The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-23

trial. The enterprising Colonel even became a
hanger on upon the court at whitehall, where |
he does not seem TO have been held greater |
rogue than the rest, for be had eventually pen
sion given to him, as we'll as some cOnhsCated |
land ia Ireland. Edwards, on the other hand,
The keeper OF the jewels, who bad almost lost
his lie In their defense, died unrecompensed.
From the ConquerOr's time, indeed, until that
of James H. the annals OF the tenants of the
Tower form one long history of injustice. The
single CLEAN OF sunshine that strikes
through these dark records is the
narrative OF the esCape Of Lord Nitbsdale from
the governors house in February, l7l6, the
evening before the day in which he had been
doomed TO die, and it Is exceedingly we'll told
by our author. The devoted resolution of his
countess, overcoming the apprehensl0ns OF the
timid, and stirring the phlegmatic into
ment OF her husbands fight; her presence OF
mind when he had got clear of, in initiating her
lords voice, that his guards might imagine that
he was still within his chamber; and, hnailY,
her return to Scotland, at the forfeit Of her life,
to fetch the buried family ttle,deeds for her
childs sake, make up spirited portrait OF
noble woman.
We have not spoken of the Tower as q for.
tress, though more than one king and queen
were beseged within its massive wals Richard
ii twice. who, on the latter occasion, had the
modification, after parey with the rebel leader
in the Councilroom, of being compelled TO sur
render his old friend and tutor, Simon Burley,
to the vengeance OF his enemies. 1t was from
the Tower stairs, ten years before, that Richard
took boat, and addressed his angry people with
vain words of peace; and from its gate that he
rode forth to meet Wat Tyler. No sooner had he
passed the dTawbTidge than the mob rushed
in, and besides treating his mother, widow
OF the Black Prince, with great brutality, tore
the Archb shop OF Canterbury, and Others, from
the very altar OF st. Peter, aud behcaded them
in the courtyard so often the scene of scarcely
less lawless executions,
ST.. Peters Chapel is, in one sense, the chief
focus OF interest among all the Tower buildings;
tor, in whatever portion Of the place the pri-
soners languished, they were most of them
laid there at last, generally shorter by a head
than when in life. Gerald, ninth Earl of
Kildare Lord Deputy of ireland, is one of the
few who is inferred there updecapitated -
he only died of a broken heart, upon hear
ing that his son, Lord Thomas Fitzgerald
Commonly called Silken Thomas), had in
herited the family disease of rebellion, and
declared war against the king, Henry VII. His
torebodng was Just one, Tor Thomas soon
came to be prisoner like himself-in the Beau
champ Tower and was hanged, one fine morn
ing, with no less than five of his Uncles, upon
Tyburn Tree. The father of this old Lord Xii.
dare was a chronic rebel: he could not possibly
help having q hand in whatever rising hap
pened to be taking place; and yet he kept his
head on his shoulders to the last, and, simply
because he was such an unparalleled scoundrel,
received the highest honors. When accused
before the king in council OF burning the Cathe-
dral of Cashel, he admitted the soft impeach-
ment, but defended himself upon the ground
| ''that he was positively assured that the arch
| bishop was inside of it," This reply was con-
sidered a very excellent one; and, "since 1t
seemed all Ireland could not govern this earl" ="
| Henry said, "this earl shall govern all Ireand;"
| and accordingly maze him its lol d lieutenant.
Besides the great historical characters who
| have been involuntary tenants OF the Tower,
there have been few others who have had tenn
porary loogment there previous to execution;
| determined murder Of the Hartgills, father and
son, forms a very curious chapter in this his
| tory. He was the first peer who ever
'took sik"- claimed the privilege of being
| HING a
| he richly deserved it. Our author takes occa-
sion TO remark that this was not altogether an
| empty distinction, since such rope being
stronger than vulgar hempen cord, is slenderer,
| slips more easily upon the wTndpIpe, and so
shortens matters: His Lordship's servants were
of course supplied with the usual article, and
subsequently ''hung in chains"-aD expression,
by the by, which Only meant that after hang
ing in the ordinary way, "a stout canvass
dress, well saturated with tar, was put upon the
body, and then a light frame of hoop-iron fitted
to the frame, with the object of causing the re-
mains to hang together as long as possible. At
the top OF this framework was an iron loop
which went over the head, and to this was Sc
cured the chain by which the corpse was finally
suspended to lofty gibbet made of oak, and
climbing up to remove the body.
The last criminals received within the Tower
walls were the Cato street gang in 1920. Thistle
wood was tenant of the Bloody Tower; Ings
and Davidson "a negro) of ST. Thomas Tower;
Harrison, Brunt, Tidd, Monument, and
wilson, in the. Bynard and Middle Towers;
ana hooper III lne SalC ROVER. Inc
FIST FIVE were all hung; there was not
the slightest sympathy from the spectators
upon their appearance on the scatold, but
''when each head was cut off and held up, q
loud and deep groan of horror burst from all
sides. which was not soon forgotten by those
who heard it"-so distasteful to our people has
the sight of blood become, which was at one
time shed in such torrents upon that most his
torie emnence in Britain, Tower Hill.
Interesting 9s these memorials are, and ad-
Yantageous as must be the position of their
author for investigating hidden matters of
great moment, we do not envy Lord de Ros the
habitation to which his office entities him. In
the daytime the governors house is doubtless
comfortable enough; but at night, if one were
the least inclined to be nervous-yet his
Lordship is soldier, and doubtless not
afraid. more than one sentry, however," he
admits, ''has deposed to hearing horrible groans
proceeding from the apartment called the Coun-
Gil Chamber" where (among similar cheerful
events) Guido Fawkes underwent the applica'
tion Of the rack in its severest form. We dare
say 1t was "only fancy" but-only fancy !
Chambers Journal.