THE ATTEMPT ON THE LIFE OF THE CZAR OF RUSSIA.

Kumara Times, Issue 1032, 22 January 1880, Page 4

THE ATTEMPT ON THE LIFE OF THE CZAR OF RUSSIA.

The following particulars dated Moscow, December 3, gives an account of the attempt the assassinate the Czar of Russia : The mine which blew up the imperial baggage-train was placed under the rails, at a distance of three versts from the Moscow station. The house whence it was fired has been discovered, and a search is now being made for the perpetrators of the outrage. When the authorities proceeded to search the house from which the fuse connected with the mine on the railway was fired it was found to be empty, all the inmates having disappeared. The narrative of a person who was actually in the luggage train, a part of which was destroyed by the explosion near Moscow, is published this evening. According to this account, the train conveying the Emperor left the station at Simferopol at midnight, the. time appointed for its departure. The luggage train, consisting of 14 carraiges and two locomotives, had been despatched half an hour previously, but by a fortunate chance the train in which the Czar travelled overlook the luggage train and, passing it, left it some distance behind. In the luggage train were altogether 50 persons. When it was still about two and a half versts from the Moscow station a loud report was suddenly heard. The carriage in which the narrator was seated oscillated violently and then came to a standstill with a sharp jerk. The writer immediately left the carriage and, looking round, perceived clear traces of an explosion. The first engine was detached from the train, and the other had left the rails together with some of the carriages, while the remainder of the latter were standing right across the line. The fourth luggage waggon lay with its wheels upwards, At the side of the line was visible a large cavity several feet deep. The noise of the explosion had attracted the police and a large crowd of people, who loudly expressed their horror ,at the intended attempt to destroy the life of the Emperor. The narrator hastened to the nearest telegraph station in order to forward a despatch, but found the communication was interrupted in consequence of the telegraph post having been thrown down by the explosion. A pointsman and another railway official, who were in the immediate vicinity, appear to be badly injured, but all the occupants of the train escaped with nothing more serious than the fright. The perpetrators of the crime doubtless thought that the Emperor was in the second train. The Public Prosecutor and a magistrate arrived at two o’clock this morning at the scene of the catastrophe, and, led by the traces of devastation left by the explosion, proceeded to the nearest house, which was empty. The magistrate discovered in the courtyard, concealed under the snow, some wires connected with a battery placed in an outhouse, from which the passing trains could easily be seen. From inquiries made, it appeared that the house had been bought by a young man, who stated that he was a citizen of Tamara. He had been observed digging in the cellars by the neighbors, declaring as his reason for doing so that he wished to obtain some sand. In this way a passage for the train of powder connected with the mine was hollowed out. The house itself.was poorly furnished. More wires were found behind the wall papers From the wearing apparel left in the house, it is supposed that several persons had been engaged in the work. The remnants of a supper which had only been partaken of recently were also found in one of the rooms.