Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-10-19
The Head of OtiUer CromCeH.

"Senex" writes to the London Times
as follows: Several imperfect statements
having lately appeared on the above SUD-
iect. let me explain what became of the
remains of Cromwell. Partly from print
ed records. and partly from what heard
from Mr.. Wilkinson to whom some OF The
press have alluded, Oliver Cromwell died
at Whitehall Palace. on the 81 OF Septem-
Der, 1868. after a protTacted illness. lie
had been long suffering from ague, and
his case is cited in medical books as one
of man who died of ague while our
warehouses were groaning with Peruvian
bark. which he did not know how to use.
During this illness he became go depress.
ed aud deblitated that he wOuldallow no
barber TO come near him and his beard
instead OF being cut in certain fashion
grew AL over his lace. After his death
the body lay in state at Somerset House.
having been carefully embalmed, and was
afterward buried with more than regal
honers in Henry WIS chapel in West.
minister Abbey, where it lay until, after
the Restoration. it was taken out OF his
grave, as were also the bodies OF lreton
(Cromwells son-in-law) and Bradshaw.
the latter N" ~, ,id-r' of the high court
of justice. having pronounced sentence of
death ON Charles /.
The three bodies we're taken in carts TO
the Red Lion, in Holborn, and on the 30
o. January. the anniversary of King Char
les death, they were removed on siedges
10 Tyburn. where they were hanged unit.
sunset, and then taken down and behcad
ed, their bodies buried in deep pit under
the galows aud their heads stuck up on
the top of Westminster Hall. where at
that time sentinels walked. Ireton's head
was in the middle, and Cromwell's and
Bradshaw's on either side. Cromwel's
hesd being em mbalmed, remained exposed
to the atmosphere for twenty-five years
and then one stormy night il was blown
down, and picked up by the sentry. who,
hiding il under his cloak, took IL home
and secreted it in the chimney corner.
and, as inquiries were being constantly
mace about it by the government, 1t was
on his death bed that he revealed where
he bad hidden it.
-, ~
Camblidgeshire Russells, and in the same
| box in which il still is, it descended TO
certain Samuel Russell. who being reedy
and careless man, exhibited il in place
near Clara Market. There it was seen by
| James Cox who then owned a famous
museum. He tried in vain to buy the head
from Russell, for poor as he was nothing
would at first tempt him to part with the
relic, but after time Cox assisted him
with money, and eventually, to,,clear him.
I self from debt. he made the head over to
| Cox. When Cox st last parted with his
museum he sold the head of Cromwell tor
| f230 TO three men, who bought II about
the time of the French Revolution to ex'
hibit in Mead court, Bond street. at half a
crown u bead Curiously these three gen.
| tlemen died a sudden death. and the head
came into possession OF the three nelces
| of the last man who died. These young
ladies, nervous at keeping II In the house
asked Mr. Wilkinson. their medical man,
to take care OF Il for them. and they SUBJ
seauently sold 1t to him.
For the next fifteen or twenty years MT
Wilkinson was 10 the habit OF showing 1t
10 all the distinguished men OF that day,
and the head. much treasured vet remains
in his family. The ciroumstantiai evidence
ia very curious. II is the only head IN
history which is known TO have been en-
balmcd and afterwards beheaded. On the
back OF the neck. near the verteora, is
mark of cut OF an Ak where the execu'
TONER, having, perhaps, no proper BLOCK
had struck too high. and laying The head
in il, soft emblamed state on the block
hattened the nose on one side, making II
adhere to the face The hair grows pro-
miscaously about the face and the beard
stained to exactly the same color by the
, embaIming liquor. is tucked up under the
chin. with the oaken staff of the spear.
with which the head was stuck up on
Westminster Hall. which staff is perior-
sted by a worm that never attacks OAK
until it has been for many years exposed
to the weather. The iron spearhead'
where ii protrudes above the SKULL Is
rusted away by the action OF, the atmo-
sphere. The Jagged way which the top
7 of the skull. is removed throws US back L
, a time when surgery was in its infancy
/ while the emblaming is so beautifully
e done that the cellular process OF the gum
and the membrane of the tongue ar
e still to be seen. Several teeth are yet il
r The mouth; the membrane OF the eyelld
}. remains, the pia-mater and the duramate
thin membrane, which ] believe lie owe
the blain, may be seen clinging to IN
inner and upper part OF the skull in
a brain was, of course, removed, put III