“Protocol of the Inspection of the Upper Floor of the Ipatiev House, conducted on August 2, and August 5-8, 1918”

by Alexander Nametkin

Room 14 (XIV): Entrance Hall. Features large, double folding doors, and a small vestibule inside them. Outside, a few steps lead from the square to the doors. In the vestibule, to the right of the door, there are two small windows measuring 2.5 arshins wide by 5 arshins high, and the walls are covered in flowered paper. On the floor under the windowsill next to the staircase, there was a pile of oily and greasy flannel rags. In the first left hand corner of the room stands a small wooden bench. There is an oak staircase ascending from the center of the room and on an interior wall of the staircase was written on the wallpaper: "Commissar of the House of Special Purpose Alexander Avdayev." Underneath this in black indelible pencil two words were inscribed: "Sasha's," and "Sasha." To the left of a mirror on the back wall of the room is a door leading into the next room. 

Room 13 (XIII): Second Staircase Hall. Measures 12 arshins long, 6 arshins wide with a staircase of 19 steps descending on the right as you enter from Room 14 (XIV). Whitewashed walls and wooden floor. 

Room 11 (XI): The Bathroom. In here we found a small hand mirror and a tin-lidded pot of some sort of "extraction" from the firm of George Borman for use in a ventilator. A French newspaper was beside the bath along with some dirty dusters. A copper heater stands in the corner. There is an enamel tub with four water stopcocks. Next to the bath, is a small wooden bench. On this bench lay several large, fine sheets bearing an Imperial Crown, and the initials "T. N." for Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaievna, as well as the No. 24, and the year 1911. Another sheet bore the initials "A. F." for the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, and the No. 10. There was a box with multi-colored hair clippings on the floor. On the walls three lewd verses had been scrawled in pencil. 

Room 12 (XII): The Water Closet. This contains a pile of newspapers on the floor, which is of linoleum and appears cracked from water damage. Several of the pipes are wrapped in a kind of fabric. Behind one of the pipes was found a small black book inscribed "To My Own Darling Nicky, to remind him of his Spitzbub when he is far away from her, from his loving Alix, Osborne, July 1894." The entries in the book appear to be in code. The walls bore several pornographic drawings, including one presumably of Rasputin, as well as 2 lewd verses concerning the Emperor Nicholas II. Another box, with various hair clippings, was found here; Chemodurov later identified this as having come from the Grand Duchesses. Also on the walls was scrawled in pencil twice the name "Sidorov" (a guard called Alexei Sidorov came from the Zlokazov Factory and served as a guard of the Emperor's Family). Above the water closet is a hand-drawn sign that reads "Please be so kind as to leave the toilet in the condition that you found it." 

Room 9 (IX): The Vestibule. It was 7.5 arshins long and 6.75 arshins wide. This room was used as a vestibule and on a table under the window was a bottle of Izhevsky Water and a small empty tin box. In a small cupboard was found a large collection of pharmacy bottles; six bottles of aromatic oils for icon lamps; a small bottle of ink; volumes 6, 7, 9 and 11 of the Collected Works of Shchedrin; issue No. 2213 of the magazine Kopeika, dated September 13, 1914; a little flacon with yellow flowers; a bottle of Ems mineral water; and volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10 and 12 of the Collected Works of Saltykov. There were also numbers of the newspaper Izvestia: The Soviet of Workers and Soldiers Deputies.

In the right hand corner, there was a copy of the English newspaper The Graphic from November 21, 1914; a box containing four lengths of different colored hair identified by Chemodurov as having been cut from the Grand Duchesses' heads during their last illness in Tsarskoye Selo; numbers 37 and 38 of the Ekaterinburg newspaper Uralski Rabochii, from March 9 and March 10, 1918; the Petrograd Evening Post from January 1918; and a set of Chinese markers. 

On August 2, the search lasted from 10:30 AM until 3 PM. 

On August 5, the search started at 12:25 PM. 

