The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-09-18
HORRIBLE RELJcI
instruments Of Torture Ia,
the Dark Ages. ' I
! Rare Collection from tl,.,-
r"ihbnrg on Exhibition ,n M
city OF London Gha.tiv 'n'
inventions

The earl Of Shrev,hurr ,..
chased the torture imp,,r8.,.' P,
Castle II Nurs,u,5-rg. ana - 'i p /
on cvhibition in London M 1' l
valuable. as 1t is the rar.~t a. ' l
collection. is the iron ragi3.,, IN, .r,. 'a
ju1riraul. This terror. -. -..''.',.
ture instrument. says the any %
rus, il male Of strong wood i.+N-. e
rrthcr with iron bands. II .r.
tw" doors 10 allow Ii, u,.r........- ..'
p'H.ed inside. The cntfr. ........ I.
with long, sharp iron s3il,.s . -.
when the doors are pra.,.5 l-
sharp prongs force their yysr M
rious portions Of the via.i,,.. '',' p
Two entered his eyes. ofl,.-' ''--
his back. his chest. and In fa.,
him alive in such "A Iuqn1.-
fingered in thc most ag1lfzi,,,, ..-
Whom death relieved tl. p,1-.-f
from his agonics-perhaD af,.-E
q trap door in the base wa, prIr..I
and the body was allowed "a t.i,!1
the m9at or river below. p.r.,.
Condemned 10 death lv III. 49,.
OF the iron maiden for plot, a,s;-..a
governing powers, parricilc. srE
h~iors unbclicf. The dat, of t6i.
specimen is the fifteenth c.u,,-.'
~rcat number Of torture rrs.abi-.-
apparently constructed with .r...
ilish ingenuity that th"v worl5 y.
and rack the delicate human ~.
the point Of ma1ncss, and w.,
actually endangcr life.
The torture bench. about ,.-
long. was used for stretching, pr;s-.
the feet being fastened - ono .r5 j.
hands 20 the other. across p rorra--
deI with wooden spike. caIlcds ...-
hare
The torture chair, the seat be;r,.
pletely covered with sharp ,g..
spikes. bolv, arms and Iegs i-.
strapped 10 the chair. and In ,ona.
two heavy stone weight, attach
the feet.
The metal boots, which. being ,l,.
on prisoners feet. molten lead g- H.
ing oil was poured into them.
\ EhaStly relic in black box o., 3D.,
fn-lillc appearance is the dried bs,ss
= chilG-murdercss, still transfxe5 ID
rusty spear-head.
There are tongue-tearers. tl-..
screws, mouth gags, Spanish rai,e-,
squeezing the legs 10 puln. brarr.
irons, foot-scrcws. iron chain glove.
be used when rcd-hot. iron U.r-.-
iron-wire whips. heuvy stone. T.
worn around the neck. thief-etl..
and . Ian &c number Of fwo-haaHr
ccutioner's swords. OF The hga-
articlcs-if, indeed humorcau cut -..
such grim companionship-w NAV
stance the shamc-ma KS. or I-
worn as signs Of degradation f5r
offenScs by men or women. tho-.
the nobility having visurs 10 then
helmets. so that the features wen s-
cealcd till the penancc was over. 40.
en- collars, with belt, and rass.. Z.
scolds: duclSing stools and elurn-,t1
boxes, known as druutlrl. .ra.--I
uncomfortable garment fitting
tightly round the neck toallow tleb.
TO be withdrawn. and. while Too ha.-
to walk about in for any great lsl-
of time. yet not quite short euor-.
permit the wearer 10 llnecl down
them.
Among the pictures is one Of Daug /
Of whom 1t may be remembered tL1
after four horses had failed O. pull III |
asunder, he was aftcrward t5--
with burning oil, and, that not i
him. was finally bound 90 o stake GO
burned To death. Appropriately e1r.
the instruments are placed in ss-i@
dungeon corridors and cells tia.
Messrs. Tussaud havc erected il q
basement Of their establishment u
dungeon cell is a small room ab-
eight feet by five. so construed tr
the air in il could De pumped - 50
that the inmates died a slow 0-t
eating death; perhaps the retlsl.r
of cruelty was reached in the p.als-z
escape cell. 1t was q raise beacon
an escaping prisoner, bait % Ps
wretch, who no doubt thought be w
about 10 regain his freedom, mays
connivance bought: hc would h--
down the dark stone corridor 70 r-f
the rusty gate unlocked or cara.a'
left ajar would welcome him. 20 wir
the bit of shining sky seen throngl
barred window would gladden. 2
heart, and pushing open the gate vi
eager hands would at once step INTO
deep well of water with perpand2--