THE DEATH OF CZAR NICHOLAS

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 22, Issue 67, 29 August 1911, Page 5

THE DEATH OF CZAR NICHOLAS

j There are various stories c? the death of the Czar Nicholas I. Here 1 is one which the great singer Mario, heard from a doctor of the Court: — j When the Russian Army was meeting with reverse after reverse in the Crimean War, the Czar sent for his •doctor and demanded to know.’ rhiejj i was the quickest and most painlesi . ! poison that he knew of, bluntly ling the startled physician that lit had resolved to commit suicide. lit further warned the doctor in the I stern manner which was his char ' acteristic, that if he w*re nut obeyed the doctor’s life would be 1 Ho sharply silenced the man’s nervous remonstrances and cutomanded [him to bring the poison. 'the doctor did not dare to refase, I and a few minutes later brought a [small pLIal containing the poison, which he assured the Czar wo “Id deprive anyone of existence in a few minutes. To he sure that be had been, obeyed and that the doctor was speaking the truth, the Czar obliged him to remain in the room, warning him that if the poison, failed, his life ! should ‘answer for it. j The Czar took the poison without the least tremor or the movement, of a muscle, and although twice told by the doctor, who held his in his hand, -that there was time to save him by an ant’dote should ho alter his mind, the Czrur refused answering the second entreaty by simply waving the man away, he by that time bring unable, to speak. It was . given out that tile Czar bad died from the effects of a severe chill, but those who knew the facts also kneV that be had committed suicide rather than face the defeat of his army. The story is told in “ The Romance of a Great Singer.”