A RUSSIAN PRIEST'S STORY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1919, Page 6

A RUSSIAN PRIEST'S STORY.

EXECUTION OF THE CZAR. NICHOLAS' LAST WORDS. Whether the ex-Czar is atill alive or not is a matter known only to a privileged few. Despite the public announcements that the Emperor Nicholas was shot by the Bolsheviks, cable messages! lately have stated that he is still in the land of the living. In view of these messages, therefore, the following article will be read with interest:— Father John, of the Uspcnsky Cathedral, in Moscow, a Russian priest, has written for the New York American what Is claimed to be an eye-witness' story of the last moment and execution of ex-Czar Nicholas. Twenty years ago as a priest of the Uspensky Cathedral, in Moscow, he took part in the coronation of the Czar. Father John wax the only person not a Bolstevik official present at the last 6acraments to the fallen monarch. This I privilege he obtained because of his friendship with one of the Ministers of the Bolshevik Government. Father John declared that he lad witnessed the whole drama and heard the Czar's last words, and wrote a record for tiw cathedral, and sent a shorter account to his friend, a priest in New York, by means of a diplomatic courier of an Aliied country. His story is:— On July 3rd, at one o'clock in the morning, Comrade Vassily Sidoroff, the Grand SI eriff of the Bolshevik Red Guard, entered tho darkened room of the exCzar Nicholas in a small provincial town of the province of Viatka and announced in a contemptuous tone:"Mr Nicholas Alexandrovitch Romanoff, you are summoned to the court."

The cx-Czar, who was usually very nervous and excitable since he was separated from his family, which had been left at the monastry at Tobolsk, jumped up, glanced fearfully at the Sheriff, and stammered in a hoarse voice: "At your command, and by God's will" The writer then describes the trial, vliich was a brief one, at the conclusion of which the President of the Court said: "Mr. Nicholas Alexandrovitch Romanoff, the tribunal of the people of the province of Viatka has considered most carefully the accusations brought against you and found them fully substantiated by facts. Upon these facts it has convicted you of high treason against the people and attempts at counter-revolu-tion. This court sentences you to death by shooting." , The ex-Czar, who had tried to maintain hU self-control up to this time, now collapsed, and was able to stand on his feet with the help of the guards. "It is God's will. But have mercy on ray wife and children. I shall die innocent of the crime of which I am accused." Almost a dead man, the former autocrat of the world's greatest empire was carried cut by the guards. He was taken in a carriage from the cot ft to the place of execution, and the carriage was followed by live other carriages, all filled with Red Guards and the judges. ' What—my God, what, will you do--here ?" asked the former Czar,. looking at the scaffold and speaking to the Red Guards in broken sentences. The Guards d d not reply. Having blessed the victim with the Holy Cro3s, I read a prayer and administered the sacraments. The ex-C'.« t opened his eyes and sobbed in a low voice: "Father, God bless you! Give —gi\e— my blessing—to my wife and family. What —what will —they—do with- -ine! 0, heaven!" groaned the once mighty autocrat, and fell back on the bench. "God be my witness, I tried to do- -the best—my country —all my lift —I was a prisoner—a prisoner—as lam now " "Go on, my son," I encouraged him, holding his hand all the time. "I was betrayed—cheated—abused. 0 Lord, did I ever know happiness--in my life?" The Red Guards and the judges laughed. Voices here and there interrupted: "How about your tyranny}" -'How about your police'/" "How about yo-a oppression and persecutions';' "What about the thousands sent to Siberia:"' The cx-Czar was unable to continue. The sheriff motioned to m.; that (he execution would proceed. I held the Cross up before the Czar's eyes. "Have mercy on my wife and children! God help Russia!" were the last utrds oE poor Nicholas. The Red Guards took their position on the scaffold with loaded rifles. PA ervbody stood breathless, as if looking at a great tragedy. Nicholas seemed to be nearly dead. His exertions and the brutality of his treatment had overcome him. Four guards earned ani bounr' him to a post. A motioi of rhe hand of the sheriff, and the rifles ot the twenty guards rang out, and Nicholas Romanoff hung down, a lifeless bundle cl' ' rags.