3-071-249 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Assassination of Alexander II.: sketch showing exactly how the Emperor was attacked, forwarded by our special artist, 1881. 'Tcherkess of the Emperor's Guard; Tcherkess sitting on coachman's side mortally wounded; The Emperor; Colonel of the Police Dvorchetski; An officer mortally wounded; Butcher boy killed; Tcherkess of the suite of the Emperor killed; Colonel Dvorchetski's sledge in which the Emperor was brought to the Winter Palace...Some fresh particulars of the assassination are given by an assistant military surgeon, Vassili Gorokhoff, who witnessed the horrible affair. He was passing along the Catherine Canal towards the Nevsky Prospect [in St Petersburg when]...he heard a violent explosion, which impelled him forward, and looking round he saw a Cossack fall from his horse and another staggering...and then something was thrown...which fell at the Emperor's feet with a deafening explosion. The Emperor and all standing around...fell to the ground as if mowed down. Gorokhoff saw the Emperor lying on his right side, and an officer with white epaulettes - this was the Police Colonel Dvorjetsky - drag himself towards his Majesty, who slightly raised his head, which then sank again on the snow'. From "Illustrated London News", 1881.