The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-08-20
A TORTURE SHOW.
The Nurembe ers Collection Now Exhi-
bition in London.

Any American who goes abroad this
year will do we'll to visit remarkable
historical collection now to be seen in
the German exhibition at London, SAYS
n correspondent of the \. Y Sun.
This collection is an object lesson, once
seen never TO be forgotten. in the vital
difference between the medieval Euro
pean notion that the individual was
the thing and serf of the state. and the
modern American notion that the
State exists for the service of the iudi-
viduals who constitute it.
This collection was made by Fran
CONAN noblemau, who had it set up in
the town hall of Nuremberg He
spent Years in making it. The central
Jewel, the kohinoor of the collection
is one of the most awful craven images
il ever entered into the heart of men
ia conceive. This is the world-infa-
nous Eiserne Jun~frau. the "lrou
Maiden" of uremberg. This mon
strous invention was an Improvement
in fer0city upon the braZen bull into
which the ancient tyrant. after heating
it red hot. was wont to thrust his
naked victims. Many Americans have
Sctii litt llbH Altl'ttIi. ht4 [hi!lCi ICstiiS
ought To see her. The sirht is IN ex-
cellent tonic for young Yankees of
both sexes suffering from "over-cUlt-
ure," and seduced into lit of mooniit
mcdiTvalism by the picturesque and
romantic attractions OF such quaint
old towns OF art and sung' ~ the city
of Hans Sacns and Albert Durcr For
the Iron Maiden was no ingenious toY
devised TO amuse tie idle aud frightcn
the thou1htless into good behavior.
Clasped in her sitting embrace, pierced
in ali parts of the human body not ab-
solutely vital 10y the sharpened spikes
set into the steel valves which had
closed upon him living man. many
wretch yielded up the ghost i'll tor
ments not to be conceived of adequate
ly save By the imagination.
All about the Iron Maiden, as she
stood and stared with her horrible
metallic face upon the gaping sight
seers. were ranged in the old German
tOwn hall hundreds of instruments of
Justice less elaborately liendish, per-
haps but not less revolving in their
cruel intent: Thumb-screws, racks
heavy iron wedges, which, being struck
with an iron hammer and thus being
driven in between the barred leg of a
prisoner and solid iron boot securely
fastened upon it, crushed the living
limb by slow degrees; boots of hollow
copper into which, after they were put
upon the prisoners leg. boiling oil was
slowly poured BY methodcal attend
ant; grotesque masks of steel or brass.
representing hideous and ridiculous
monsters, which were clapped over the
heads Of men and women and then
made fast about their necks with
screws and padlocks; inventions such
IS these TO the number of 500 or 600.
picked up by the indcfatigable old
baron in out-of-the-way towns and
l,amlets or in famous cities of his
atiye land, made up the Torture
Chamber" of Nuremberg. By the side
of these the headsmans swords and
axes, many of them showing the stains
of use, and the battle clubs seemed
devices of mercy.
When the last male heir of the old
collector came to die few years ago
it was found that the grewsome but
wholesome collection had been only
lent by its founder long ago, not given
to the city. Negotiations were begun
on behalf of the city to buy it, but
while the worthy burghers were hig-
Cling over the price to be paid a we'll
known Young Englishman. The premier
earl of England and the head of one of
the most famous families of Britain,
happened to pass through Nuremberg,
saw the collection, and, promptly
Offering the sum asked by the rcDrc-
s2ntatiycs of the original collector.
secured and bore it away to London.
There it has lain for two or three
years. Now it seems he has been led
to allow it to be shown as a part of the
exhibition gotten up with the consent
of the kaiser 10 show England what
Germany can produce and has pro.
duced.