Entry 25 - First Letter to M. Goroshkin

25


(First letter to M. Goroshkin)

"Madame L. obtained from the Princess G-n some particulars. So
in addition to the reports forwarded to you through Hatzkelman, I
herewith send you more:

The Tsar's family arrived in Tobolsk from Tumen on the S/S "Russ"
September 3rd, together with SS/SS "Kitai" and "Petrograd." On the
last two were the accompanying persons and the "Detachment of Special
Destination," with Col. Kobylinsky in command, and Mr. Makarov
supervising the voyage.... For three days the "Russ" was lying near
the pier, for the Governor's Mansion was not yet ready for occupancy.
So nobody was allowed to go ashore. During these days crowds of
people were assembled near the piers, and though in the mob there
were certain evil agitators, the people in general were sympathetic,
understanding the exile as a "dreadful plot of Ministers against the
Emperor." The Heir was the center of the attention of the Tobolians,
and his personality was not at all blasphemed.

The Emperor and the Empress, with the children, were finally put in
the Mansion,--by the way its name is now "The Home of Liberty,"
which is on the main street of Tobolsk,--the Great Piatnitzkaya, also
renamed now into Liberty Street.

The Governor's Mansion is a three-story stone house, white, with a big
entrance hall from Tuliatskaya Street, there is not any entrance from
Liberty Street. There is a small square place before the entrance.
Here they built up a fence, not very high. They fixed the fence so
that no one can go over it, as the boards are trimmed sharp and have
nails. All the windows look onto Liberty Street. On the opposite side
of Liberty Street are private houses. Right across the street is the
house of Kornilov Brothers, also a stone building; three stories, and
in this house are those who went with the family in exile.

There are sentinels around. On Tuliatskaya Street near the fence--at
its ends and in the middle,--three soldiers, on Liberty Street--four
soldiers; two soldiers near the entrance hall.

Though the entrance is fenced, one can see the street from the house,
also from the street one can see what is going on on the stairway.

In the Kornilov House (both Kornilovs are away) are living: Dr. Botkin
with his son Gleb and Miss Botkin; Dr. Derevenko--a man with the same
name as the tutor of Alexis; Monsieur Gillard, a Swiss instructor of
the Hier; Captain Melnik (I heard that he is going to marry M-elle
Botkin); Lady-in-waiting Countess G.; M-me Schneider and several
others; I shall give you their names in my next letter.

The Emperor and the Empress used to have certain liberties, they could
even go to church. But then no one was admitted there, unless they
could get in under the pretext of being singers in the choir. Many
were going,--used to go to the Anunciation Church. They would put
soldiers all of the way from the Mansion to the Church. Reports are
coming that these church parades are stopped and a chapel is being
built in the Mansion.

Shortly after their arrival, Mr. Kerensky sent two boxes of wine
to the Tsar; the soldiers broke the boxes. They do not want any
"luxuries" for the exiles. The Empress has no coffee--it is a luxury.
But otherwise the attitude is not too bad. M. wrote that under the
charming manners of the Tsar and especially the Heir, before the
Soviet rule came, the soldiers very often changed their manners, their
revolutionary hearts were melting--and then Col. Kobylinsky used
to send those "soft rags" back to Petrograd, for they might be
counter-revolutionary.

Kobylinsky himself was trying to maintain good relations with the
soldiers, with Kerensky (who promised him promotion) and with the
family through Kornilov's House, for the Emperor, like everybody else
in Tobolsk, despises him. The Emperor has never said anything to or
about Kobylinsky directly, however. Once only, when Kobylinsky was
changing sentinels he bumped into the Emperor, and the latter said'
"Still a Colonel?" That was really a sarcastic remark! Of course, now
with the Bolshevik! everything has changed and the Family's position
is very bad.

I am well, send me some very thick socks if you happen to have an
opportunity. Greetings. Attached--a map of Tobolsk.

Yours,

Al. Syv."

(several pages missing)