OF THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 96, 16 March 1881, Page 2

OF THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA.

[Reuter's Special to Star.]

St. Petersburg, March 13. ,

The following are later particulars of the assassination of the Czar : — Accompanied by his suite, he was witnessing the parade of troops in the city to-day, when a bomb was suddenly thrown from among the spectators, and fell close to where he was standing. It exploded, but did no harm to His Majesty ; a second bomb was almost simultaneously thrown, and this shattered his legs, and otherwise mortally wounded him. He was at once conveyed to a house near at hand, but His Majesty died within two hours from loss of blood, although every effort was made by the doctors, who were at once in attendance, to stop its flow. Great consternation was caused on the parade ground when the bombs were thrown, and when the effect of their explosion was seen. Several persons, including some members of the Czar's suite, were killed, and many others were severely wounded. The assassin was arrested at the scene of the outrage before he had time to escape.

March 14.

The assassination of the Emperor has led to no disturbance in this city. All is perfectly quiet. Czarewitch has been received with shouts of acclamation by the people. Expressions of condolence and sympathy with the Imperial Family have been received from all the crowned heads of Europe.

The Wanganui Chronicle gives the following particulars about the late Czar of Russia : — Alexander 11. (Nicolaivitch) who has just been murdered by the explosion of a bomb, succeeded his father Nicholas I. on 2nd March, 1855, being then about thirty-seven years of age. During the earlier years of hifl reigu he

was known as an ardent reformer. Hd greatly reduccti the army, and did his utmost to place the finances on a firmer 1 basis, and to promote commercial prosperity. In 18G1 lie emancipated from serfdom 23,000,000 of his Russian .subjects, and in 1864 he conferred the same boon ou the serfs of Russian Poland. Throughout his reign he labored earnestly in the cause of national education, aud raised the State Coll ies to a high pitch of excellence. He also inaugurated a system of elective representative assemblies in the provinces. In religious matters he was a strong supporter of the Eussian Greek Church, and there was under hia rule a good deal of persecution ot other sects, especially of Eoinan Catholics. Of late years there can be no doubt that ths action of the secret Becieties, especially the Nihilists, has done infinite damag» to the cause of freedom in Russia^ and has necessitated stern measures of repression, in order that there might ba any Government at all. The Emperor's life was attempted on many occasions, ' the first being in St. Petersburg in 1866, when be was fired at' whilst entering his carriage. In the lollowing year he was fired at whilst driving through the streets of Paris^ with his two sons and the Emperor Napoleon. Of late years the at- " tempts have been more frequent, and have been, we believe, entirely the work of the secret societies, who have generally professed no personal animosity to the Emperor, but to the system of which he i was the representative.