Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1893-01-07 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

PRETENDER TO THE RUSSIAN THRONE.  Tim sudden and mysterious death of General Barenko, who was sent by General Vanoffsky, the Minister of War, on a revisionary journey to Tashs kend is still the subject of universal comment in St. Petersburg, writes a Pall Nall Gaulle correspondent. According to information derived from a gentleman who has just arrived here from the capital of Turkestan,the General's death was brought about by certain of the adherents of the Grand Duke Nicholas Constantineyitch, who, it will be remembered,was exiled to Tashkend in consequence of the scandal caused by the disappearance of a quantity of valuable Crown jewellery,which is said to have been given by the Grand Duke to his American mistress. In exile the Grand Duke further compromised himself by marrying the daughter of a police master, and his conduct generally was peculiarly open to suspicion. By many he was thought to be mad. He was therefore placed under the supervision of the late Governor-General of Tashkend, General Rusenbach. When this energetic and stern official was succeeded by the easygoing Baron Vreffsky, the Grand Duke again began to give the authorities cause for anxiety. Ile is reported to have publicly declared that by rights he ought to be the Emperor, b 'cause his father, the late Grand Duke Constantine, the son of Nicholas, was born when the latter was on the throoe; whereas the present Emperor, the son of Alexander , 11., was born when the latter was not on the throne, but only heir-apparent. Notwithstanding the absurdity of this claim, the Grand Duke is stated to have collected a large number of adherents in the town of Tashkeild. He is also said to have boasted in public that if he had 70,000 followers he would be in Moscow in a month. He is also said to have instigated the late rebellion of the Sarts, which was only quelled after much bloodshed. The allowance paid to the Grand Duke amounts to Ibo,ooo roubles annually. Out of this sum he has saved 200,000 roubles, which he has deposited in the Bank of Tashkend with the intention, it is believed, of using the money for political purposes. Among his friends in Tashkend was a certain merchant named Gromoff, who in the campaigns of Skobeleff acquired the cross of St. George (the highest Russian military order). To this individual the Grand Duke is said to have proposed a treasonable plan some months ago. Gromoff, however, declined to listen to the Grand Duke's suggestion. Thereupon the Grand Duke used his influence with Baron Vreffsky to get the merchant expelled from the city. The Grand Duke expected that Gromoff would go into the interior and remain quiet; but instead of this the latter eame to St. Petersburg and preferred a charge against the Grand Duke. Groinoff has called also on all the Ministers and made them fully acquainted with the Grand Duke's goings on. It was to find out whether Ciromoff's story was true that the Minister of War despatched his energetic deputy, the late General Barenko. to Taslikend, with instructions also to inquire generally into the administration of the province. Rarenko's first step on his arrival in Tashkend was to go straight to the bank and arrest the 200,000 roubles standing to the credit of the Grand Duke. He then began a series of investigations, which were prematurely stopped by his sudden death. Nobody doubts that be was murdered, bet whether by the adherents of the troublesome Grand Duke, or by officials who were afraid that he would bring their malpractices to light, there is as yet no means of telling.  lney rant anout "the good ma tunes," The by-gone joys we miss; But had we lived to know ther We'd all be dead ere this.  Old lad: "Oh, policeman. I've lost my dear little dog!" Policeman: "Whit kind of a dorg, mum ?" Old lady: "A sweet little pug. I fear he'll never turn up." Policeman (facetiously): "Well, mum, anyway, his nose will I" Teacher: "How long did Adam and Eve remain in the Garden of Eden?" Boy: "I don't know." Teacher: "They niniined in the Garden of Eden until—until--" Boy (gleefully) : "Oh, yes, until the appla were ripe." Pre-empted —Young lady (eagerly): "I did not catch the name of that gentleman you introduced me to." Acidulated spinster: "Of no interest to you, dear; he has given it to the very genteel young person with whom he is walking." "When Solomon said, 'Spare ds rod an' spite de chile,'doali breideren,"said a coloured preacher, "he didn't mean de chile wuz to be half murdered wid a hickory club ebery time he stepped half an inch from de strict path of judiful obejance."