The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-10-24

ed viii cords undrr the table, made fasl ~
the sxlc of an harzbnid wheel al me ~
thrr end we're Two murc traps fef the an
eles. with tanrs similarly fixed ~ the %hcei,
lThus IL Vas ah.ians. thai = human eng
might be- extended on the table, 'nd, BY
turning the wheel, might be susichrd ~
hath directions At the same tinrs eitbou'
any risk Of henglng, tor thfl rii"ei was
prpvesied by the two Straps under his arms
riose Ia the body but almost very JOINT
might be- dl.lucaird. After W. had diseo-
vered The diabocd usp of this piece OF
! pachinpfv, sttrY one shaddefed, and III
voluntarily looked towards the dooftas u
apprehen.isr thai It would close upon him.
Al first rurs,s were muttered, but they
soun changed INTO loud impreeatinns ~
shinst the Inventors and pfacilssrs 81 such
iormenl. aud dressings were sho"efed on
the Cortes for having abolished tinsirlbunaI
Of arch tyranny.
We next Examined vertical pillory
placed against the wall II ,iad one lag"
AID two smalIer holes op opening II, by
| lifting up ihe enc half. we perceived aper-
! lures in the wall, and The purpose oi tn"
machine was soon ascerialnrd. An OF
fender having hls neck and wrists secured
/ in the holes of the pll"ry, and his head
and hands hidden in the wall, could be
| logged by thr lay brothers of 81. ltomin-
/ ick, without bong known bs them aud
thus an, accident discovery was avoided.
| Soon ges of different materials were hang
| lag on the wall SOME of knottcd cord,
mol f.'v Uf which were hardened by
blood others We're of wire chdln, with
points and. rOwcls. hike those Of spurs
the-e, too, wee elotted with blood. We
also found iarmenlfrs, made nf netted wire,
tbr points 81 'tery mesh projecting ahoht
one eighth of an inch iDwaid, the outside
bong covered with l,s,thsr, and having
sftiugs 10 tic them on. Some at 'heHe
tormcnters were nf a sufficient slZe for the
waiqt, others for the thighs, the Ices. and
arms. The walls were likewise dorned
with shirts Of nurse hair, Which coold not
bs considered As very eomturtabie habit
after a s"vere nAgrllallou With human
bones. having string At each eud, IN gag
those who made ton free use Of their
tongues and with nippcrs, made of cane,
for the same purpose. These nippors CON
visited of two slips ut cane, tied At the ends
by opening an the middle when they were
put lnio the mouth, aud hstrnrd behind
the head, in the same manner rs thV bones,
they passed forebly upon tho tongue. IL
u drawer were great many finger screws;
they were Small ~ nlrlrcular pt.er, oflro
in the form Of crrseenls, havlag screw at
one end. 81 HAT they could he fixed on the
fingers, and screwed to any degree, even
TIL lhe nails were crushed, aud the bones
broken.
On viewing these implements of torture,
who could find an excuse for the monsters
who could use them TO establish the faith
which was taught, by precept and exam
pie, by the mild, the meek, the holy Jesus
May he Who would not curse thers, IN the
bitterness If wrath, fan into their mercIess
hands The rack and the pllory were
son itlnaished ; for such was the fury Of
more than n hundred persons who had
gained admlttance, that had HEY been
constructed of iron. they could not have
resisted tile violence and determination of
thcir ,ssaiants.
IL onr corner stood a wooden horse,
painted white 1t WAS conceived To be ano-
lher ius' OF torture, aud instantly
broken la pieces hut was afterwards in
formed, that victim of the mquisliOn,
Who had been burnt at the stake, was sub
ssqpcnily declared innocept Of the radrgrs
preferred against him, aud az an atoncmeof
for his death, hlS innocence was pnbhrly
ipnounced, aud his riligy dressed in white
md mounted on this horse, was paraded
about thr streets of Linn. Snme said that
the individual suffered in Lima, Others thai
he suffered IN Spain, and that Ivy decree
Of the lnqnlslto General, this farce was
performed IN every part of the Spanish
dominlons, where tribunal existed. We
proceeded To the cells, bnt found them al
open and empty: they we're small, but
not uncomfortable, as places Of coufnc-
mcnt Some had a small yard attached /;
olhets, more solitary, had none. The last
person known 10 have been confined was
anatal officer, an Andalnsian, who was eX-
He'd IN l8l2 to Boca Chica.
Having examined every corner of this
mysterious p,tson-house, we retired, in the
evening, taking With US hooks, papers
sconrges, &c. many of which were dstr-
huted Mt the door, particularly several
pieces at the lrlehglons handhrrcbief.--
The following morning, the archbishop
went To tho cathedral, apa declared all
those persons excommunicated, ret part
eipGnieS, who had taken, aud should retain
M Their possession. any thing that had be-
'ooged To, ar had beru found IN, the cx-
tribunal of the inqnstion. In consequence
Of this declaration, many delivered up
what they had taken but with me the
case was different kept what had got,
in defiance of .fumines inferno}um. de-
no9nced by his grace against the yenite1les
and retinentfS.n
From the Boston Spectator