Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-03-06


Learn II He Keeps HIS Eyes and Ears
OPen-The White Tower and It's
DuDgeOns-Anne BOleyn's Bones.
To describe the Tower Of London in detail
is absolutely unnecessary-it is too well
known as a whole, but there are interest
ing little facts not generally realized by the
public, and there are hooks usually unvisit-
ed. 1t was my good fortune on recent
day, says writer in the London Echo, to
go carefully around this grand old pile with
special order from General Mlman, the
resident Governor. Passing by the Traitors
Gate, went into the Bloody Tower, in a
room IN which found myself standing on
the very spot wherein were imprisoned the
two little Princes, and from the window Of
which centuries after Archbishop Laud
leaned out to bless Lord Stafford as he
passed to death upon the scaffold just be-
yond- An old, old room this, full Of historic
interest, and now inhabited by one of the
picturesquely- -attired beef eaters. st. Johns
Church, one Of the Oldest Norman churches
in the kingdom, built in 1887, is too well
known to require description, so will pass
ON to the armory departments, where saw
Lord Wolseiey going round on an evident
business Inspection.
In passing down staircase in this
White tower, wherein is kept this armory,
and IN which is placed stand of fifty thou
sand modern rifles, noticed the enormous
thickness of the splendid walls, and on in
quiring / was informed that they
were fifteen feet in depth. Be-
saeata the White Tower are the
dungeons, which are never shown
to the general public. Here is an eternal
twilight, musty smell, an icy chillinesS.
The first one, pure Norman in its architect
ure, IS called the Torture chamber, for here
were stretched upon the rack the miserable
victims of political necessity or religious
bigotry. In very narrow passage leading
out Of this great chamber, and which is
known by the name of Little Ease, because
in it a prisoner could neither sit nor lie
down, was wearily imprisoned the mas
guided Guy Fawkes. In the pitch dark
duRgeon beyond, which has no flooring but
the damp, cold earth, were once imprisoned
three hundred Jews, who in the thirteenth
century were suspected of the crime of
clipping coin. A dreadful place this, and
hideously suggestive of the undreamed- of
horrors Of these "good old days of yore"
The door-an old oaken one, iron bound,
and immensely strong-shut off these poor
wretches from all communication with the
outer world.
In this dungeon, or series of dungeons,
was recently discovered a very deep well,
into which we fearfully peeped. From the
dungeon to the church is but short step
in the old days the journey was usually
made from the latter to the former. st.
Peters dates from 1872; it is full of the
saddest, tenderest interest; within it's
dingy walls and beneath it's historic pave
mentS there lie the bodies of three of En-
glands Queens. Ruskin finely says of this
church that sit is the saddest spot in
Christendom, for here are buried in dis
honor the greatest in the land, while at
Westminster Abbey they are buried in
| honor" most touching and suggestive
contrast. Most of the beautiful brasses
were removed in Cromwell time.
was deeply interested to hear that in re
| pairing the chancel in 1877 there was dis
covered the body Of Anne Boleyn, which
was recognized by the historically tiny
neck, and by the fact that the body lay just
| in the spot described in the burial registry
| also were discovered the bones of bie
man. which belonged without doubt to the
| Inflated Duke of Monmouth. These were
reverently reburied in their long, long rest
| ing-place.
| Upon the wall, and preserved within q
| glass case, / saw the three coffin plates o1
| the noblemen last decapitated upon
| Tower Hill-Lords Kilmarnock, Lovat and
Balmerino. The inscriptions were all in
Latin, and that upon Lord Balmerino's
| plate ran as follows: arthur Dominus dc
Balmerino, decollatus IS die Augusti, 1746
Atatis suoe S." The very plain little font
dates back to the reign of Edward Ill
Not satisfied with my mornings round
went the next night to have chat with the
| deputy-chaplain Of the tower, Mr.. Foster
who told me many interesting little facts
| some of which are mentioned above Tt
| my surprise he informed me that the tower
Is not supposed to be haunted, nor is there
any ghostly tradition hanging round thi:
| spot. just before eleven he and
stepped out into the cool night air. A
wild, windy night, clouds chasing eacf
other over the moon, whose misty, waterJ
rays fell upon that ancient Norman
keep. Just at my hand, and rallied of, wa.
| the very spot wherein was lifted so otter
| "the axes keener edge" It was upon thi.
very spot and from yonder identical win
dow shining white in the moonshine, tha
Lady Jane Grey, the nine-days' Queen
gazed as her husband slowly passed to hi.
| death; for she was imprisoned in the house
| of Mr.. Partridge, the gentleman jaller
wherein now resides the official who to thi.
| day bears the same title.
ouI the SLence, pregnant W1tnSucn mem
ories, is suddenly broken by the clash o
arms, the tramp of feet and the hoarse cry
of military command. In the ftful light VIZ
see small body of soldiers drawn up, an6
beneath the Bloody Tower comes the guart
preceded by a warder bearing the keys
"Halt,' cries the officer in command; "whc
comes therep Keys is the immediate
response. Whose keys?" "Queen Vic
toria's keys" "Present arms" 'tGod pre-
| serve Queen Victoria" 'Amen,n is the
clear, deep answer of all the soldiers.
Every night for untold years had thi.
ceremony taken place. 1t is over now
Thoughtfully 1 wend my way past the
Traitors gate, beneath which the water i:
mournfuuy tapping, and, passing out of the
| grand old gates, 1 leave history behind, only
to plunge into the vast weird Babylon o.
| this nineteenth century.