Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1914 — A Bid for a Throne [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A Bid for a Throne

An Audacious Hazard of Nikolai, Independent Agent, as Related by His Lieutenant, Summers

By H. M. EGBERT

(Copyright. 1913, by W. G. Chapman l

We were in South Russia —that southernmost portion of the vast empire where the black earth yields two harvests a year and the grape ripens, the pleasant land which' the Romans colonized and which their descendants, the Roumanians of today, inhabit, though under Russian rule. We were at Kishineff. I knew that beneath his cynicism and contempt, Nikolai cherished an unappeasable love for the land of his birth. That was the magnet that had drawn him back. Exiled in childhood, his father’s vast lands confiscated on account of his adhesion to the abortive insurrection of 1863, he had returned a dozen times to aid the people, of his unhappy country, risking imprisonment and death. This was during the blackest year of the reign of Nicholas, when the land groaned beneath his oppression and his troops, desperately’ resolved to crush out the revolt, diverted the hatred and prejudices of the mobs by organizing massacres of the Jews at their ruler’s command. All through the district the massacres had spread, from the borders of Germany to the south. Everywhere fire and the sword had made women widows and children fatherless; age nor sex was sacyed to the fanatics. It was because they were heart and boul with the movement for freedom that the czar let loose his hordes upon these people. And every time a new report of a revolted city reached the despot, cowering in his palace upon the Baltic’s shores, the order went forth for another riot of blood. We had reached Kishineff, the scene of the first slaughter, in the guise of American commercial agents. Even yet the streets bore witness to the scenes of violence that had occurred. Windows were still broken, doors burst in, ominous splashes of blood showed darkly, upon ledges and stairs. And the czar’s yoke was still heavy upon the victims of his fury. And yet again he planned to let loose his soldiery and his Black Hundreds. Whispers of a coming massacre were everywhere. We heard them in our hotel; they floated up to our windows through the still, summer air; strangers ceased speaking and looked at us with startled eyes as we passed them. Most ominous of all, bars of thick steel fastened the shuttered doors of houses and churches. Krushevan, the organizer of the last massacre, wrote in his newspaper: “The time has come to make an end of these traitors to church and czar. We wait only the word of our illustrious ruler. Humbly, with bared heads and throbbing hearts, we await it. May it come soon!” Nikolai flung the sheet away as though it were something venomous and unclean, rested his chin upon his hands an/ remained silent, motionless as a statue for a long time. At last he roused himself and burst into such a torrent of execration that I trembled for fear his words would reach the ears of some spy lurking behind the thin partitions of our bedroom walls. _llltjs the desperation of impotence, Summers,” he said to me when he grew calmer. “The monster’s throne is tottering. You know that the people are armed, that a new spirit of reprisal has taken hold of them, that they are prepared to resist massacre more desperately than their forefathers resisted Titus and his Romans. If thl« determination could be turned into the right channel, the imperial throiie would fall. “Look at the facts, Summers,” he continued. “Five millions of them are shut into a small square of Russian territory. They number at least half, often three-fourths of all the population of the cities. They are organized and their adversaries are not. Russia is splitting into fragments. Five million —an army of five hundred thousand men, more than the Arabs were who overran Europe and threw down the thrones of a dozen emperors—why should they not suffice to set Russia free and establish themselves as a nation?” He lit a cigar, puffed at it furiously and strode up and down the room. "Now is the time,” he cried. “Let them rise here in Klshinefr and fifty cities will follow their example. They need but some leader, some opportunity.” And, knowing Nikolai, I knew that already he dreamed of himself as both that leader and that opportunity. But 1 said nothing, and presently he outlined to me the plan he had formed.

The people of KlflhinefT, he said, under the leadership of Rabbi Jacob, a man of middle age, whose intense piety nevertheless had not prevented him from identifying himself secretly with the revolutionary cause. While they dwelt on friendly terms with their Russian and Roumanian neighbors, it needed but a few drinks of vodka and a few words from the priests of the Qreek churches to rouse the latter's murderous instincts. Suppose, said Nikolai, that both of these parties could be incited to attack the persecuted quarter, under the belief that its denixens were arming against thorn. Suppose the attack was timed so that they would

