FATEFUL WORD.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1917, Page 4

FATEFUL WORD.

Czar’s Final Ordeal Signing the Act of Abdication

I have be9n able to obtain a fall and authentic ve. son of the events attending the Cz >r’s abdicition (wroe the Petroprtd correspondent of “The Times,” London). It appears that Nicholas 11., od reaching B jlcgne Station (halfway between Peuo.'rad and Moscow) was advised not to proceed to Petrograd, arid wis.-ly did oof- attempt to en'er tic capital, preferring to go on to Pukoff (General Rassky’s headquarters, about 220 miles duo west of Bolcgoe, and halfway between Petrograd and Dvinsk), and there learn his fate. To the members of his snite he Baid : “The revolutionary wave will probably sweep over the Monarchy.’’ He was then already prepared for the t worst.

M. A’exander Gntohkoff and the Conservative Deputy M. Shulgin were commissioned by M. Rodi'anko to go to General Russky’s heedquarteraThey arrived there on Thursday. The ill-fa'ed monarch received them in a small, dimly-lit room. He looked pale and careworn, bat was perfectly calm and self-possessed. Addressing Gntohkoff, he Baid: “ Tell me tbe whole tin h.”

“We come to tell you that all the troops ia Petrogrcd are on our aide. It is useless io send more regiments. They will go over as soon as they reach the station.”

“I kriow it,” replied the Czar. “The order has already been given to the troops to return to the front.” Then, after a slight pause, the Czsr asked : “What do you want me to do?"

“Your Majesty must abdicate in favor of tbe Heir-Apparent under the Regency of tbe Grand Duke Michael Alaxandrovitob. Such is the will of tbe New Government which we are forming under Prince Lvoff.” “I cannot part with my boy,” replied the monarch, with emotion. “I shall hand the Throne to my brother.”

Then, speaking in a matter-of-tyct tone, he said : “Have you a piece of paper ? ”

Toen and there the manifesto waa drafted. Count Fredericks, Minister of the Imperial Hougefiold (whose brother was arrested i t Petrograd), and tbe Czar's aide-de-camp assisted their master in his final ordeal. Sooa the dooument lay on the writing fable. Before signing it he wrote oat orders appointing Prince LvofE Prime Miciter and the Grand Duke Nicholas Generalissimo.

Then, bowing his bead for a few moments, he dipped his pea, and without a trace of emotion, for the last time appended his signature as Czar of all the Russians to tbe writ of abdication. Tbe whole scene occupied only a few minutes. Remorseless fate pursues Nicholas 11. Even before his abdication be knew his children were all seriously ill with measles and that his beloved only son was in serions danger of death.