The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-10-25
THE INQUIsITION CHAMBEhs.
A Visit 10 the TOrtnring Instruments
OF Suremburg.
Correspondence Courier-Journal.


About week ago we were in Nurem-
burg, where we went to see the chambers
of the Inquisitlon. As very few tourists
visit these places (for they are not even
mentioned in guide book published IN
the citv,) | thought it might not be amiss
to attempt description. First we were
conducted to d small room withth walls
completely covered with torturlng IN
strument, of every description. This
room was used by the regular
officer, of the State. There was a
Spsnish cloak-a barrel with the bottom
knocked out and hole in the top large
enough for the ncck-and above thi. a
wire cage for tho head. This cloak the
drunkard was compelled to wear about
the streets thus representing n bottom
less barrel. The torturng chair has
high arms, with the seat, back and arm
rests covered with iron spikes.
The victim was strapped to this chair,
weights attached to his hands and taet,
and then "kneaded' as it wcro with II
spike.covcred roller. Spanish collars,
Spanish boots, thumb screws, thumb
hammers and iiddles, are to be seen in
any number; besides various in
strumentS for cutting oil a little
a. n time of the ears, nose, fingers and
tongue and for pulling out the tongue.
There were also ladies for dropping melt
ed pitch. The instrument they had for
catching their man might be used, with
advantage by some OF the Louisville po-
licemeu. 1t consists Of n long stick, AT
the end of which is kind of fork with
spring prongs that Will open when some
thing is forced between them. In days
of wore, when 1t was desired To catch
man, one would walk up behind him
and catch his neck between the prongs
The prongs would open and his neck
would be encircled by aSpanish collar, i
e., iron spikes. After examining various
other instruments, among which were
several used fot bcheading. also aYCs
and block, We wSre conducted to the
chambers of the so-cslled "Nchme Ge-
richt.' These are series of five vaults,
directly underneath the old city walls
Passing through the first We were shown
the "strctcher.' BY this mode q! pun
ishment the victim was let down through
u mole in the ceiling; his feet were at
tached to iron rings III the floor, and his
arms to yoke suspended from block.
Bv mcaas of windiNss ho was thus
slowly torn limb from limb.
in the next room is the Spanish
Mule" a high board with the upper
edge sharpcned. Across this the poor
follow WAS seated and stone weights
zone Of which could hardly liftD were
attached to hi. feet. The "cradjc" is
seml-cyliudcr, with the interior covered
with spikes. As late as 1903 woman
was rocked to sleep in this cradle! The
hu, band was accused OF having stolen
some money, and with his wife WAS put
TO the rack. The husband survived the
proof of his innocence, but the wife died
IN the cradle.
Next, we were conducted through
long, narrow, crooked passage cut out Of
the solid rock, to Il small vault. There,
facing the wall, we saw the celebrated
"Eiserne Jungtrau,' an iron figure OF ii
woman, about eight feet high. The liz
ure is divided all the way down from side
to side. and the front half divided again
So rs to make doors, attached by hinges,
at the sides, to the back half On
the inside of these doors are u number OF
iron spikes six to eight inches IonG-one
lor each eye and twenty-thrco for vari-
ous part, Of the body. To close these
doors when the man was inside, 6rscc
from the wall was necessary. Under
meath the figure is a trap-door, through
which the corpse was dropped on TO q set
ofknives, which were worked by the water
in the canal below. The bones md skulls
found there show where the spikes enter
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