THE CZAR'S END.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1919, Page 2

THE CZAR'S END.

DETAILS BY TOLSTOI. (Australian N.Z. Cable Association) (Received This Day, at 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 26. Tolstoi in giving further details of the Czar’s death, states the Czar was living at Ekaterinburg in tile house of ail engineer, Ignatieff. It was iuinoured that the Czecho-Slovaks were coming to set the Romanoffs whereupon the Red Guards had a Council and decided; to execute the Czar and family. Tho men did not wait for written authority but manifested a barbarous" joy, stamping and- cheering. They rushed the engineer’s house. Tho Czar and Czarina had gone to bed, but hearing a noise hastily -lonned their clothes. Tho Grand Duchess came in and tho Czar helped his son into l is uniform. Then the family knelt in prayer. The boy was overcome •v : tli emotion, and the Czar was forced to interrupt the prayer and go to his son’s assistance.

The Czarina was on her knees, v hen the door was burst open and the leader, with a fiendish grin, said, —“I 6ee you have already prepared yourself.” The Qzar replied,—“l am ready.” The leader retorted—“We are also. We are going to wipe out your wife and family.”

Turning to his men he said:—“Out with them, and) no pardon/ 3 The Red Guards jostled the Royal Exiles through the door, the Czar bearing his fainting son, and his wife followed praying softly. Then came* the Grand Duchess, and Baroness Buxherden, all in tears. Thus they reached the cellar of a neighbouring house. On the way they met a batch of friends going to execution, including Dr. Bogkin, and Prince Dolguruky. The Czar greeted them with—“ And you also.”

The Red Guards were afraid the bullets would rebound in such a confined space, and shot their victims point blank with revolvers. The Czar was murdered last.