Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1906 — TREPOFF IS DEAD. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TREPOFF IS DEAD.

Great Russian Reactionary, Faaaaa Away Suddenly. ~-iGen. • Trepoff, Russia’s “evil genius," died at Peterhof Saturday, and it is announced that angina pectoris was the

cause, although there have been rumors that he was poisoned. Gen. Tre p o If, whose name was indelibly linked with reaction - and suppression of Russia, was in many respects a remarkable man. He wns a naturaldegpot. a tyrant by inclination, education and con-

viction. He was one of those men who have constantly appeared, like evil geniuses, in Russian history just at the time when conditions were more promising for putting an end to despotism, to turn the Russian rulers from liberalism back into the paths of reaction. It was he who became the guiding spirit of the reaction, after Nicholas 11, had issued his famous manifesto, in the fall of 1905, premising the people a share in the government. Holding the position of master oT the palace, in league with the court plotters, who were determined to restore the old regime, he constantly had the Emperors ear. 1 Trepoffs life was many times attempted, but he always escaped—VVlien the Grand Duke Sergius wa3 assassinated, he was named governor general of Moscow. Later Trepoff was summoned, to St. Petersburg and given the command of the Imperial Hoards and made governor general-of the city.

lie took up Ms residence in the winter palace and became in fact, if not in name, dicta for of Russia. A" nor ehy prevailed -when he arrived. An uprising on a large scale was momentarily expected. Thousands had fled the city. But, with Trepoff in the saddle, the aspect of affairs changed. Troops filled the streets and dead walls were placarded with notices that the slightest disorder would be suppressed without mercy, Under his iron hand the city became quiet. During those trying weeks plot after plot to kill him was and frus-' trated, Two of his own nieces were involved in tlie conspiracy. But in his dun-geon-like-room in the center of the palace, ■where no bomb could reach him, save by shattering a dozen wails, with tbe betephone constantly at his side, he issued orders and received reports. The Emperor was made to believe Trepoff alone was capable of safeguarding the lives of himself and the imperial fain-

ily. And so, with the press howling at his heels, he retired to the Csar’s palace to become master. Here, in a more congenial atmosphere, he took the direction of the campaign for the restoration of the old order of things. In all, six actual attempts on the life of Gen. Trepoff have been made within the last three years.

GEN. TREPOFF.