Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-08
DRAMATIC RECITAL
OF EX-CzAR'S ARREST
Taken Under Heavy Guard
While Crowd Shouts
"Bloodsucker."
IMPERATIVE ORDER ISSUED
Romanoff Torn From His Fam
lily and Son, Who
Was Ill.
ORDER ISSUED

One OF the most prophetic stories
the war has produced Is that OF tho
removal last April of the Gar Nicholas
OF Russia TO Ekaterinburg. where he
met his death. His removal was .i-
fccted by commissary Yakovlev. WHO
subsequently gave al interesting de-
scription III the ''Isryestia." the OIL
is the textual translation OF his story:
Wnen everything had been prepared
| went. on the eve of the day oi de-
parturc. to the house of the Governor
ofNrobolsk in which Nicholas Roman
OF was living with his family. Mich
arrival. but did not know that | had
come romer as : rfpreson,ati , of the Soviet
following declaration:
Citizen FsomanoT, the Council OF
the Peoples Commissaries has instruct
cd me. TO remove you from Tobolsk
Your departure is fixed for 4 o'clock
TOMORROW morning. BE ready 1T that
tine."
Komanor started and asltated!y In
CURED:
Where are you going to take mecv
his place of destination. but that
should be given definite instructions
during u, M, the the journey
ments, and then declared: Il will
not 20"
At that moment Alexandra Frodor-
formed OF the subject of our CONVEX
sation, she exclaimed:
!, WHAT are you going, TO do with
family. 1t is impossible. His son is
H. No: he cannot so. He must re- !,
answered that had been given
definite orders, which 1 would carr.
out unreservedly. There need be no
whole of Konanoii's family we're 'T to
be removed with him. But MS their
transfer at the moment would be at.
tended with certain difficulties. it was
proposed to leave their sick son. Alcxci,
in Tobolsk until the spring. when the +
Ice would break and he could be con-
steamer Some of the members of
me rest could stay behind with Alexct-
that was a matter for them to de-
Romanoff listened TO me, but as
word what Alexandra Eeodorovna had
just said: My son is i'll. Is it possible
10 tear me from my family? No: cam
not go"
thought 1t superluous TO begin.
arguing about the matter. and re-
beating shortly that the departure was
fixed for o'clock in the morning Left
As went out of the room Alcxandra
ut is too cruel. do not believe that
YOU will do It,"
convoy in Tobolsk. Comrade Kobylin-
sky. and informed him that, come what
might my orders as to the departure
be carried out. and If Nicholas Roman
OH had not prepared for the journey
within that time he would be, obliged
10 leave without luggage. kobylinSky
thought II necessary TO go to Romanoif
and persuade him that any opposition
to the orders FOR his departure was out
OF the question.
Romanoff debated the question OF his
hepartu ,l,. for two or two and = half
the course OF that time the family
council changed their opinion more
,hnn once. At one time they decided
daughters, while Alexandra Feodorovna
should remain behind with the son:
and and, then sho again that Alexnndra Fcodor-
the daughters should remain, and so
At last Kobylinsky was informed
mat Nicholas would be accompanied
by Alexandra Feodorovna and their
d hraFassar Nara Mar1ya' Prince p1lsornzi
one manservant and a valet: while thc
remaining daughters and the rest at
The cour,iers Including coun, Tatish-
forty persons. should stay behind
NICHOLAS MIGHT BI.UNDER,
FEAR OF EN-CXARITfI
Alexandra Feodorovna's decision 10
leave her son somewhat astonished me.
sentence spoken BY the cN-Czaritc 10
Tatischeff which threw some light upon
that resolution. I'm afraid" she said
that If he goes alone he Will commit
some blunders" Alexandra Fcodorov-
ma had evidently no great opinion OF
the tact and Intelligence of her nus
hand.
On April {. at in the morning
everything was ready. and We started
on o., our Journey. We had TO travel
me 200 vers!s tsbout l67 miies) FROM
road was very bad during the first
thirty ycrsts We had to cross Nv"
rivers. Toboi and Tura. The spring
thaw already had set in.
The ice was beginning 10 crack. Ii
MAS risky to take carriages over the
Tobol and Tura. and we were obliged
pl:shcd that part of the journey with
great speed. There were only eight
haits altogether. Everywhcre har-
messed troikas were waiting for us In
files, We stopped our carriages in par
aliei files thanks TO which the change
was ACCOMPLISHED very quickly.
The convoy accompanying the cor
tese consisted Of thirtyIhve mcn-fif-
teen cavalrymen and twenty infantry.
In addition. large patrols were posted
at an , the hating s., stations This Jour
olas Romanof On the whole the cS-
Cars health was greatly improved
during the last year. He has worked
q lot in the open air. cutting wood,
digging in his garden. growing veg
etahlcs. IN il word. ne was feeling ex-
tremeiy well His complexion was per-
felt much greater fatigue. but tried not
to show it.
They were very much struck by the
way IN which we treated them They
had feared insults and illtrcatment
from us but the convoy. to man.
maintained perfectly correct attt-
tude toward them. and not a single
rude or insulting word was indulged
in. our mutual relations were conf
ple,ely unceremontal. just rs between
ordinary citizens. Alexandra Fcodo-l
rovna gaZed at us open-eycd. but Mich
olas quickly accommodated himself IL
us, and behaved himself quite simply.
From Tumen We proceeded by the rail-
way. The convoy was increased 10
l6o men, The journey from Tumen 10
Ekaternburg was accomplished wI,E-l
out any incidents whatever.
RomnnoH bore the Journey extreme
ly We'll. tle was evidently, chiefly i'm "a
tereated in three matters-.iIis family
the weather and food. lie IL very anss,S
attached TO his family. and thinks 81 y
them al tho fiunA Ia !,