Czarevitch Better; Terrorist Hurt Him

New York Times 100 years ago today, October 26, 1912:
Information in Paris That Revolutionary, by Forged Papers, Got on Czar's Yacht.
ADMIRAL PLEDGED HIS LIFE
Twice Told Ruler He Would Kill Himself If Terrorists Invaded Vessel — Died as He Said.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
    LONDON, Oct. 25.— Although the condition of the Czarevitch is reported to-night as improved, the mystery of the cause of his illness still remains a Russian Court secret. Even the Russian people's demand for information, which has been voiced by several papers, has caused no lifting of the official veil, with the result that suspicions as to the real character of the injury have greatly increased.
    In connection with the reports current that the boy's illness was really due to an attempt on his life, The Daily Mail prints a Paris dispatch in which it is stated that an attempted assassination took place on the royal yacht Standart, and that Rear Admiral Chagin, the Commander of the vessel, committed suicide yesterday because he considered himself morally responsible for the injuries received by the Prince.

Admiral Pledged His Life.
    "It may be remembered," says this dispatch, "that about five years ago, while the Imperial family was cruising in Finnish waters the Standart ran on a rock. The accident caused dismay in court circles, and Czar Nicholas summoned Capt. (later Admiral) Chagin, who was in command, and in the presence of the Czarina said to him:
    " 'On your honor, Captain, can you affirm that the revolutionaries had no hand in this accident.'
    " 'Your Majesty,' was the reply, 'the day that such a thing happens I shall blow out my brains. I can vouch for every member of my crew, which has been chosen with the greatest caution. A revolutionary could never find a place among them.' Czar Again Was Anxious.
    "Recently a state of siege was declared in the ports of Cronstadt and Sebastopol in consequence of the effervescence among the bluejackets of the Russian Navy. A sensational incident was the arrest of Examining Magistrate Choubine, who was charged with the investigation into an alleged military plot against the government. He was placed in prison because the authorities arrived at the conclusion that he belonged to the revolutionary party.
    "When the Czar learned of the spirit of revolt that had manifested itself in the navy, he sent for Admiral Chagin and said;
    " 'Tell me, Admiral, if I am in safety on my yacht.'
    "The Admiral replied that the Emperor might be assured that he was in perfect security.
    " 'I have pledged you my word,' added the officer, 'and my life is at stake.'

Terrorist Got on the Yacht.
    "Notwithstanding the Admiral's confident assurances and the surveillance maintained in obedience to his orders, it is asserted that under false names and with the aid of false certificates certain members of the Russian revolutionary party succeeded in being enrolled among the crew of the yacht. One of those is said to have been a sailor who was compromised in the mutiny on the battleship Potemkin in the Black Sea in 1905.
    "The introduction of members of the Terrorist party among the crew explains how an attempt on the Czar's son became possible, but as to the exact nature of the attempt my informant admitted that he possessed no details.
    " 'What is certain,' he said, 'is that the Czar's son was hurt. I do not know how, for, in accordance with Russian court etiquette, only the most meagre bulletins have been issued, and no details have been given to the public of the young Prince's illness. According to my information, however, the doctors aboard the Standart on their first examination came to the conclusion that his condition gave no cause for anxiety. There they were at fault, for an internal hemorrhage set in, and when the Prince was transferred to Spala his illness developed grave symptoms, and the court surgeon, Prof. Feodoroff, was summoned by telegram from St. Petersburg.

Czarina Found in Despair.
    " 'The Czarina knew her son had been menaced, and the constant dread of an attack on His life had completely unnerved her. When she learned from Prof. Feodoroff of the grave nature of the Prince's wound she was found in a state of despair, not for the first time. As to the author of the attack on the heir of all the Russias, little is known with certitude. It is, however, affirmed that he did not act as an emissary of the Terrorist Party, and it is thought the attempt was made by an anarchist on his own initiative."
    "When Admiral Chagin realized that, despite his precautions, a revolutionary had gained access to the imperial yacht he fulfilled his pledge and blew out his brains. The Russian secret police, in accordance with their methods, tried to mislead the public by circulating different versions of the Czarevitch's trouble, but concealed the fact of the attempt on the Standart."
    According to a St. Petersburg dispatch the latest version circulated of the suicide of Admiral Chagin attributes it to a love affair with a girl student, Helen Sokoloff, who yesterday unsuccessfully attempted to commit suicide at the house of the Admiral. The girl's assertion that the Admiral was a mere friend of the family appears to be contradicted by the fact that in his will he left her $25,000.