The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-13

zone OF the most prophetic stories
the war has produced is that OF the
removal last April of the Gar ,Nicko-
las, of Russia, TO Ekaterinburg. where
he met bis death. His removed was
affected by Commissary Yakovlev.
who subsequently gave an interesting
description in the 'Hsvyestia. the
official Bolshevik organ. of incidents
connected with the transfer. Follow
ing is the textual translation OF his
story:)
When everything had been pre-
pared went on the eve of the day of
departure. to the house OF the gov
ernor of Toholsk. in which Nicholas
RomanoT was living with his family
Nicholas RomanoU was informed Of
my arrival but did not know that I
mad come as representative OF. the
Soviet powers Going 10 him, | made
the following declaration:
Citizen Rcmanoff. the council OF
the Peoples cor1missaries has in
str1icted me TO remove you from To-
bolsk, Your departure Is fixed tor
4 o'clock tomorrow morning BE
ready at that time"
Romanoff started and aaitatedlg
INQUIRED:
Where are YOU going to take me ~
In answered that I was not sure
of his place of destination but that /
should ne given definite instructions
during the journey
Eomano6 considered for few
moments and then declared Il win
not GO
At that momen, Alexandria Feodor-
ovna entered the room Being in
| formed of the sub iect Of our con
VerS3tiOrl. she eSCla inn ed
What are YOU going 10 10 with
! him? You wish to- tear him from his
! family. Is it possible? His son is
4! i'll, No he cannot go. He must re-
! main with us
| Imperative Orders.
! 7 answered that had been given
| definite orders which I would carry
| out unreservediy. There need be no
| talk OF separation however as the
whole OF Romanoffs family were 10
be removed with him, Rut rs their
transfer aat tho ,gria,iae'M " eisf1 lie ats
I tended With icersa1n d ttttett itSeY VI " -;
/ PROPOSED TO lsave >tfiair sex son.
Alexei, in Toboisk until the spring.
when the ice would break and he
could be conveyed from Toholss to
Tumen by steamer Some of the
members of Romanofts family could
70 with him. the rest could stay be-
! for them N decide
L. Eomanof listened 70 nae, hut as
| though he did not quite understand.
and then repeated almost word for
| word what Alexandra Feodorovra had
I Just said; MY son is i'll. Is II pos
sible to tear me from my family" No.
n cannot 90
I thought s',perAueas to begin
arguing about the matter and re-
MAJ tyy 10 h1t In, nv~ts,
was fixed for O'Clock in the morn
ing left them.
As 7 went out OF the room Alexa n
dra Feofnrovna cried 4fter nae ner-
vously:. TT liz too crral do not be
lieve that you will Il -"
wen to the chine Of the ex-cyar's
convoy in Tobols't Comrade Kohy.
Iinsky and informed him that come
what might, my orders as to- the de-
hour would he carried out, and r
Nicholas Ramanoff had not prepared
for the journey within that time he
would be obliged to leave. withou,
luggage. Kobylinsky thought it nee,
cssary to go to Eomanoff and per-
suade him that any opposition to TIL"
orders for his departure was out OF
the question.
Romanofr debated the question Of
his departure for two or two and o
half hours with his family and
friends. In the course OF that time
the family council changed their
nplnion more than nncc--At one inae
they decided that Nicholas should go
with all his daughters, while Alexan
dra Feodorovna should remain be-
hind with tho son: and then again
that Alexandra Ts,odorovna should 60
with Nicholas. while the daughters
should remain. and so on.
At last Kobylipsky was informed
that Nicholas would be accompanied
ny Alexandria Feodoroyna and their
daughter Marva, Prince Dolgoruki,
Professor Rotkin Fraulein Demidoy,
one man servant and valet: while
the remaining daughters and the rest
OF the courtlers. including Count Ia
tischeff and all the servants. number
ing fortr persons. should STAY behind
Nicholas Might Blnnder.
Alexandra Feodorovna's decision
TO leave her son somewhat astonished
me. kohylinslsy told me he overheard
sentence spoken bv the ex-czarite
to Tatischcff which threw some light
upon that resolution. I'm afraid"
she said. that II he goes alone he will
commit some blunders'' Alexandra
Feodorovna had evidently no great
opinion OF the tact and intelligence
OF her husband
On April 81 at four in the morning
everything was ready. and we started
on our journey. We had 10 travel
the ESQ versts fabout 1877 miles) frnm
Tobolsk to Tumen by carriage The
road was very bad during the hrsfI
thirty versts. We had to cross two
rivers. Tobol and Tura. The spring !,
thaw already had set In. 4
The Ice was beginning to crack. II
was riaky to take carriages over the
Toboa and Tura. and We were obliged
to cross the ice on foot. We accom-
ntished that part of the Journey with |
great Spsed. There wAre onlv- eight