CZAR ALEXANDER’S DEATH.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1287, 29 October 1886, Page 3

CZAR ALEXANDER’S DEATH.

There was something of an indecent haste in the marriage that united the Czar to the Princess Dohorouki after the death. of the Empress Marie. The ukase promulgating the union was dated only six weeks after the death of the long suffering Czarina. It was at this time that the Emperor bestowed .upon her the hereditary title of Jquriewsky, by which she is now known. Tt is one of "those belonging to the Romanoff family, and therefore was one that he desired to have descend to his children. Presaging his sud* deu and tragic fate, he drew up with his own hand a deed settling a large fortune on the children of the Princess, the title and securities comprising this fortune being deposited in foreign lands. Nor was this all. lie bestowed upon the Princess tho grand: cordon of the order of St: Catherine, which is only accorded to the members df thu Imperial f.'irmly. He commanded that she should take precedence over his daughters and his ditughtera-ih-law, not even' making an exception in favor of the wife of the Ozarowitz., He made no secret of his intention of causins her. to be recognised as Empress and solemnly crowned as his Imperial consort. But bis sudden.death prevented, this last named project from being carried into execution. - Not quite two years after the marriage (the 13th of March, 1881) the Princess was awaiting the return of her husband from the review over which he was to preside that day. She was in driving costume, and they were to go out together as soon as the review was at an e.nd. The sudden entrance of tlieE nperor's valet, and his exclamation, ' Your Highness, the Emperor is very, ill!' first startled her from her peaceful and happy expectancy of his return. Even then she was not al aimed. Alexander was subjects to attacks of asthma, and she imagined that he had been seized by a severer one than usual. It was not till, on hurrying to the bed chamber, she beheld his pale countenance, on which death was visibly stamped, that she realised what had occurred. Her first impulse was to throw aside the covering which concealed the crushed limbs of the sufferer, in order to ascertain for herself the extent of his injury, but the Emperor restrained her. * No! no ! Catherine,' he murmered, * you must not see my wounc s—-the sight would be too terrible.' Then after a moment's pause, he added : 'Do you remember the prediction that sail thit I should die in red boots!'ft has been fulfilled.' A few minutes later he died, his last glance being fixed upon the fair face bent above him.—' New York Graphic,"