The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-08-20
A STORY. OF THE RACK.

WHICH III the NetherlandS loses its I'M
portance. and in the Katwyk sand hills
finds an artificial issue, lies the ancient
city OF Nimegue. Ancient indeed, for
on the summit of the hill, covered with
houses built in the middle ages. ere
yet the ruins of the Roman "burg. {"
where in the first century the Roman
ieglons kept their watch and in the
middle ages Nimesue was one of the
imperial free cities, endowed with
pervileges such as belong to an inde-
penoent sovereign state; while at the
close Cf TIE seventeenth century there
was sighed the treaty which put stop
TO che grasplng power of France, and for
"a time at least gave peace to Europe.
Let us go back to the year 1760. Let
us go through the steep streets, up to
the market place. What means that
crowd before the courthousee We
pass the crowd, wa ascend the stone
steps, we enter the hall, we follow the
stream of men coming and going, until
we reach door guarded by two hal
berdiers. We are allowed to pass. A
few windows give gloomy light. The
marble pavement, the bare walls, the
dead silence, make us shudder. We
look round in the distance against the
wall we perceive large statue; it is
white, it holds in one hand the scales.
1t Is the emblem of Justice"-of JUS.
tlce IN marble. We advance few
steps, and find we are not alone. I'm
der the statue is a table, long and mar
row, covered with a green cloth. Five
men are seated, facing us. They are
judges. Their wigs and dress show it,
Their faces arc turned to the left. We
follow their direction. We come lit
tie nearer. We see another room open
ing into the court room. It is dark.
Near the door we can discern some.
thing like raised platform, oblong
at the four corners are cranks. A hu-
man being lies there stretched out, the
hands, and feet held by chains. Two
men stand by with crossed arms, one at
the mead, ono at the foot.
One turn more" says the presiding
judge in low voice"
Slowly the crauks move. We hear
the wrenching OF the limbs. A shrek,
loud and piercing; then another less
piercing; then a gasping as for breath
then utter silence.
" Loosen!" cried the Judge; bring
him to-"
The cranks move back; the men
applied medicated water to the mouth
OF the fainting prisoner. He opens his
eyes and looks around. We have come
near enough to see all, to hear all.
What an agony in those eyes One of
the judges approaches him, looks stead.
lily at him, then say, with a voice where
in pity is mixed with stern conviction
"Why not confess at once, Harrik
Tomorrow you will enter eternity.
Why not tell the truth?"
With q voice which can scarcely be
heard, the man gasps out
"I did it II did it II was alone" "
The judge gives a signal to the men,
holding up two fingers. The cranks
move, this time more rapidly shrek
upon shrek follows; the cranks msve
on an unearthly yell is the last yet
we hear the cranks move till the second
turn is made.
Gone turn more will dislocate," says
one of tho men.
"Loosen !" cries the presiding Judge,
"aud bring him into court"
We look on, though cold with hor-
ror. We see the men unloose the
hands and feet. They take him mp, and
carry the fainting prisoner in the court
room, where they lay him on a sort of
le ming chair.
Consciousness returns after a few
minutes. He realizes that he is no more
on the rack. He sighs, and we hear 8
faint "Thank God !"
The presiding Judge speaks, in a
fnnn nT INF hIf f~tfx,
" Harrik, what is the use of further
delayf Why this obstinacy? Gilman
was there, and assisted you. Circum-
stances prove it. Your end is near,
Why force US to increase your misery !?
For the truth must come out. Your
confession must seal his doom as we'll
as yours. Come, now, Harrik, confess
at once Gilman was there"
There is a silence. We observe one
of the judges looking intently at the
doomed man; his eyes are moist, his
lips quiver. He leans back in his
chair, resting his head on his right
arm, aud with his hand trying to cover
the emotion of his pitying soul.
At last the victim gasps out: 81 did
it'll did It'll was alone |"
The presiding Judge frowns. "To
the rack !" he says with a stern voice.
They take him up. Arms and limbs
hang powerless. But they are stretch
ed on the rack, the chains fastened.
"Three turns !" cries the presiding
judge.
Screams are of no avail. Slowly the
cranks turn we can hear the muscles
and there is dull noise. The
cranks stop.
Dislocated |" says one Of the men.
"Call the DOCTOR" cries the presid
ing judge, in somewhat anxious
voice.
The physician approaches, the chains
are loosened, the dislocated limbs re.
set. This takes some time. We look
at the five judges. The president is
agitated, the others indifferent the
youngest remains sitting, one hand over
his face.
The physician has performed his
work, and with some stimulants re-
stored the prisoner to consciousness.
The presiding Judge has recovered self
posse ssion, and says in his usual tone
of authority:
"Bring the prisoner into court"
Again the victim is carried to the
leaning chair. Again the Judge ad-
dresses him in stern words. Again he
answers, but family this time, 81 was
alone"
"To the rack I" exclsims the Judge /;