THE RUSSIAN TERRORISTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 140, 9 December 1911, Page 10 (Supplement)

THE RUSSIAN TERRORISTS

AX OUTRAGE RECALLED. The assassination at Kieff of M. Stolypin. the Prime Minister of Russia,, recalls the terrible attempt on his life made by the terrorists on August 25, l'iKMi, at his villa in St. Petersburg, while a great reception was in progress. By the explosion of a bomb 30 people were killed and 24 badly injured. A correspondent described the outrage at llie time as follows: A carirage and pair drove up, in which were seated three persons. One wore the uniform of a general, another was dressed as a gendarme, and the third was in civilian clothing. The carriage stopped outside the house and the general and civilian alighted and entered the vestibule. One of them carried a portfolio and the other a parcel. The officer on duty in M. Stolypin's house refused them admission, stating that it was too late and that the visitors' book was closed. They insisted upon being admitted, and an altercation was proceeding when suddenly there was a terrific explosion. It is still uncertain whether the bomb was dropped by accident or deliberately thrown. On this point reports differ. It is also uncertain whether there was only ono bomb or whether two were used.

The effect of the explosion was horrible. All the, persons in the vestibule were killed; nearly all those in the secretary's room and the audience chamber were either killed or wounded. M. Stolypin was in his cabinet just at the moment talking to the marshal of the nobility of the Simbirsk Government, M. Polivanofl'. and to the president of the Simbirsk Zemsvo, M. Beliakoff. The conversation had just concluded, and M. Stolypin was shaking hands when there came a crash. iSI. Beliakoff staled in the Novoe Vromya that he was lifted off his feet and thrown on the. floor, but otherwise he escaped unhurt. M. Stolypin was not injured, and he was splashed from head to foot with ink from his inkstand. His first words were, "What has happoner? Where are my-wife and children?" lie went out into 'he garden through the window, perfectly cool and unruffled. There he learnt the terrible truth. His daughter, Natalia, 14 years of age. and his little son, two years old, in the arms of a nurse, were on. a balcony which runs above the vestibule along the upper floor of the house. The explosion blow the balcony to hits. The children fell from it with the debris, and Natalia's feet were, nearly torn off. while she sustained other grave injuries. The little boy had his hip bone broken. The nurse was killed on the spot.

I reached tin; scene of the outrage I,wo liours after the explosion. Ri« - ht in front of the house lay (lie carriage which had carried the assassins to the scene of the crime, broken and splashed with blood. The driver had been killed, but the horses were not injured. The force of the explosion can be understood when 1 state that many of the windows of tlie Saranwski cartridge factory on the other side of the broad river were smashed, and that a fruit-seller in front of the factory was lifted a couple of yards off his feet. People in the neighborhood describe the detonation as like.two heavy broadsides fired from powerful guns. Some wonderful escapes were reported. An officer jrf the Preobajenski Regiment, named Crighton, was talking to General Samiatin. The latter had half of his bead torn off, but Crighton was unhurt. A nun was blown out of the window, but she was not injured, and helped to aid tbo wounded.