meet in the dark and each mistake the other for its hated enemy. They would fall upon one another and mutually annihilate each other. Then the downtrodden would be masters of the situation; the Russians and Roumanians would both be at their mercy! And since the civil and the military governors of Kishineff were at loggerheads, his purpose could be more readily attained. ~ It was useless to attempt to oppose Nikolai’s imperious will. As he grew cooler, he became more resolute. And on the following afternoon I yielded to his proposals. That evening, wearing the uniform of a member of the .Committee on Internal Affairs at St. Petersburg, and passing under the name of Captain Linovieff, Nikolai entered the grounds of the civil governor’s palace, I being in attendance as his orderly, and sent up his card to that official. ' After an endless time he came out from the dinner table. A party was being held, and I heard the laughter of ladies and the mirthful voices of officers within. The governor wrs inclined to be curt, but a glance at Nikolai’s uniform reduced him to a condition of deference. He sat down a little heavily, as though he had been drinking, and motioned to Nikolai to be seated also. I stood at attention behind my master. “What can I do for your excellency?” the governor asked, “before you join our party?” “My task accomplished, I must return to St. Petersburg at once,” said Nikolai harshly. “Governor, how long are you going to let this bropd ot vipers hatch out their plots beneath the windows of your palace?” The governor tfaved his hands in deprecation. “Had Imy way, I would smoke out the rabble,” he murmured. “But you know, excellency, how oiir monarch is abused by the press of England and America. We must be cautious!” “I shall communicate your refusal to his majesty,” said Nikolai with a bow, making as if to withdraw. “Wait! Wait!” screamed the governor. “Your excellency did not deign to tell me that this was his majesty’s command.” r The Little Father has no need to command,” said Nikolai coldly. “His willing servants wait upon his nod and read tyis thoughts before they reach his lips.” “It shall be done,” cried the governor in panic. “We shall make a more thorough job of it this time. If only the soldiers leave the police to finish—-” “The police will do nothing,” responded Nikolai. “You will pass the word to the Greek bishop of the Russian community. He will see to it. He has his orders. And your task will be to see that the police are passive and do not restrain the rioters. And, above all, say nothing to General Baratoff, the military governor, for he is jjnder suspicion of being, lukewarm where the czar’s interests are- concerned.” “Rely on me,” replied the governor, winking. “He will go mad with jealousy when he learns the truth. When is it to be?” “Five nights hence, when the moon is late in rising. Let the rabble arrive at midnight, all armed, at the south corner of the great square.” “It shall be done,” cried the governor, rubbing his hands. “And now, captain, you will take a glass of wine with the ladies?” “I regret that I cannot,” Nikolai answered. “I must leave for the capital at once. My droschky waits to convey me to the station. Farewell; see that you do not disappoint the czar, or your place will be endangered.” And he withdrew, while I marched after him looking neither to the right nor the left until we reached the street below the palaee. Then I burst into laughter. But Nikolai was in no mood for laughter. “Now for the military governor,” he said. And we set off for his headquarters on the opposite.edge of the town. General Baratoff had retired to bed by the time We arrived and came down b|inking like an owl. His mill-*, tary service had been performed in St. Petersburg; he was a favorite of the royal family and had never seen real service in his life. His sole exploits had been against his fellow countrymen. “General Baratoff,” Baid Nikolai, “fiye nights hence, at midnight, before the moon comes up, the sheep will fall upon the wolves and make an end of them.” General Baratoff was wide awake upon the Instant He understood the allusion perfectly. Such parables were common everywhere during those days. ~ ■ “It is the czar's command,” said Nikolai. “Good,” Baid' the general, grinding his teeth. “Very good. My little soldiers are yearning for a taste of blood.” 4 ‘Tour little soldiers will stay within their barracks, arid. armed sentries will .be posted at the gates,” retorted Nikolai. “Those cursed English and American newspapers must not be

permitted again to say that the czar sets hhs troops upon his subjects. No, it will be the mob, the mad, uncontrollable mob that will do the shooting. Do you understand?” “Ah, I will speak to the Russian priests,” said Baratoff. 1 - “There again you are id error,” said Nikolai. ‘lt must not* even be the Russian. His majesty is as gentlehearted as a child, and It would wound his soul to think that his Russians could commit such atrocities. No; it must be those bloodthristy Roumanians.” “Ah, they are devils, those Roumanians,” said the general, winking. “I understand. Five nights hence, at midnight.”

