NARROW ESCAPE OF THE CZAR.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3692, 15 May 1883, Page 4

NARROW ESCAPE OF THE CZAR.

The St. Petersburg correspondent of tho Daily Chronicle telegraphs that the fact is now established beyond doubt that the discovery has been made of a plot (o assassinate the Czar, and the following are the details connected with tho affair:—At the beginning of February a student of fine arts attempted to commit suicide in a bath, but was discovered beforo he had time to accom-

plish his purpose. On being questioned as to his motive for tho act, ho confessed that it Avas owing to his connection with the Nihilists. He had been commanded by that body to assassinate tho Czar, and had taken measures to do so, but at the critical moment his courage failed him, and, Avith the knowledge as to Avhat Avould be his fate at the "hands of tho Nihilists for not haA-ing obeyed their injunctions, he resolved to commit suicide. The attempt on tho Czar's life avus to have been made at the time Avhen the of the Finland Regiment Avas celebrated, the Czar haA-ing been present at the banquet that took place on that occasion. The student managed by some means to be present at the dinner in the guise of a waiter, and AA r as armed with a pocket revolver. He bad intended to Avait his opportunity, and when he found himself immediately facing the Czar, to fire. This opportunity duly arrived, but by this time his courage had evaporated, aud he states that at tho critical juncture ho became confused audhurried out of the room, and ran straight to the bath, Avhere ho mado the attempt on his oavii life. It is obvious from his depositions tliat ho Avas merely a tool in the hands of Nihilists, as he appears te know very little of the workings of that body. The information Avhich the police have obtained from him, hoAvcver, has enabled them to make several arrests in connection Avith the affair. This late discovery is said to have produced a profound impression on the Czar. M. Tolstoi requested tho Czar to exercise greater precautions, and to expose himself as little as possible, to Avhich His Majesty replied : "It is all the same to me, and I am now prepared for anything. I have escaped by the merest chance, and you and myself avctc alike ignorant of the danger I Avas in."