Evening star., 1925-01-18
GRAND DUKE HALTS
FIGHT ON LINER
Boris, Here for Good Time,
Gets Reputation as Regu-
lar Fellow.
Ry the Associated Press.

NEW YORK, January 17.-Boris
Vladimirovitch. Grand Duke of Russia
and second In line of succession 10
the Russian throne. should the Ro-
manoffs ever regain the. government
arrived. on the Olympic today for "a
jolly good time" in the United States.
The duke entered port with a re-
putation among his fellow passengers
as a good mixer" and a regular,
largely as a result of his part as
peacemaker in an alteration which
closed a party given aboard ship in
his honor last Thursday night, New
Year eve, by the Russian calendar.
At least, two other male guests got
discolored eyes and other visible evil
dences of the fray. The story, gath
cred piecemeal, was that the party.
organized by Col. J. l. O'Conor, D. S.
O., coming here for British oil inter
ests on mission to Mexico, and
William H. Halligan, an actor and
VAUDEVILLE booker, started at 10
o'clock Thursday night and broke up
at o'clock Friday morning. The
duke and the grand duchess were
guests of honor Much champagne
was reported consumed before the
dinner ended at l am. when several
of the guests left, leaving 80 men and
women to continue the celebra ton.
A toast was proposed to Halligan,
and the party with one exception.
rose to drink it. The exception, who
said he was Alexander Grows Of
Miami, Fla, but who appeared on the
passenger list as "A. Gross" remained
seated; he was said to have remained
In his chair despite continued shouts
to rise. Finally. Halligan and Grows
engaged in an alteration, which
a 1yh he l.
a champagne bottle across his fore
head. The grand duke intervened,
quelled the trouble and sent Halligan
TO the ships doctor.
Arrival Unnoticed.
The grand duke this morning held
an Informal reception for newspaper
men in his cabin, a small one and
plainly furnished. in contrast to the
quarters occupied by his sister-in- law,
the Grand Duchess Cyril. wife Of the
man who recently proclaimed himself
heir to the Romanoff throne, when
she came here a few weeks ago
Also in marked contrast was Boris
entry into the country. Whereas the
Grand Duchess Cyril had been the
object of much attention by society
folk, her brother-in-law and his wife
were met by no one at the ship and
proceeded to the Ritz-Carlton un-
escorted.
The grand duke flashed ready and
witty answers to an avalanche Of
questions. There was no financial or
political significance to his visit. he
said. Just here on my own hook"
he said. The phrase was a cut-back
to his American visit of "a years ago
he said, visit which brought him
much publicity, notably on the oc-
caston when he drank champagne
from chorus girls slipper in Chi
cago.
He personally had no aspiration to
the Russian throne, he said, adding
that he supported the claims of his
brother, his elder by more than
year. The thinking Russians" he
thought, desired the return of mon
archial government. He added that
he believed recent events in Russia
were signs favorable 10 his party.
He spoke with obvious distress OF the
plight of many of his noble fellow
countrymen in Europe, many OF them
in menial tasks-street sweepers
cooks, chauffeurs.