The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-12-22
The rnqui.Iuon Chambers
VISIT TO THE %ToRTURISC INsTRU-
NESTs or NUREMBERG.

MESTs or NUREMBERG
About a week ago we were IN
Nuremberg, where We went to see
the chambers of the Inquisition. As
very few tourists visit these places
(for they are not even mentioned IN a
guide-book published in the city,, /
thought it might not be amiss 10 at
tempt a description. First we were
conducted to a small room with the
walls completely covered with tor
turing instruments Of every descrip-
ton. This room was used by the
regular officers Of the State. There
was a Spanish cloak barrel with
the bottom knocked out and a hole IN
the top large enough Tor the neck
aud above this a wire cage for the
head. This cloak the drunkard was
compelled to wear about the streets,
thus representing a bottomless barrel.
The torturing chair has high armt,
with the sea- back and armrests COW
ereu wild Iron spikes.
The victim was strapped to this
chair, weights attached to his hands
and feet, aud then "kneaded, ;" as il
were, with a spike-coyered roller.
Spanish collars, Spanish boots, thumb
screws, thumb-hammers, and dddles
are to be seen in any number; be-
sides various instruments for cutting
of a little at a time Of the ears, nose,
fingers and tongue. There were
also ladies for dropping melted pitch.
The instrument they had for catch.
ing their man might be used, with
advantage, by some of the Louisville
policemen. IL consists of a long
stick, at toe end Of which is a kind o.
fork with spring prongs that vii
open when something is forced be
tween them. In days Of yore, whel
: it was desired to catch a man, ont
would walk up behind him and catct
. his neck between the prongs
: The prongs would open and his necl
|. would be encireled BY a Spanisl
collar, 4. e., iron spikes. Ate. ex
aiming various other instruments
among which We're several used 70
: beheading, also axes and block, "
were conducted to the chambers {
: the so-called "Nehme Gericht.
These are q series Of Eve vaults, q
rectly underneath the old city wall
!, Passing through the first we wer
shown the 'stretcher." By thi
mode of punishment the victim wa
let down through a hole in the eel
!, ing; his feet were attached TO iro
7 rings in the floor and his arms to
yoke suspended from a block. B
means Of a windlass be was thu
4 slowly torn limb from limb.
. 10 the next room IS the "Spanis
Mule, " a high board with the uppe
edge sharpened. Across this tb
, poor fellow was seated, and ston
q weights Zone Of which | could hard
. ~ lift) were attached te his feet. Tn
: cradle is q semi-cylinder, with th
/ interior covered with spikes. A
late as 1908 q woman was rocked {
sleep in this cradle! The. husbanI
o was accused of having stolen som
: money, and with his wife was put L
the rack. The husband survived th
: proof of his innocence, but the wifi
died in the cradle.
+, Next we were conducted through
; q long, narrow, crooked passage, Gu
? out of the solid rock, to a small vault
There facing the wall, we saw tb'
celebrated 'Eiserne Jungfrau," al
: iron figure of a woman, about eigh
feet high. The figure is divided al
the way down from side to side, anC
the front bali, divided again so as t.
/, make doors, attached by hinges, a
!, the sides, TO the back hall. On the
: inside ofthese doors are a number o
iron spikes six to eight inches long
one for each eve and twenty three
for various parts Of the body. II
, close the doors, when the man wa
: inside, a brace from the wall wa
. necessary. Underneath the figure
: a trap door, through which tn
o corpse was dropped on to a set G
\ knives, which were worked by th
= water in the canal below. The bone
!, and skulls found there show wher.
4 The spikes entered.