“Let the mob assemble, all armed at the north corner of the great square. It is learned that the others are armed. They will assemble on the* south side and attack the peaceful inhabitants to glut their savage thirst for blood. Let the Roumanians wait until they see their enemies; then let them open with a fusilade. You understand yeur mstruetions?”—^ “Trust me,” the governor answered. “And, above everything, let no inkling as to this reach the ears of the civil governor. He is in sympathy with the enemy, and his recall is being deliberated in St. Petersburg.” “Good,” said the military governor. “He will certainly be recalled when the czar learns of the successful doings of the night. We shall smoke out that brood of cobras —” 4 “Aye, smoke them out,” said Nikolai, with a bitter laugh. “I shall inform JiiiMnuajesty of your discretion. Farewell." “Your excellency will take a glass of wine with me?” General Baratoff urged. “N , “I regret that"! am unable to. My

droschky waits to convey me to the railroad station, for I must leave for St. Petersburg to report to the czar the success of my mission.” And he stalked out, leaving the old general winking and leering in the doorway, a lighted candle In his hand dropping grease all over his dressinggown. “And tomorrow my friends must be warned, said Nikolai. “But,” I urged, “if you warn them they will merely barricade their houses or prepare to fly.” "I shall pass the word among the defense committee,” Nikolai answered. “They have a corps of three hundred men; they will be prepared.” On the next day Kishineff was ablaze with excitement —a-smoulder, I should rather say, for nobody dared to speak openly. Yet the word bad already been passed around, for KrushevanW newspaper teemed with dark and cfyptic sayings, and special editions were being yelled upon the streets. “'Let all loyal subjects of the czar keep their houses after nightfall during the next two weeks,’ ’’ read Nikolai to me. “ ’And let them see nothing and hear nothing. And let them keep well away from the great square.’" And then next day the flight began. The spectacle was pitiful. Men, women, children streamed out df the quarter toward the railroad station, crowding the compart-

merits of the Carriages, herding together; some took oxen wagons across the frontier; some walked. They left their property to the plunder which all anticipated; life was more precious still. But; a strong residue remained. And sometimes, from behind barred windows, one saw dark, resolute faces or caught the quick glint of steel. “The defense committee has been warned,” said Nikolai to toe. “They will defend thernselves. And their leaders have more than inkling as to the true state of affairs.” , “And the Rabbi Jacob?” I asked. “It was thought best to keep him in the dark. He is essentially opposed to violence except. in case of self-de-fense. And yet— is it not self-defense to strike before you are struck?” asked Nikolai, impatiently. The word had spread throughout the district, he added, and everywhere a nation would rise itself, and. in freeing itself, to set free the country. On the fifth afternoon Kishineff presented a strange appearance. All through the persecuted quarter the doors were bolted and the windows barred. The flight had subsided; all who. could depart were gone. The Russian and Roumanian quarters were filled with excited crowds, mostly already drunk, for somebody had handed out free drinks to all who called for them. The tumult of apprehension had given place to a strange, ominous calm; but it was a calm charged with electricity, foreboding a storm. . By evening all our plans had Deen completed. Nikolai and I repaired to the house of the leader of the committee of defense, who was secreted with a dozen companions in the upper story, the windows being shuttered.

All were armed, and it was determined that, as soon as the Roumanians and Russians had fallen upon one another in the public square, the party shouid burst into the streets, collecting strength as it progressed, and make for the home of Rabbi Jacob. Though be was not in the secret, It was estimated that he would be unable to resist the pressure to put himself at the head of the movement His presence would kindle a flame of enthusiasm throughout the quarte];; an armed force would fall upon the rioters, overcome them, seize guns from the cantonment and depose the governors, afterward proclaiming a republic. With Nikolai at their head, the native element would quickly be brought to alliance and the empire of the czar would fall.

As Nikolai unfolded all bis scheme I saw his eyes flash and his nostrils dilate; hiß breast heaved with pride. I knew that once again he was, in imagination, a great noble \yhose word was law throughout a province.

