TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—Your St. Petersburg Correspondent in his telegram of the 15th inst., referring to the demonstration at the Kazan Cathedral, and to the students who originated it, says:—“We are still left in the dark, and are likely to remain so, as to the authentic circumstances attending the terrible death of the girl student in the fortress, which brought about this trouble.”

If you prefer not to “remain in the dark” and care to know “the authentic circumstances” alluded to, will you allow me to give you the true history of that regrettable event?

If your Ambassador, Sir Nicholas O’Conor, will put aside the diplomatic etiquette which avoids indiscreet inquiry about internal affairs which have no direct connexion with his official duties, and will try to find out the truth of the matter, he will easily be able to verify my statements. No Russian statesman, I am sure, will hesitate to furnish him with the details. Meanwhile, if you will allow me to do so, I can myself supply the necessary information.

Here is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

In December last a secret printing press was discovered, the object of which was to publish the most revolutionary proclamations. Amongst the culprits were a few girls of the high schools, including a certain Miss Vetroff. She, although necessarily imprisoned along with the rest, was treated with the greatest kindness and leniency until the end of the trial. The probability was that she would have been shortly liberated.

In the meantime she was allowed to see visitors and to have as many books as she liked. Twice a day she was allowed to take a walk in the fresh air.

Unfortunately, the poor girl was of an extremely nervous and morbidly excitable temperament.

Soon after returning to her room from one of these walks, apparently refreshed and even in gay spirits, a lamp was placed upon her table. A quarter of an hour later terrible cries and screams were heard. The poor girl had covered herself with kerosene, and had set fire to her dress. The guards tried to save her and speedily extinguished the flames. The doctors treated her for several days with the greatest care, but the injuries were too serious; no recovery was possible. Coming, however, to her senses, the poor girl began sobbing about her own folly, and then wandered in her mind. When the clergyman arrived, she recognised him, and willingly received Holy Communion. Her last words were, “My God! What shall I meet in the next world?”

Terrible reports have been designedly spread about this melancholy event. I see in some English papers statements to the effect that the poor girl was tortured and dishonoured, and that the report of this diabolic treatment incited the Russian students to their demonstration in the Kazan Cathedral, where they insisted upon public prayers for the “unhappy victim of cruel despotism.” This, however, was not allowed. The young students then resolved upon walking the streets, chanting prayers for the dead. This, again, was not permitted by the authorities. The crowds were dispersed and 800 students, after being compelled to give up their names, were placed under arrest for three days for disturbing the public peace. When the truth became known the general excitement subsided, and it is now recognised by all right-thinking persons that no blame whatever can be attached to the authorities for this unfortunate occurrence.

I shall be obliged if you will publish this statement on my authority as a prison directress, who am in possession of the facts from first hand.

Yours very faithfully,

OLGA NOVIKOFF (“O.K.”).

4, Portman-mansions, W., April 17.

THE TIMES, MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1897.