Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-06-28

London, June zo.--Uhiaiho ho"S
paper reports quoted in German omclai
wireless bulletins say the former Car
Nicholas was killed by Russian RED
Guard In personal quarrel.
Rumors are. current that the family
| of the car had been taken to Peruze.
Last Of Ancient House.
Former Car Nicholas was the last
OF the house of Romanoff, established
in 1913 by Michael Feodorovitz. fol-
lowing the assassination Of Feodor L..
last of the house Of Rurik, that had
ruled Russia for 700 years.
Nicholas succeeded his father. Alex
ander III, in 1894. Thirteen days later
he married Princess Alice Of Hesse.
Although considered weak and vac
Hating ruler. Nicholas had hand In
much OF the development Of modern
Russia.
Helped Modernize Russia.
Under his decree Russia was changed
from an absolute monarchy to a con-
stitutional monarchy. He. too. was
father of the first world arbitration
conference at The Hague.
With the outbreak of the world war
the former czar seemed to have gained
vast popularity among his subjects,
and for the first time during his reign
went about openly. Then came de-
feats for his army and revolt In his
empire.
On March Is, 1917. deputation from
the duma demanded his abdication. He
signed it. and with his family was TAX
en- short time later to Tobolsk. a
,yx
ports Of plots, the royal exile, his wife,
and daughters were taken to Ekaterin-
burg. town in the Ural mountains in
Asiatic Russia.
The former car and his family were
closely guarded, given only the food Of
peasants, and allowed only the rough
est of clothing. Nicholas was reported
to have spent most Of his time at work
in a garden.
Son Reported Very III.
Dispatches telling of the former
cars removal to Ekaterinburg said his
son. once heir apparent to Russa's
throne. was too Ill to be moved The
boy had been the victim OF myster-
ious malady from babyhood.
Became Gar in 1894.
Nicholas. son and successor Of EN-
peror Alexander III. was born in st.
Petersburg May 1s, 1868. was edu-
Gated under the direction Of Constan-
tine Pobedonostsefr, procurator of the
holy synod, and received military
training, but had no personal taste for
soldering.
Before his accession to the throne
he was sent on a tour Of Greece. Egypt.
India and Japan, where he narrowly
escaped assassination by q Japanese
fanatic.
He succeeded to the throne on Nov.
Il, 1894, at the death of his father. and
within a few weeks married Princess
Alexandra Alix. daughter Of the grand
duke Of Hesse, by whom he had four
daughters, the Grand Duchesses Olga,
Tatiana. Marie and Anastasia, and one
son. the Grand Duke Alexis, heir ap-
parent to the Russian throne UP to the
time of his fathers abdication. Il
Tragedy at Coronation.
Emperor Nicholas coronation at
Moscow year and half later was
|attended by a/festival in which 1000
persons were trampled to death.
Aitho, personally. he seemed sincere.
simple, straightforward. peace loving.
moderate and of benevolent intent, dis
liking hypocrisy or ostentaton. model
husband and a tender father, yet IT Is
often asserted that he ruled Russia In
a reactionary spirit. was aroused to
faction chiefly over trifies. was incap-
able of generosity or sympathy for the
oppressed, superstitious, vacillating and
timid. 49,
Five years after his accession
Nicholas startled the world by call
! ing. in 1899. the first peace confer
auce 1t The Hague to discuss the