Room 10 (X): Office. Measuring 7 arshins, 2 vershoks wide by 7 arshins, 13 vershoks long. This was the Commandant's room. The walls covered in maroon paper with golden palms, and lighted by a silver chandelier. There was a small electroshock machine that Dr. Derevenko prescribed for Alexei. In the right hand corner was a cabinet containing a roll of fabric from Shredera; a collection of bottles and flacons; and a black metal pencil case by Faberge. Chemodurov said that the flacons belonged to the Empress. There was a set of triangular black and white tiles in a box marked "Jeu de Parquet Modele PCC" that Chemodurov said belonged to the Sovereign Heir. There were 36 playing cards and a list of Ekaterinburg telephone subscribers on a side table. Two of the bottles contained homeopathic preparations called "Ignatzia" and "Aconite" from a well-known homeopath, Dr. Badmayev, in St. Petersburg. A lined blank book with "House of Special Purpose" written on the cover was on the desk. Between the tables stood a yellow wooden table with an electrical lamp on it; two ashtrays, one of them porcelain and the other made of seashells; a pile of lined paper; three pens; a gramophone and several gramophone records; and some gray and white writing paper headed "Commandant of the House of Special Purpose of the Ural Soviet Committee," with matching envelopes with the return address "House of Special Purpose, Ekaterinburg, Under-Commandant Nikulin." A mounted stag's head hung on the wall above a sofa with tapestry; when this sofa was moved, a cypress wood rosary that Chemodurov said belonged to the Empress was found. There was a picture of flowers over the sofa. On the wall across from the sofa was a mahogany bookshelf with glass doors containing miscellaneous novels that Chemodurov said belonged to the Imperial Family's library. On a triangular table covered in green oilcloth there was a letter in English dated December 19, 1909, from the Empress to Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaievna; bottles of medicine; a stack of women's sanitary napkins and belts; and another box with various clippings of hair. There was also another small electrical machine prescribed by Dr. Anatoly Ivanovich Belogradsky, an Ekaterinburg physician, for use by the Sovereign Heir. 

Room 7 (VII): Drawing Room. From the vestibule, a white door leads into a room measuring 12.5 arshins long by 8.25 arshins wide. The walls are covered with white, gray, and brown floral paper, and the woodwork is white with gold painted details. The floor is parquet and is covered with Turkish-type rugs. A large electrical crystal and bronze chandelier hung from the ceiling. A large palm tree against the right hand wall. In the entry way there was a wooden rack for coats, among which there was a velvet cloak with the Imperial Crown and the initials "A. F." Across from the windows, in a corner, was a woman's secretary desk containing papers with French text written, according to Dr. Derevenko, by the Sovereign Heir. A large faience stove in the corner was next to a mahogany piano. 

An open archway leads to an alcove measuring 7 arshins long by 8 arshins, 4 vershoks wide. Here, as in the previous room, is furniture of expensive wood, some covered in gold silk. On a large desk there was a box labeled "Jewels belonging to Anastasia Nikolaievna." There was an exercise book full of telegrams, most of them headed with the words "Tobolsk. Khokhryakov." There was a scrap of burned paper reading "Ol," and two newspapers. Several cabinets held pieces of pottery and china, as well as more medicine bottles that belonged to the Imperial Family. A wicker chaise-longue was covered with lace embroidery that Chemodurov said was the work of the Empress. 

On August 6, the search resumed at 3:30 PM. 

Room 5 (V): Dining Room. From the Drawing Room, an arched double door led into the dining room, designated number 5, measuring 8 arshins, 4 vershoks wide by 12 arshins, 6 vershoks long. The walls are covered with crimson and gold paper of dense pattern. The floor in this room is parquet. On the right wall as you enter there are two windows, one of which opens to the terrace. There is a sofa, an oak dining room table and chairs with leather seats, and between the windows, a free standing mirror with four black marble panels. Along a wall, a large wooden buffet stands, and on the wall above it is a gilt clock that stopped at 9:57. A 4-light brass chandelier hangs from the ceiling. On the far wall is a marble mantelpiece carved with figures. On the buffet and the dining room table is a large collection of wine bottles stamped "Imperial Court Cellars." Also on the buffet is a white samovar with gold spout, several icons, bottles of liniment from the "Imperial Court Pharmacist Rozmarin" for the Tsesarevich, and two electrical lamps. There are fifteen faience soup plates from the Kuznetsov Factory with the initials "N II" and dated 1913, 1914, and 1909. According to Chemodurov, most of the daily dishes belonged to the Ipatiev family. Inside the buffet were icons to Sts. Antonina, Ioann, and Mustafiya. On the buffet lay a large collection of icons to Seraphim Sarov, Sergei Radonezhsky, Dimitry Solunsky; Thanksgiving icons in commemoration of Borodino; various Mothers of God; and miscellaneous others from the collections of the Empress and the Grand Duchesses. A container of foaming lather sat on the floor; Chemodurov said that the Emperor used it in the bath. At the door to the terrace was a plate with bones, presumably for dogs. 

