New-York tribune., 1920-02-01
Bodies of Csa1' and Family
Burned BY Sulphuric Acid
New Details of Tragedy That Wiped Out Russian
Royalty ON July II, 1913, Brought Back
by Colonel Emerson, of U. S. Engineer Corps
Special Correspondence

Special Correspondence
ST. PAUL, Mimi, Jan. 3l.-How the
former Empress OF Russia and her
eldest daughter knelt in prayer-mak-
ing the sign Of the cross, while former
Car Nicholas and his heir we're mur-
dered before their eyes, and how the
assassns then turned their guns and
hayonets on the remaining members
of the Cars family and their retinue
IS told in report brought back from
Russia by Colonel George II. Emerson,
of St. Paul.
Colonel Emerson, formerly general
manager of the Great Northern Rail
way, returned from Russia January 20.
lie was member Of the American
railway mission, headed by John T.
stevens, which was sent to Siberia in
November, 1917, to keep open the ST.
berlan Railway in the hope that
Russia s forces might be kept in the
lleld. While the mission was en- route
the herensky government went to
pieces, but Colonel Emerson was one
~ 0'Vac WHO remained IN Russia tor
tWenty-six months attempting to assist
the country to regain its fighting
power
Czechs Investigated Tragedy
Extracts from special report pre-
pared by General Dictricks furnish the
BASIS TOR the story Of the murder of
the Iormer Gar and his family, and
these are augmented by an investica-
tINn bu tbo .
General Gada, who became stancn
friend of Colonel Emerson.
On the night the Car and his fam
lily were murdered Colonel Emerson
and other members of the commission
were only about sixty miles distant.
According to the report. q cow of
which is in Colonel Emerson's posses
SION. the Car and his family were
awakened between midnight and a. m.
July II, 1913. They were brought down
stairs in their house at Ekaterinbure
ana told the Czechs would soon be upon
them, and that therefore it would be
necessary to put them to death. AL
most Immediately the Red Guards be
gan firing
The mutilated bodies Of many Of
those murdered that night were dis
covered, but it is believed that the
bodies Of the Car and Of the members
CT his immediate family were CON
sumed by great Quantities Of sulphuric
acld. Jewelry and trinkets possessed
by them We're found near the scene Of
the murder. These included many Of
the royal jewels.
Daily Life Sharply Restricted
With the usurpation Of the govern
ment by the Bolsheviki severe rostrc-
tlonS were placed on the daily affairs
OF the Cars family. Thus, a valet,
who had been in the Cars family for
ten years, stated that after the turn
over there followed severe restric-
tons both in the funds for the upkeep
OF the Cars family and in the matter
OF its occupations, and particularly in
regard to their walks. When a demand
was unexpectedly made by the central
committee for the Cars family TO
transfer Immediately to Ekaterinburg
the Cars plea that his son was i'll re-
ceived no consideration"
AS far as could be learned by the
examination of inhabitants the leaders
in the murder were Commi ssaires
Yourotfsky and his assistants, a work
man OF the lssetsky works, Pavcl Med
yedoif; and the Red guards Levatnik,
Stekorin and Yakimoff Some Of chem
boasted Of their participation.
1he tragedy OF July Il, 1918. was de-
scribed by Capiolina Agafonovka in
the words Of her brother, Anatole Yaki-
mof, one OF the Red guards Of the
house of lpatyen. She said on the day
following the murder her brother came
TO her, tired and broken down, and in
great agitation announced:
This night Nicholas Romanof, his
family, the doctor, the Friulein and the
lackeys were killed. All of the captives
were awakened between midnight and
| clock and requested TO go down
stairs. Here they were told that the
enemy (Czcchs) would soon be in
Lkaterinburg and that therefore it was
necessary that they be put to death.
Then and there the Red guards began
TO shoot at the Cars family The
first to be killed were the Emperor and
tie heir. The rest Of the prisoners
were wounded. They had to be fin
ished off by further shooting. batter
ing with the butt ends Of muskets and
stabbing with bayonets.
Czarina Thirty-two Times Wounded
There was particularly great trou-
bic with the Fraulein. Sh ewas wrig-
Cling and attempting TO defend herself
with pillow. On her body thirty two
wounds were counted. The grand
duchess, Anastasia Nikolaicyna, had
tainted. When we began 10 examine
her she shrieked wildly, after which
she was killed with bayonets and rifle
butts
According to YakimoT, the murder
scene was so unspeaAably horrible that
he could not pu0llro