whom accompanied the ex-emperor
and his family into exile. Nicholas
was very depressed in appearance but
e1-Empress Alexandra, who was seen
walking for the first time in months,
seemed lively and pleased at the pros
pect of change in surroundings. In
view of the need for special precau-
tions the guard between the palace
and railroad station was not composed
of any single unit, but of delegations
of eleven trusted men from each bat
talon of the Tsarskoe-Selo garrisons.
Ap hour after the train arrived Mich
olas appeared on the steps of the pal
ace dressed in colonel's Uniform with
a khaki blouse and no decorations.
He entered an automobile accompanied
by Prince DolgoroulSotf and Count
Benckendorff, former court marshal,
who thus far have shared his captivi-
ty. They were followed by the former
Empress Alexandra, who was accom-
panied by Countess Narykhen, her
close friend and former lady of the
court; all the four grand duchesses,
with their maids of honor and finally
by Alexis, the former heir to the
throne, at whose side was the gigantic
sailor, Derevnko, the protector of
Alexis since his birth, and his constant
companion.
Keep Departure Secret.
In order to keep the departure Sc
cret as long as possible the train was
kept on side track to which Nicho-
las and his party went. The public
was unaware of tie transfer until late
last night In order to keep up the fic-
ton that Nicholas was stillin the pal
ace the guards were retained around
the park and special vigilance was
shown in keeping the people away.
Many rumors are current in regard
to the motives for the removal of the
imperial family and as to its desti-
nation. The semi-official news agency
says the demand for Nicholas trans
fer was due to fear of authorities
that attempts would be made to liber-
ate him in connection with a counter
revolutionary movement A prevalent
theory is that the discovery of the
letter in which General Gurko, former
commander of the southwestern front,
expressed loyalty TO the former en-
peror and of plots to effect the escape
of Nicholas, caused the council of
deputies to demand his removal to
safe place-either to Bolsk, Siberia,
er Krostroma, which was the original
seat of the Romanoff family, NJ. Mex Z
rasoff said, however, that all stories
that the removal was connected with
the Gurko affair or with attempt to
liberate Nicholas were untrue, the
transfer having been decided upon last
month.
"Our motives were political and mil
itary," he continued. "We decided to
get Nicholas out of the way before
circumstances might arise which
would make this difficult. 1t is abso- 2
lutely untrue that the council of depu-
ties compelled the government to act"