Room 1 (I): Demidova's room. Measuring 7 arshins, 15 vershoks by 6 arshins, 15 vershoks. The walls are whitewashed with a floral border, and the floor is covered with a burgundy floral carpet. In a corner were two clothes racks that Chemodurov said belonged to the Heir. There was also a third electroshock machine. There were piles of clothes on the floor that Chemodurov identified as belonging to the Heir, along with a small purse of coins that also belonged to the Heir. 

Room 2 (II): Bedroom/Dressing Room. This is the room set aside for the Grand Duchesses. It measures 8 arshins by 7 arshins, 2 vershoks. There are two corner stoves. The walls are covered in a floral paper, and a parquet floor is covered with Turkish-type carpets. On the floor lay a plaid lap rug belonging to the former Emperor, and atop this were books, letters, postcards and icons. A cheval glass stood in the corner, and a chamber pot in the middle of the room. There were two armchairs upholstered in fabric with a flowers and birds pattern. There were four mother-of-pearl buttons, a collection of safety pins, and a length of yellow silk. A wooden case from Novy Zavet & Isaltir, lined in velvet, contained a collection of books in the Russian language. Another box, also lined in velvet, held several icons set with diamonds, two with inscriptions in the Empress's hand. The first read "1/11 John 19:38-42," and the second read "11 John 19:25, 37." An icon of the Evangelists belonged to the lackey Sednev, according to Chemodurov. In a corner was a tall shelf with three books in Russian: the Bible, War and Peace, and The Great and The Small and the Coming of the Antichrist by Serge Nilus. The shelf also held several postcards addressed to Maria Nikolaievna. A stack of paper proved to be handwritten roles from an English play assigned to Maria, Anastasia, Alexei, and the tutor Gilliard. A notation stated that the play was performed on 4 February 1918 in Tobolsk. 

In this room especially-but also in other rooms examined-it was noted that things had been burned in the stoves and the ashes raked out onto the floor. Analysis of the ashes failed to reveal what had been burnt. 

On 7 August, the search began at 10:30 AM. 

Room 3 (III): Bedroom. This was the room of the Emperor, Empress, and Heir Tsesarevich. It measured 7 arshins, 8 vershoks by 7 arshins, 5 vershoks. There was a short frieze along the walls, which were covered in a white and yellow stripe. A bronze chandelier, and a parquet floor covered with floral carpet. There was a baize writing table, a mahogany dressing table with oval mirror, velvet armchair, several shelves, a vanity with marble top, a wardrobe, and two matching beds, with a third iron bed for the Heir. Against the wall leaned a big flat board that the bedridden Heir used to play, eat, read, and work on. Between the windows was the writing table, loaded with tin soldiers, a bronze electric lamp, and a chessboard and pieces. Across the bed were scattered various books including The Adoration of John inscribed "A. F. TS. S. March 1906;" a blank book covered in red velvet; a Bible that belonged to the Empress; an exercise book lined, and dated 1883, bearing various entries by the Emperor; miscellaneous novels; paper with the initials "A. F." surmounted with a crown; and volumes 2, 8, 13 of the Collected Works of Chekhov. Against a wall was the dressing table with its mirror surmounted with two electrical lamps. On the table was an enamel saucer; two flacons from the eau-de-cologne factory Brocard; two black flacons of English perfumes; Lavender Salts; a tub of cold cream from "Imperial Pharmacy;" women's sanitary napkins and belts; a box of bottles from the pharmacy with liniments and medicines; a plate stamped with the initials "M. N.;" and medicine bottles from the Tobolsk pharmacist Dementiev. A bedpan was found beneath the Heir's bed. An icon of the Feodorovsky Mother of God had its halo stripped of diamonds. The calendar on the wall had not been changed since June 23. 

Room 8 (VIII): The Kitchen. Contains a table measuring 3 arshins, 13 vershoks by 6.5 vershoks. There is a wood burning stove and an enamel sink. The cupboards contain numerous dishes and glasses.

Translation Copyright: Penny Wilson, 2000. From Russian text. May not be reproduced without permission.