The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-17

the lobby Nicholas seated Alexis where he
had been standing, in the middle of the room,
and sat down beside him. A pillow was
placed behind Alexandra. Two other pillows
remained in Demidova's arms. The Car and
the CZarevitch kept their caps on, as II ex-
pectng any moment to go out. They thought
the vehicles that were to convey them away
had not arrived, the lorry being there to
take The luggage. On the Empresss right
stood three of her daughters, on her left the
other daughter and Demidova.
Almost Immediately the door into the
lobby was INSTRUCTED by Yurovsky. his
friends and the Let's" There were Nikulin,
Ermakov, Vaganov, Medvedev and seven
Let's" the remaining three being on guard
duty. There were twelve murderers, Each
carried a revolver. The rifles of the Lett"
guard were stacked IN the adjoining room
(where they lived).
Staying of the Prisoners.
Yurovsky advanced into the death cham
Der aid addressed the Gar. There are many
versions of this utterance According TO the
most trustworthy one he said: Your rela-
tives have tried to save you. But 1t could
not he managed by them, and so we our
selves are compelled to shoot you"
The twelve reviewers volleyed instantly,
and all the prisoners fell TO the ground
Death had been instantaneous in the case Of
the parents and three of the children, and of
DIR. Botkin and two servants. Alexis re-
manned alive in spite OF his wounds. and
moaneJ and struggled in his agony Yurov-
sky finished him with his Colt. One of the
girls-presumably the youngest grand duch-
ess. Anastasia--rolled about and screamed,
and, when one Of the murderers approached.
fought desperately with him till he killed her.
Iosseems as il the murderers had not been
able to aim straight at the boy and girl. Even
their caiiou5 near Is had wavered The maid
servant lived the longest. Perhaps the pill
lows were In the way. She was not touched
by the first volley, and ran about screaming
till some of the Let's" selling their rifles,
bayoneted her to death She was covered
with stabs. Poor Demidova died the victim
OF a misunderstanding; the Reds thought
that she was a maid of honor and therefore
bourgeoise, whereas she was a simple
peasant girl.
Within a few minutes of their entering
the room all was over. No time TO be
lost in removing traces of the crime. The
floors and walls had to be washed quickly
and the bodies sent away. Daylight would
soon appear. There was long way to go
through the city. Hardened and ruthless.
secure in their impunity of murder under
the Soviet system, Yurovsky and his associ-
ates were none the less hurrying desperately
They knew that the arrangements for Eek
ecutlns tne ttOmanO1IS could not De regard
cd as trial. nor would the people approve
the deed. And so. like common murderers.
they were desperately anxious to get rid of
the corpses.
The murder accomplished all the bodies
were carried into the courtyard and placed
on a waiting lorry. They were rolled up i'm
old coats and covered with mats to conceal
the cargo and the lorry get Off at a gallop
for the woods.
There is not shadow of doubt as to what
took place near the iron mine shaft in the
woods. The bodies were burned with petrol
and sulphuric acid ana the ashes thrown
into the mine shaft. The peasants were the
first to discover where the bodies were de-
stroyed. As soon as the Red guards had
gone they FASTENED TO the wood and found
ashes around the pit. They started TO
scrape and found a cross belonging 20 the
Empress and brass buckle OF the Care
vitch's belt. Boys" said one. 'it's just this;
they have been burning Nicholas here"
The peasants handed over the relics TO the
White authorities and thus the crime Yurov-
sky hoped to conceal was made known to
the world.