TRAGEDY OF THE TSAR'S LITTLE HEIR

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 229, 15 February 1913, Page 1 (Supplement)

TRAGEDY OF THE TSAR'S LITTLE HEIR

EXPLANATION OF HIS MYSTERIOUS " ILLNESS."

Not only a mystery, but a great tragedy surrounds the "illness"' of the Tsar's eight-year-old son and heir. He is suffering from the effects of a wound made by a trusted attendant, who has since been proved to be a Nihilist (says the Daily Express). The wound is of such a nature that the Tsarevitch is incapable of continuing the line of succession to the Throne of Russia. For this reason the appointment of an Heir Designate is being discussed in Court circles, inasmuch as the Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovitcli. the Tsar's only brother, renounced his rights in contracting a morganatic marriage with Mme. Woolfert, nee Chermetesky.

According to one authority the Heir Designate will be the Grand Duke Dimitri, the twenty-one-year-old son of the Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovitcli and the Tsar's cousin. He is to marry the Grand Duchess Olga. The attack 6n the Tsarevitch was made in October, while he was on board the Imperial yacht Standart, and following the brief official announcement of his "illness," many curious rumors were circulated throughout St. Petersburg and telegraphed abroad. The reason of his incapacitation has been attributed to various causes, including the following:—A fall from his pony; fall from a spar on the Imperial yacht; strain caused by jumping into a boat; kidney disease; wound caused by diving into a bath; peritonitis; gunshot wound in the groin, inflicted by a Nihilist sailor; general debility. Bulletin; issued by the specialists who were hurriedly summoned to attend the Tsarevitch implied that his condition, for some days at least, was very serious. Immediately after the first announcement of the illness Rear-Admiral Chagin, commander of the Imperial yacht, committed suicide at his residence in St. Petersburg by shooting himself in the mouth with a rifle, the barrel of which was filled with water. Fe left a letter in which he wrote:—"l ask that none shall be accused of my death." Tt was rumored after his death that Rear-Admiral Chagin. who was unmarried. killed himself because of a love affair with a girl named Helen SolkofT, whom lie left WOOD in his will.

A few days after his death Helen Solko(l' tried to commit suicide at the house of a friend in St. Petersburg hy drinking acetic! acid. She was further endeavoring to cnt her throat with a razor when her friend entered the room. After a desperate struggle she was overpowered and taken to a hospital. The next development in this strange drama was the statement in St. PetcrsiHirs that Rear-Admiral Chagin killed himself hecanse the attack on the Tsarnvitch hail lieen made on hoard the Standart while he was in command. Helen SolkofT was said to have played an important part in the conspiracy, and to have gained the confidence of the Imperial'family through her influence over Rear-Admiral C'hagin. There was no suggestion at any time that the latter knew of the plot to wound the Tsarevitch. The statement has heen openly made, and has not since hen denied, that the. Tsarevitch was the victim of a Nihilist attack, and that his injuries are permanent. P.oth the Tsar and Tsaritsa are known to he deeply concerned regarding their sou. and the Tsar has relegated to his Ministers many matters which in ordinary circumstances lie would deal with personally. The Tsarevitch, who received the name Alexic Xicholaievitcht. was born in August, 1004. and. with one. exception, is the first heir horn to a reigning Tsar. He is eighteenth in succession to Michael Romanoff, the founder of the present dynasty. TTis birth was hailed with rejoicings throughout Russia, for the country had despaired of acclaiming a son of the Tsar as his heir to the Throne, for the first four children born to tlio Tsar and Tsaritsa were girls.