THE RED REIGN [Illustration: The author and his brigand guide and interpreter] THE RED REIGN THE TRUE STORY OF AN ADVENTUROUS YEAR IN RUSSIA BY KELLOGG DURLAND AUTHOR OF “AMONG THE FIFE MINERS,” ETC., ETC. ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS BY THE AUTHOR AND OTHERS [Illustration] NEW YORK THE CENTURY CO. 1908 Copyright, 1907, by THE CENTURY CO. _Published, September, 1907_ THE DE VINNE PRESS TO MY MOTHER The author desires to make cordial recognition of the fact that some of the material used in Chapter IX was also used in articles which appeared in _Harper’s Weekly_ and _Colliers Weekly_; that certain passages in several other chapters were used in letters to the _New York Evening Post_ and the _Boston Evening Transcript_; that part of Chapter XI appeared in the _Independent_. At the same time he would express his grateful appreciation to Mr. Hamilton Holt, of the _Independent_, for the courtesy of supplying him with credentials of representation which were exceedingly useful on several occasions. CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION xix Importance of movement called Russian revolution--Its varied aspects--Inevitableness of revolution in Russia--Causes--The disease of autocracy--Insincerity of manifesto of October, 1905, seen in gradual withdrawal of constitutional rights then guaranteed--Elements of disintegration in Russian state--Ninety per cent. of Russian people now oppose existing régime--Startling record of killed and wounded in 1906--Compared to French Terror--Length of Russian struggle compared to other revolutions in history--Author’s qualifications for present undertaking--Varied experience among Cossacks, terrorists, and peasants. CHAPTER I. INTO THE SHADOW 3 The White Terror--My first conspiracy--A frontier episode--A mixed company--“Vive la Revolution!”--The “Quiet Capital”--A courtesy to Americans--A friend’s narrow escape--A midnight incident--Early bewilderment--Witte “more a stratagem than a man”--The ministerial crisis--The deposed minister--Significant telegrams from the provinces--Off to the Caucasus. CHAPTER II. AMONG OFFICERS OF THE CZAR 25