The Alaska daily empire., 1918-06-28

undermining Russia's war strength
 One of these for which the Elm
 peror was held personally responsi- ble was the mysterious power exer- csed by Gregory Rasputin, the mys- | tic monk, who had obtained great ascendencq over both Emperor and Empress. Protests against the
 monks power and presence and against the mysticism and supersti- tion that enveloped the Russian
 throne were suppressed. The re- sentiment eliminated in the murder of Rasputin and was famed to re- newed flame by the honors paid him
 after death.
 The government had ordered the
 dissolution of the Council of the Empire and the Duma. The hungry people were incensed by lack of food supplies and held the government re- sponsible for their sufferings. The
 Duma rejected the Imperial ukase of dissolution, cotinued its meetings and organized an Executive Com mittee. It was believed to repre-
 sent the demand of the people that the war should be prosecuted with
 greater vigor and efficiency. The troops in Petrograd sustained the Duma and within three days from it's inception the revolution was ac-
 complished, the government over
 thrown and Nicholas forced to ab- dicate.
 The Emperor was then at the
 Russian army headquarters. He
 attempted to transfer the throne to
 his brother, the Grand Duke Mich ael, but he, in turn, abdicated and the Romanoff dynasty which had
 ruled the destinies of the Russian empire for more than 300 years was brought to an end. At the order of the executive Committee of the Du- ma, Nicholas, who had signed his
 abdication at midnight March 15,
 was arrested and taken to Tsars-
 koe-Selo Palace, which was to be
 his prison, and was placed under guard.
 Nicholas seemed to be stunned by
 the suddenness of the blow and
 made no attempt to resist. He re-
 jected the suggestion of one of his
 generals that the Russian lines be opened to let the Germans pass
 through and Ideal with the Can he was no traitor. He expressed
 the hope that he might be permitted to live at his palace at Livadia, in the Crimea. Instead he was taken
 prisoner to the Petrograd palace.
 At first the former Emperor was
 not closely confined.
 His state as prisoner must have been in painful contrast with that
 which he enjoyed as Russian auto
 crat. His private wealth had been
 estimated at $2,000, 100000, but it was confessed that no accurate idea of it's vastness was obtainable. His 1 income was believed to exceed $50,- 000,00O year His personal ex- penses were placed at $50 day, but
 the expense of maintaining the roy
 al state were almost incredible. When Emperor he was classed as | the most wealthy man in the world He owned several of the worlds
 most beautiful palaces and possessed 1 q great fortune in diamonds, pearls and other jewels and precious stones He owned, it was said, more than | a million square miles of cultivated | land and forests. One-third of tho output of Russia's gold and silver mines was believed to be included in his income. It was reported that
 he gave 0,000,000 from his pri- vate treasury to Russia's war fund. In appearance Nicholas was rath- CT slender and undersized and, be- ing sensitive on that point, usually occupied the foreground when pho tograph was being made so that his
 size would be exaggerated. His re-
 semblance to King George of Eng
 land was often remarked. He was
 blond and wore Q full brown beard
 Having no desire for ostentation, he avoided crowds and pomp when
 possible and carried no airs or blus- ter. His outdoor pleasures were a
 mild scrt such as boating, cycling, sketchilig, or playing tennis, Of which game he was very fond.