The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-07-05

and the four orders OF the State-nobles, citi-
Zens, clergy, and peasants seated accord
ing to rank. All We're dressed in black and
this multitude of human faces, which APP
peared luminous on the dark background, so
| dazzled the eye that the four witnesses OF
this extraordinary scene could not dstin-
guish single individual only beheld a
| glare of light and confused mass of living
| beings
Upon the throne, from which the king was
accustomed to harangue the assembly, they
saw bloody corpse arrayed in the insignia of
royalty. Upon the right stood boy with a
crown upon his head and sceptre in his
hand; upon the left, leaning against the
throne, was an aged man wearing the state
mantle peculiar to the administrators of
Sweden, before Vasa established a monarchy
In front of the throne several personages of
dignifed bearing and austere countenances
clothed in long black robes, and who APP
peared to be judges, were seated before a
table laden with folio volumes and rolls of
parchment. Between the throne and the
benches occupied by the assembly was placed
a block covered with black cloth, and near by
lay Ratchet. No one among the immense
throng seemed to observe the presence of
Charles and the three persons accompanying
him. When they first entered they merely
heard confused murmur, and were
unable to distinguish word, but saw the
eldest OF the black-robed judges, who ap-
peared to be acting as presiding officer rise
from his seat and rap three times upon large
folio volume lying before him. A profound
| silence Immediately ensued. Then several
richly dressed young men of aristocratic face
and lofty mien, with their hands tied behind
their backs. entered the saloon by door OPP
posite the one just opened by Charles. They
We're followed by robust man dressed in a
close-titting coat OF brown leather, holding
the ends of the ropes which bound their
hands.
| The foremost youth, who seemed to be the
most important Of the prisoners, halted in
front Of the block and looked at it with proud
disdain. At this moment the corps trembled
convulsively and thread of crimson blood
oozed from his wound
The young man knelt down and laid his
head upon the block the Ratchet cleaned in
the air and came down with dull sound A
stream of blood spurted upon the throne and
mingled with that of the corpse the severed
head bounded several times on the stained
floor, and then rolled so close to Charles feet
as to spo. his slippers with blood
Until now the king had remained dumb
founded with establishment, but at this horri-
BILE spectacle his ''tongue became loosened,"
and he strobe toward the throne, and, address,
pronounced the following well-known formula
i" 81 tn es de Dieu, pare; 81 tn es de rAusre,
aisse nous en- pair -
The phantom answered in slow, solemn
voice: King Charles, this blood will not be
shed during your reign"-( here the voice be-
came less distinct)-'' but five years after, woe,
woe, woe unto the blood of Vasa y
Then the forms OF the numerous assembly
gradually assumed a shadowy appearance, and
finally vanished entirely. The candles be-
came extinguished, leaving only those of
Charles and his companions to light up the
old tapestry hangings that once more were
visible upon the walls. A melodious sound
was heard, which one Of the witnesses COM
pared to the signing Of the wind among
forest trees, and another to the sound made
by breaking cord of a harp while tuning the
instrument.
All agreed upon the duration of the appari-
ton, which they swore to be ten minutes.
The black draperies, the severed head, the
pools of block, all disappeared with the phan-
toms; only the Kings slippers preserved the
blood stains, which alone would have sutficed
to recall to him the midnight scene, had it
not already been too deeply stamped upon his
memory.
Upon returning to his Cabinet, the king
dictated description of what he had Just wit
messed, and this paper was signed by himself
and his companions. In spite of the precau-
tons taken to conceal this document from the
public its contents became familiar to every
one, even during the lifetime of Charles XII
1t still exists among the state papers, and it's
authenticity is undoubted.
The King ends the document with these
remarkable words: :. If what l have related is
net the exact truth, | rcnounce all hope of
future life, which | may deserve on account OF
some good deeds done by me, especially for
my zeal in laboring for the happiness of my
people, and in defending the religion of my
ancestors"
Now, in recalling the death of Gustavus iii
and the sentence of Ankarstroem, his assassin.
We find more than one point Of resemblance
between those events and the circumstances
OF this singular prophecy.
The young man decapitated in the presence
Of the assembled states signitied Ankarstroem
The crowned corpse meant Gustavus Ill The
child was his son and successor, Gustavus
Adolphus ".
The old man wearing the mantle of state
the Duke Of Sudermania, uncle |
Of Gustavus w, first regent, and then king,
after the dethronement of his nephew.
What Water Is