Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1872-01-06

MUNICH, Oct. 9th.


Munich, Oct. 9th, II.
When Nuremburg was In its prime
about three hundred years ago-when
Albert Durer and Hans Sachs, the Mes.
ter Singer, were two Of its worthy citi-
gems. when immense wealth and power
lay within these walls, it was then that
the municipal authorities considered it
their right and privilege To hold for
years their prisoners of war within these
dungeons, and to punish the people re-
gardless of humane rights, with these
wretched torturing instruments have
read recently concerning this very Free
Tower, which contains the Iron Virgin,
that in those times certain Baron Won
Stein was incarcerated and held for ma
ny years for some merely political rea-
son. Through the aid of his noble son
he escapes, but while planning this the
son unwitting!y beholds the secret hor-
rors connected with the Iron Virgin.-
Underneath this tower is monastery I;
one of its monks being an old friend of
the family, is willing to assist in the bold
project of the rescue of the Baron at
the risk of his own life, and accordingly
iccieves the son at midnight in order to
give him an opportunity to see his faith
er's cell. At II o'clock he is promptly
there the old priest throws over him a
monks gown for disguise, and stealth
lily they let themselves down through a
trap door and creeping along the gloomy,
damp passage they come TO niche i'll
the wall where the monk places his com.
panion while he returns to his cell. Fill
ed with sense of the awfuluess of the
place, chilled and shivering with the cold
and dampness, and thinking of his poor
father growing grey within these walls,
he mpatiently keeps his cramped posi-
tion tor some minutes, seemingly hours
till at length low, distant chant will
the noise of many slow treading feet fall
upon his ear, and soon the light of thei
one dim taper reveals to him process
siou of monks. Unperceived he joiH
their ranks and follows them, winding
through the long passages, through 81!
consecutive doors, just large enough e
admit man, and so thick that no sounC
could possibly escape 10 the corridors
from the small chamber beyond the las
: door, In which they now stop. The at
mosphere IS sitting, for through NJ
opening can fresh air be admitted int
these underground prisons. In ono COZ
ner is box in which the criminal is a
lowed to sleep his last earthly sleep, viii
arms and feet in the stock. BY ii stand
the Virgin, kind expression on he
face, but alas though her looks are VIII
ming her heart is of iron. One last ol
portunity is given to the victim TO n
tract his heretical sayings; but at his Re
!. fasal, the priest bids him "go to the en-
brace OF the Holy Mother, aud sayin
3 Ibis, he opens the two doors which tori
her mantle, and thrusls him in aud close
{ the doors, which are eflrctually force
!, back to their proper position by NEAR
o of screw fastened to the wall whic
/ pushes a wooden bard close around ii
'' figure, till the iron spikes within al
= driven through the body, and tw
through the eyes of the wretched victim
The vital flame being thus quickly e
. tinguished, the body is let down throug
I trap door into canal beneath, and
= heard of no more 1t was with shu
: der and with feeling of thankfulne
] that those days are past, that ] lett th
Z horrible room, and hurried up to Il
s light of day again. 1t is many yea
s since these barbarities ceased, aud no
: all these instruments OF torture are pr
served as curiosities. sa
Our next visit was to the church
ST. Lawrence magnificent gohic eC
fee, built from the 18th to the Is cent
: ry. The facade is elaborately cover,
: with carved work in stone. Inside, Il
Z receptacle for the host is very beautitl
= built before the church became Pr
z testant one. This Is very ehaste bull
e ing, and the gothic architecture is
! freshing contrast to the solid, unarsisl
9 churches of Dresden. After wanderiI
90 about to see the shops and some Of I
q. kwooden toys for which Nuremberg
i noted, ! took charming walk alo
ayomnd tha wall on tba ontsida. d