Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-04-16
Sofia Acclailns King Boris
Following Narrow Escape
All Classes Take Part in Re-
markable Demonstration
King Showed Courage and
ResOurcefulness in Battle
with Bandits on Narrow
Road-Quick Return of Sol
diers Surprise Robbers
One Wounded, Others Es-
capped

Sofia, Bulgaria, April Is (By A. P.)
king Boris of Bulgaria probably
owes his life to the fact that he Is
an expert automobile driver. Yes
terday when his car was attacked
from ambush by bandits and the
chauffeur wounded, the king seized
the wheel, and manager to steer the
machine partially out of danger
zone. The steering gear was dam
aged, however, and in a moment the
car collided with a telegraph pole.
Meanwhile the kings assailants
numbering six. continued to fire or
the occupants Of the automobile
These. in turn. retaliated with re-
volvers, but their shots apparently
were without effect. Realizing that
the only chance of escape lay in
flight, the king and three of his at
PENDANTS leaped out of the car and
took cover in a little copse a few
yards down the road which leads
from Orchanie to Sofia.
NJ. 1ltcheff, director of the Sofia
museum. was already bleeding pro-
fusely from a body wound, but he
continued to defend the king. AL
most Immediately a servant was shot
through the heart and Iltcheff be-
came unconscious. The chauffeur
was some distance from the king and
the others. so Captain Stanatoff
aide de camp, urged Boris to make a
bid for safety and run towards ar
inc ills xr,1,to oh H.
royal car had passed q few minutes
before reaching the ambuscade
Stanatoff covered the kings retreat
although Boris wished to make ar
attempt to carry off Iltcheff's body
with him.
Finally, seeing this was impossible
the king and his aide rushed to-
ward the auto bus, the driver oil
which, having heard the fusillade
was endeavOring to turn, but was
hampered by the narrowness of the
road. The king took the chauffeur's
place and, driving with great skill
turned the bus and speeded off dowr
hill pursued by the bandits, who fir
ed and hit the bus, but without do
ing serious damage.
Arriving at Orchanie the king has
tily modified a platoon of troops
stationed there and remaining at the
wheel of the auto bus with an officer
and twentyeig soldiers returned
to the scene of the ambuscade a,
high speed. The bandits, not dream
ing that soldiers would arrive sc
quickly, were engaged In robbing the
bodies of 1ltcheff and the servant
They We're taken by surprise and
one was wounded. The others fled
and owing to their superior knowl-
edge of the countryside, escaped.
The kings calmness during the af-
fair was related with admiration by
those who witnessed the attack.
The kings sister. Princess Eudox-
ia. was not a member of the party
although she usually accompanies
her brother everywhere. Boris
spends much of his time motoring
about Bulgaria. visiting the peasant
ry and searching for wildfowers and
plants. He was on one of these ex-
petitions when his car ran into the
ambuscade.
Who the bandits were, whether
they planned to kill the king or
whether they onlywished to rob the
auto bus. remains a mystery. After
Thanksgiving service this morning
an unprecedented and remarkable
demonstration took place in Sofia.
Thousands Of people of all classes
acclaimed the king who appeared on
the balcony of the palace.
The diplomatic corps called at the
palace to congra tulate the king. the
town was befagged, and shops were
closed.