Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-27
HEAVY GUARD is KEPT
OVER FORMER EMPEROR
Jaer Gives First Reliable Information as to Nichoass
Condition Correspondent, Who Visits Vast Prison
Space Also Sees Deseclated Grave of Rasputin
InN NssncInt,d rross. I

Try Associated rrcssl
TSARSkoE SI:Lo. March ~. Sunday
| ,>ia London. March "tl.-rcnctratinE
| into and under the vast prison space
OF Nicholas Eomanon. the dcposcd EN-
pcror the correspondent of the Assoc
ciated Press to-day obtained from the
jailcr the first reliable statement OF
the former E:mperor'S condition aud
later visited the dcsrcratcd grave OF
Gregory Rasputin. Eussla's real au-
tocr3t for Il decade. and the unintcnd-
ing parent Of the revolution.
Since the visit paid by the cores
ponden, to the palace last week severe
measures have bccu taken 10 guard
the prisoner. These grew out ot ru-
mors of an attempted fight, monarchiSt
conspiracics against the temporary
government. and pressure by eNtrcm-
is; forces The guards have been in-
creased. and special representative
of the Council OF Deputies put among
thcm.i ON announcing his desire to
visit the grave of Rasputin tire soldiers
demanded his passport Of the Assoc
ciated Press correspondent. and then
led him TO the kitchen entrance OF the
palace prison. which is the hcaduuar-
tiers Of the guards.
Behind tho Kitchen entrance stands n
complex system uf low buildings
built around courtyard and ending
in a series of sub;errauean and semi
subterranean galleries. running the
whole way under the palace. The first
Of the two entries leads under an
arched portico into small, untidy
courtyard surrounded by one-story
~, ,l,
four sen,ries Of the First Tirailicur
Regiment. from which, out OF the five
regiments now earrisoned in Tssrskoc-
Scio. were chosen the guards as the
result of the regiments revolutionary
conduct at Kiev ten years ago.
NAMES or ALL ENTERING
HALL NOTED ny SOLDIERS
Inside the second entry. a small hall
crowded with soldiers. an ill-painted
illon with red lamp burning hangs
over dingy wooden desk at which
the soldiers note the names Of all
those entering. \, tho back Of the
hall are TWO lateral s,aircases with IA
gallery on top
All this part of the palace is dirty.
dinEy. ili-lighted and unimpress!ve. not
AT all such as might he expected OF
the surroundings OF great monarch
in cantivity Beyond the lateral stair
cases lie the mysterious parts OF the
palace. Leading away from between
the staircAses runs an interminablc
vaulted gallery, broken by shorter
right and left transverse galleries All
are windowlcss. At nearly every other
door OF The long gallery telephone
IS affixed. Asking his soldier escort il
these telephones We're connected with
the spy protective system the CORES
ponden, go, the answer: practically
so"
the rooms ot the gallery seem also
To be underground. but. Judging by
their orna!nented padlockcd doors they
arc not cellars. Two only bear an in
scripiion. one reads; Servants Of the
most august children" The other bears
q piacard from personal---very. times
showing il TO have been the bureau
OF the officer OF the day OF Emperor
Nicholas's underground guard. In this
room TO which he was led by "A soldier.
The correspondent met the officer OF
the day. Captain Bowers. who SHARPLY
censured the man for bringing the cor
respondent. and who said TO hin,: You
are the only person other than "A SOL
dier or nyisoner who has pa sed
through the galleries since the revo-
luton