HOW THE PRESENT CZAR IS GUARDED

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 14 September 1881, Page 2

HOW THE PRESENT CZAR IS GUARDED

The Emperor, at the suggestion of General Loris Melikoff, has left the Anitcbkoff Palace, where he has spent so many happy days as Czarevitch, and gone to reside at the palace at Gatching (a small town about 30 miles to 8. W, of St. Petersburg). Two days prior to his removal several hundred artisans and mechanics, all soldiers of the Preobrajinsky regiment, were selected to make the necessary alterations. At midnight they assembled in the church at Gatcbino, and pole* mnly swore never to reveal tbe aature of the work they were about to undertake. Death or Siberia was the penalty if they broke tbe oath ; a ' krassney ' (10 roublej, or 21s) the reward if they were silent aud indus*

trious. The aiteritious were nWe in 43 hours, but secrecy was not kepc much longer. Vodka loosened the tongues of the soldiers, and soon all Gatchino was talking in a whisper of the precautions taken to preserve the life of the Czar. A subterranean passage leads from his bedroom to she stables, where a number of horses ara kept saddled and bridled day and nighf. Sentinels are posted at intervals of 20 yards all round the building. The Imperial bedroom which has two windows, protected at night by massive iron shatters, can only be reached from the outside by passing through three anto'chamber?, in which are posted 80 Cossacks armed to the teeth. They are allowed to speak and move about ia two outer rooms, but in the hall adjoining the Czar's bed-room perfect silence is mantaiced all night. The general on service for the day sits in Im easy chair, his Cossacks on » divan, which runs round tho whole room. At the general's right band is the pu&H of an electric apparatus, which rings a bell in every gnard'housH within- the place ground*. When the Kmperor w sbout to retire to rest, before shutting bis door he removes the outer handle, so that no entrance can be effected till he himself personally opens the door from the inside* Unlike bis father, he cannot endure the presence of au armed soldier ia his bedchamber.