The Washington times., 1921-10-30


cause them any worry.
On March IS at $40 in the morn
ing the Empress called me 10 one
side and said:
"Petrograd is now In the hands
of the revoiutionists. and the Duma
has formed a provisory government
under Rodzlanko. The Duma has
risen TO the needs of the moment.
II has at last understood the danger
which menaces the country, but /
fear II is too late.
QUEEN AT BAY.
"A Socialist revolutionary com
mittee has been formed which does
not recognize the authority OF the
provisional government. The Car
will arrive tomorrow He wants us
to go to Gatchina to meet him"
BY o'clock that afternoon our
escape was cut off by revolutionary
soldiers. BY 9 o'clock the revolu-
ton had spread TO Tsarkoie. .Seio.
where there was street fighting.
The Empress hurried to the win.
dows of the palace and saw the
revolutionary troops come dashiny
toward the palace-there were only
a few companies of loyal troops TO
prevent the murder Of the royal
family.
The Empress rushed out with
Marie and approached the infuriated
mob. With a voice ringing with
courage and patriotism she ad.
dressed them. At length the Of
ficers on both sides agreed to a truce
and drew a neutral zone between
the two troops.
For three days the terrible tension
continued. For three days the En-
press had no word of the Emperor.
Suddenly late in the afternoon On
March II came the stunning news
that the Car had abdicated the
evening before. At first the Czarina
n
A few minutes later the grand duke
came to confirm the report Only
after the clearest proof was SUB
mitted did the Empress believe that
no longer was her husband Car of
all the Russias.
BRAVE DESPITE DESPAIR.
Then the despair of the Empress
passed everything one can imagine.
Yet her great courage did not aban.
don her; by a superhuman force Of
will she attended to her sick chill.
dren as If nothing had happened.
The next day l saw the Empress
in Alexis room. She was calm but
very pale. She had become fright.
fully thin and had grown much older
under the terrific strain Of the past
week.
On March 81. at half past ten in
the morning, Cyanina told me shat
General korniloff had just informed
her that she and the Car were un.
der arrest, and that those who did
not want to be imprisoned with them
must leave the palace in twenty.
four hours. l decided to stay.
Please tell Alexis about this"
she said to me, Il am going to tell
the girls"
l went to Alexis room and told
him that the Emperor would return
the next day and would no more
visit the front.
Why"
Because your papa no longer
wishes to be commander.in-c chief"
ROYAL PRISONER.
Alexis was quiet for time, for he
liked to visit the front. After few
moments / added:
You know, Alexis, your father no
longer wishes to be Gar"
He looked at me full Of astonish.
ment, trying to read my thoughts.
What do you mean? Why?"
Because he is very tired and has
had great troubles lately"
"Oh, yes! Mama told me that they
had stopped his train when he
wished to come here. But papa will
be Gar again soon!"
| explained that his father had
abdicated in favor OF the Grand
Duke Michael, and that he too had
renounced the throne.
But then, who will be Emperor"
Il do not know. now, no one"
Not a word about himself, not an
allusion to his rights as heir TO the
throne. He was very flushed, that
is all.
Then I explained carefully the
events OF the last few days and his
expression and comments showed me
once more that in reality this child
was extremely modest.
At o'clock the palace gates were
closed and placed under heavy
guard Wee were prisoners.