American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-07-21
day, by ALBERT Aenry Wilson, No. Aoo Market Street
WILMINGTON, Del. FRIDAY JULY a. 1926
Folullle v.

holding chace in hand, and cross in the
other was stamped in the centre placed there per-
haps, by some unwary manufacturer who though,
such devout insignia would insure purchasers bus
who forgot the heinousness Of blowing the nose or
splitting upon the cross. To prevent such crime,
this religious tribunal had taken The wares by whole
SAFE, emitting to pay their value to the owner, who
might consider himself fortunate in not having his
shop removed to The sacred house
Leaving this room, VIC forced our way into ano.
thcr which, to our astoni, hment and indignation,
was that Of torture! In the centre stood stront.
table, about eight feet long and seven feet broad az
one end OF which was an iron collar. opening in the
middle horizontally, Tor the reception of the neck ct
the victim; on each side Of The collar were also hick
straps with buckles, for enclosing HE arms near to
the body; and on the sides ofthe table were leather
straps with buckles for The wrists, connected with
cords under the table, made fast 10 thc axle Of "a
HORIZONTAL wheel; a, the Other end two more
straps for the ANGLES, with ropes similarly fixed TO
| the wheel. Thus it was obvious, that q human be.
ing might be extended on the table. and, by turning
the wheel. might be stretched in both directions az
The same time. without any risk of hanging, for thar
effect was prevented ty the straps unde his MS
close 10 the body: bu, almost every joint might be
dlslocaled Alter We had discovered The diabolical
Use OF his piece of machinery every one shuddered,
and in, ountary looked towards the door, as il ap.
Iprehcnsive that il would close upon him. Al FIRST
curses were muttered, but they soon changed into
loud imprecaions against the inventors and practis
sers Of such torments; and blessings were showered
on the Corles lor having abolished this tribunal of
arch tyranny.
| We next examined a vertical pillory placed
against the walls it had one large and two SMALLER
holes on opening it, by lifting up the one hall,
we perceived apertures in the wall, and the pur-
pose Of the machine soon ascertained. An
offender having his neck and wrists secured
! in the holes OF the pilory, and his head and
hands hidden in the wall, could be logged by The
Il lay brothers Of St Dominick without being known
by them: and thus any accidental discovery was
avoided. Sconrgcs of different materials were
hanging on the wall; some oil knoted cord not n
few Of which were hardened by blood others we're
Of wire chain, with points and rowels, like those of
spurs these, too, were cotted with blood. We
also found tormcntors, made of netted wire, the
points OF every mesh projecting about one.eighth
of an inch inward, the outside being covered with
leather, and having strings to tie them on. Some
Of these tormen,ors were Of sufficient size for the
waist, others for the thighs, the legs and arms
The walls were likewise adorned with shirts of
horse hair which could not be considered a vexy
comfortable habit after severe hageaticn with
human bones, having string at each end to gag
those who MADE too free use of their tongue; and
with nippers. made of cane, for the same purpose
I
al The ends; BY opening in the middle when they
were put into the mouth, and fastened behind the
head, in the same manner the BONES they pressed
forcibly upon the tongue. In drawer were
great many finger screws; they were small semi
circular pieces of iron in the form oil crcscents,
having screw at one end, so that they could be
fixed on the fingers, and screwed 10 any degree.
even till The nails were crushed, and 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
lprecept and example, by the mild, the meek, the
holy Jesus May he who would not curse them.
in the bitterness of wrath, fall into their mercilsss
hands The rack and the pillory we're soon de-
molished for such was the fury of more than a
hundred persons who had gained almittance, that
had they been constructed of iron, they could nos
have resisted the violence and determination Of
their assailants.
\ In corner stood wooden horse painted
white: it was conceived TO be another instrument
of torture, and instantly broken TO pieces but
was afterwards informed, that a victim OF the in-
question: who had been burnt at the stake SUBJ
sequently declared innocent of the charges preferred
against him, and aoneneDt for his death, his
innocence was publicly announced, and his effigy
dressed in white. and mounted on this horse, was
paraded about the streets of Lima Some said that
The individual suffered in Lima others that he suf-
iered in Spsin and that by decree of the Inquisi-
or General, this farce performed in every pare
of the Spanish doninions, where tribunal existed.
We proceeded to the cells but found them all open
and empty: they were small, but not uncomtorsa-
BILE, as places of confinement. Some had small
yard attached; others, more solitary, had nome
The last person known to have been confined
naval officer. an Andalusian who va, exisd in 1912
to Boca Chica.
Having examined every corner Of this mysterious
prison house, we retired, in the evening, taking with
US books, papers, scourges, tormentors &c many
OF which were distributed at the door, particularly