25Ipatiev House
Ekaterinburg, Russia Morning,
July 16, 1918
Stephen Morrison assembled all of the guards in the small guesthouse on the grounds of the Ipatiev House. He had instructed Yurovsky to make sure that they reported sober, as he had critically important news for them. They filed into the sitting room of the house and as instructed, they all appeared sober. Morrison instructed them to all sit down as he stood in the front of the room.
“Comrades, you don’t have to be a weatherman to know that the thunder of gunfire that we’re hearing is getting closer. Our intelligence is telling us that the White Army is converging on Ekaterinburg. It is anticipated that they will arrive the day after tomorrow.” A murmur of excitement swept over the men as he continued on. “I have been instruct