The streets were very still. Waiting in silence, y/a heard the clocks toll out the hours of ten and eleven. The police had been withdrawn; there was nothing to bar the rioters. From our position we could command a view of either side of the great square. The half-hour struck, and suddenly a murmur rose from the south corner, low and like the humming of bees. Then came the rhythmical tread of men, strangely muical, but growing

harsher and heavier as it neared ns. And from the north corner came other, ; sounds, but louder and more discordant, for the Roumanians, less furious than the Russians, lacked also their cold stolidity. They were inflamed with vodka and their rage found vent in cries and threats. Their ileaders could with difficulty quiet them. The Russians, on the other hand, were silent as savage wolves that wait for the killing. It was ten minutes before the hour, and now the streets beyond the Russian corner were crowded with a , seething mass. I saw the dreadful banners of the Black Hundreds raised through the semi-obscurity. The civil governor had done his work well. Then scouts came slinking through the square, creeping from house to house and from wall to wall. Opposite them, against the white walls of their cathedral, the Roumanians, still disorganized, broke into a tumult of cries. The sebuts ran back; somebody fired, and then, with a concerted and spontaneous cry, just as a river bursts its ice barrier in spring, the Russians swept forward to glut their hate in the blood of their supposed enemies. Leaders were swept aside. They burst across the square, one living, moving crowd, filling it from corner to corner. From the north side the Roumanians heard the challenge; they saw their enemies and were no less mistaken. With a yell they broke upon them. In the middle of the square the forces met. For an instar. 11 saw the white paving stones between the leading files; then the two bodies dashed against one another as two currents, and just as conflicting streams toss up spray so human bodies, forced forward by those behind them, were hurled into

the air somersajultlng upon the heads of the fighters. They were too closepacked to fire. They fell upon each other with- claws and teeth! the air was filled with an animal-like yelping and the fierce screams of triumph and groans of the stricken. The square had become a moving mass that swayed hither and thither, forced on, drawn back, whirling into eddies that spun and tossed up bodies and opened and closed. Knives gleaned, and suddenly I perceived a line of fire spring up and fringe the combatants. Somebody bad thrown the torch that started the conflagration. The flames spread rapidly from house to house. They flickered on the fierce faces of the combatants. From every street more and more came streaming into the fray and knowing not.friend from foe, they fought blindly and insanely till the ground was heaped high with the bodies of the slain.

And then, when at last the Roumanians had given ground, and the Russians poured in upon their quarter with torch and age, when KishinefT seemed to have fallek upon itself tp strike a blow at its own heart, Nikolai gave the signal. We dashed into the streetß, running from house to house, and from each recruits of our party came pouring out At last we were too many to fear any attack, even had the combatants had time to notice us. Nikolai and the committee leader led the way, and we burrft into Rabbi

Jacob’s holme, aflame with ardor, madk dened with our abortive hopes There were sounds of singing from within. And, as we entered the large central room which was used as a place of private worship, our passions' died away: For he was seated upon a kind of dais, surrounded, quite simply, by tbe women of his family and a few neighbors, all unarmed. Men and women, none seemed to fear. He was chanting a prayer, and they, regardless of us all, joined in the worship. They neither looked up nor stirred. Afterward I learned that they had mistaken ns for rioters, and having laid hopes of life aside, were waiting for death to strike them, fully prepared. But as each man entered, be fell into silence; and presently, one by one, each took up the burden of the song. It rose and fell in the plaintive cadence of a world-old melody, drowning the fierce, distant cries of the murdering Russians now sacking tbe Roumanian quarter, until Its peaceful influence fell upon our hot passions like rain upon a parched field. When that song Was the leader of our band stood forth and very sheepishly, and in stammering accents, made his petition that the rabbi should assume leadership of our movement. The man on the dais 11s- . tened in silence, often looking from the speaker to Nikolai and. baok again. When all was silent he spoke, but to Nikolai. “You are not of our .people,” he said. “You say you have come here to save us from massacre and to organize a revolution against the czar. For your good will I thank you. “But we are organized for defense, not for murder or battle. There has been murder enough in Kishineff tonight. Do you think,” he continued sternly, “that I would rise from prayer —not for ourselves alone, but for all mankind, for peace and righteousness —to imbue my bands with blood? “And to you,” be went on, addressing himself to his compatriots, “I would say: "Give up. ypur schemes, fight for your homes, but leave such plots to others.’ Aye,” he continued to Nikolai, "though you have no ambitions, though your aims are to protect us only, we will have none of them." He turned to the young leader. “There are many dead and wounded in the streets tonight,” he said. “Send your men to their homes; let their women take blankets and go out to the stricken, tend them and wash their wounds.” I looked at Nikolai, and I perceived that, ail unconsciously, the rest had withdrawn from him, so that he stood alone, facing the man on the dais, alone in that assemblage and alone in his designs. He bowed his head upon his breast. His ambition had gone out as one blows out a flame. Slowly he turned and made his way into the street.