The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-01-15
Little Old White-Haired Wom-
an Refugee Stirs Inter j..
national Circles.
By A. H. FREDERICK
NEA Serrice Stnn Writer.

BY A. Ill. FREDERICK
NEA Serrice staff Writer
re IAN FRANCISCO, Jan. Is.
- Nicholas, car of all the
Russians, is alive-a prisoner in
Japan of his own desire.
Intrenched behind garden
walls and thick-foliaged trees
using as protective camoufage
the modesty of the house he has
selected-the former ruler has
found refuge in the Orient.
From Madame Eugenia Gaevesky.
little old white-haired lady, who makes
her living here teaching languages
and acting interpreter to her fellow
Russians. comes this report
Story Rouses Interest
Her affirmative story has caused a
ripple in international circles, and tenn
orarily set aside sinister tales Of
butchery of the Romanof royal fam
burg, July II. 1918.
Likewise 1t follows close on the
heels Of a counter narrative, sup
posedly issued by the Bolshevik gov.
eminent, to the effect that Nicholas
is not only dead but his severed head
is now curiosity, preserved in alco-
hol, in a Russian museum.
But such accounts have not shaken
Madame Gaevesky's faith.
Once an intimate of those moving
in the inner circles of Russian society,
and knowing well the nobility whose
names were synonymous with the
power of the old regime, she persists
in belief Of her story.
1T is indeed true" she stoutly
maintains. 1.-The little father is alive.
Live Hidden Life"
Those of unquestionable veracity
have told me they have seen him.
His life? OF that they cannot tell.
None but his closest intimates know
of that. Even his neighbors know
him only as a man who shrouds him
self in inconspicuousness, who shrinks
from contact with the street, who is,
perhaps, a little queer. a bit feeble
minded.
But long before these people told
me they had seen the car, knew
that he had made his escape to Japan.
In 1913, first heard it, direct from
those who heard it from the dowager
empress herself"
Whether a myth fathered by wish,
or a true high light in historical ro-
nance, belief n the escape of the car
s held by many of the Russ an ref
ugees here. says Madame GaeYesky.
'Imper. alists were busy during the
days when the little father and his
family We're prisoners OF the SOVIET.
Royalist spies penetrated into the
red counc Is and carr. ed back reports
to their super.ors, the chiefs Of the
plotters," she relates.
Escaped by Ruse"
'One night as the imperial family
sat with Their meditations on what
the future might hold, the door
opened, and a small group Of peasants
entered. Peasants in dress. but not
department. With all the grace OF the
court. they saluted the car.
They told him of the plot. He was
to escape in the dress Of a peasant,
while one of Their number, very s.mi-
lar in face, figure and carriage to the
czzar. was to stay behind in his place,
to avoid pursuit.
The car demurred. He would not
allow the sacrifice. nor would he de-
sert his family.
THE cOnsp rators apparently were
prepared for this. for and without IN
necessary disturbance they forcibly
CARRIED him n peasant attire and spir-
tied him away.
only a few days later until the
pseudo car and the four members Of
the royal family were led to their
death in the cellar of the fortress.
How 1t was managed. have never
heard" says Madame Gaevesky. Per
haps the guard that night was loyal
to the imper al house, maybe he was
br bed, maybe vodka.
But 1 do know he is alive. Only
he and the Grand Duchess Titiana es-
capped. The grand duchess fed with
her solder husband earlier in the rev.
olut.on."