Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-02-14

women, who had been shut up for many years.
Here, too, were the middle aged, and the young
men and maiden of fourteen years. The SOL
| diers Immediately went TO work to release
these captiyes from their chains, and took
from their knapsacks their overcoats and other
covering, which they gave them to cover their
nakedness. They were exceedingly anxious
to bring them out to the light of day; but be-
ing aware of the danger, l had food given
| them, and then brought them gradually to the
| light, as they were able to bear it.
! We then proceeded TO explore another room
on the left. Here found the instruments
of torture, which the ingenuity of man or devil
could invent. Col. L. thus describes four of
/ these instruments: ssThe first was a machine
| by which the victim was secured and then
| beginning with the fingers, every joint in the
| hands, arms and body was broken or drawn one
after another, until the sufferer died. The
second was box, in which the head and neck
! of the accused were SO closely screwed that
| he could not move in any way. Over the box
was a vessel, from which one drop of water
second fell upon the head of the victim-every
successive drop falling upon precisely the
in few moments, and put the sufferer to the
most cxcruciating agony. The third was an
internal machine, laid horizontally, TO which
the victim was bound; this instrument was
then placed between two beams in which were
scores Of knives, so fixed that, by turning the
machine with crank the flesh of tie sufferer
was torn from his limbs in small pieces. The
forth Sad ,ti,o in
ty. Its exterior was u beautiful woman, or
large doll, richly dressed, with arms extended,
ready to embrace its victim Around her feet
a semi-circle was drawn. The victim was pas
sed over this fatal mark touching a spring
which caused the diabolical engine to open
its arms clasped him and thousand knives
cut him in many pieces, in their deadly
embrace;
Col, L. said that he sight Of these engines
of Internal cruelty, kindled the rage of the
soldiers to fury. They declared that every
Inquisitor and soldier of the Inquisition should
be put to the torture. Their rage was ungoy-
ernable. Col. L. did not oppose them; they
might have turned their arms against him, if
he had attempted TO arrest their work. They
put to death in the machine tor breaking joints.
The torture of Inquisitior put to death by the
dropping of hot water on his head was most
eXcruciating. The poor man cried out in as-
ony to be taken from the fatal machine. The
Inquisitor-generaiw was brought before the in
fernal machine called ssThe Virgin; He beg
ged to be excused. s.No,' said they, ssyou
have caused others TO kiss her, and now you
must do it.'' They interlocked their bay onets
as to form large forks, and with these push
ed him over the deadly circle. The beautiful
image instantly prepared for the embrace,
claspcd him in its arms, and he was cut into
innumerable pieces. Col. /. said that he wit
messed the torture OF four OF them-his heart
sickcncd at the awful scene-and he left the
soldiers to wreck their vengeance on the last
guilty inmate of that prson-house of hell.
In the mean time it reported through
Madrid that the prisons OF the Inquisltions
were broken open, and lnultitudcs fastened
to the spot. And oh, what meeting was there !!
1t was like a resurrection About hundred
OF those who had been buried fer many years,
were now restored to life. There were fathers
who found their long lost daughters; wives
were restored TO their husbands sisters 10 their
brothers, and parents to their children, and |
there were some who could recognize no friends |
among the multitude. The Scene was such as
no tongue can. desbribe.
When the multitude had retired, Col. L. |
caused the library. paintings, furniture, etc,
to be removed. and having sent to the city for /
a wagon-load Of powder, he deposited large |
quantity in the vaults beneath the building,
and placed slow match in connection with
it. All withdrew to a distance, and in few
moments the assembled multitude bcheld
most joyful sight. The walls and turrets of
the massive structure rose majestically towards
the heavens, impelled by the tremendous ex-
plosion, and then fell back to the earth heap
of ruin.
N 81