The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-14
POBBERS In THE TOWER.
eor.D ATTEMPT TO STEAL THE
BRITISH CROWN.

Rovalty, and Very Nearly Sue
sdad - What Became of Them
Afterward.
From the Jetoelers ReUisto
psrhsps one Of the most daringly con-
..irsd and executed robberies in history is
~. vhich occurred in the year 1878, when
~. hold attempt was made by Col. Blood
"a his associate TO get away with the
a-ovn. orb and scepter Of English royalty.
0.o "a almost tempted to wish that the
.obame, carried SO far, had been a success
= ceiling engendered. no doubt, by the in
.,inctive sympathy that humanity feels
with any who attempt a daring deed.
blood wss no ordinary thief or burglar.
A, his title indicates, he had served his
ring and his country In the army, and had
been q gallant ofhcer. his conteoerates
Tsre one PARROT, a silk dyer, who had seen
ms Aghting IN the civil war between
Ponndheads and Cavaliers. and young
ian named Hunt, a son-in-law OF the
ooIonel Blood fancied he had grievance
sgainst the king, alleging that he had not
bssn sufficiently paid for his services. He
Rad INDUCED in plots against the king and
tbe Duke Of Ormonde, which railing, he
hathouRht himself OF the crown Jewels as
ofFarins rich plumber as we'll as his coveted
His plan was Ingenious. Attired in par
sonis habit and accompanied by woman
Who posed as his wife, be visited the Tower
NJ London and requested to be shown the
regalia The warden, Mr.. Edwards, re-
ceived them courteously and conducted them
n the level tower While they were in
pretended to be suddenly seized with severe
pain and fell in a faint. Sympathetic, yet
cautious. Edwards sent his wife for restora-
tives. but did not leave the apartment.
Mrs Blood soon recovered sufficiently to be
able to stand, but, as she was still weak, she
was invited into the house to rest while.
The "parson" and his lady returned in
three or four days with gift of some
gloves as an evidence of gratitude to their
kindly hosts, and from this spraug friend
ship and intimacy which ultimately culnin-
ated in the proposition by Blood Of match
between his nephew really his son-in-. avn
and that pretty gentlewoman,H Edwards
daughter Edwards was immensely pleased
with the idea, and invited the parson and
his wife to dinner the next day, when the
final arrangements were to be made, osten-
sibly for the engagement of the young PEG
ple, but IN reality for the theft Of the regal
At the hour appointed Col Blood, his
"nephew" and two friends of whom Parrot
was one, appeared at the tower, and were
met by Ed wards with a cordial greeting.
Edwards was arrayed in purple and fine
linen for the occasion, or, as we should put
it nowadays, he was got up regardless. VI
To pass the time until dinner was ready
they went into the jewel house, leaving the
nephew at the door as sentinel Once in
side work was quickly begun. A cloak was
thrown over Edwards and wooden gag
forced into his mouth, an iron hook being
used to close the nostrils and prevent him
from making the slightest noise. He was
told that to resist meant death, but never
thcess he kicked, struggled and tried in
every way to give the alarm. he was then
knocked on the head with mallet, a dag
ger was plunged into his breast ond the
conspirators believed him dead.
One man put the globe into his brooches
pocket. Blood hid the crown under his
cloak, and the third man tried desperately
10 file the scepter In two, it being too long
to carry away In its entirety. While ali
this was going on Edwards son, who had
Just returned from the sea, reached the
Tower He was met the sentinel who
asked him his business to which Edwards
replied that he belonged to the house. Sup.
posing that the young man wished to see
his father, the warden, Edwards went up-
stairs and promised to send his father
down. Hunt, the ''sehtinel,S Immediately
gave she alarm and the eonspirators took
fight. The old man Edwards, who had
only been feigning death, Immediately
pulled the gag from his mouth and yelled
''Murderl Treasoan His daughter heard
the cutlery and rushed to his side. Seeing
her father woanded she Immediately ras
out upon Tower Hill aud cried: Treason!
the crown is stolen"
The alarm being thus given Blood and his
companions found themselves in danger
They Judged each others arms and thereby
srOu sad suspicion, whereuDon they quick
ened their srepj Young Ed wards and an
officer Of the Tower named Capt. Bsckmar
we're by this time on the trail of the fugi-
tives, who had got beyond the main gu Ird
Ihe alarm was again given and the sentry
at the drawbridge challenged the men
Blood drew pistol and discharged it al
the soldier, who was so terrified that he
Immediately dropped. At the ward house
for some unaccountable reason, no effor
was made to stop the thieves and they
gained the street.
They then led the mob in an excited
chase after the miscreants, mean while max
Ing their way toward their horses, which
were tied at st. GATHERINGS gate. Young Ed.
wards and Beckman we're close at their heels
however, and Blood fred his pistol at Beck.
man. beckman lodged the shot and i'm
lnedlately Rrappled with his opponent, from
under whose cloak he wrested the crown
rus tackled Parrot and took the globe
from him. Hunt and the other couspirator
however, had stood not upon the order OF
tnelr going and had reached the horses, upor
which they galloped away. A cart, how
ever, turned abruptly into the street aheac
ol Them, and into his they ran, Hunt being
hruck In the head by a pole and dis
mounted. Both were captured.
me ending OF the story is as interesting
tne beginning. The king, Charles II.
heerh the case himself, and affected to b.
much impressed by the gsllantry of BlooC
anu MS fellow conspirators. He was in,
Giinel to be clement with them, but wher
pIlOl who, by the way, must have had
40" knowledge Of the kings character) sale
~ honchalant manner that he did not car
tol MS own life, aud he expected to suffe
. ne extreme penalty of the law, bu
naV ne belong to q band of men sworr
" aVenge any death among thei
lumber, and thai, IL he were executed, the
-lEeS OF the king and his ministers woulc
nos De worth five minutes purchase, Charles
aaSe way completely. He incontihently
pa.qoned the whole guard and in addition
sots.eu BLOOD on an estate in Ireland anC
Eve Eve Nun pension of $500 q year. AL
'u1S Ior reasons of state"
a. GOT old Edwards and his son, however
ca go not fare so nicely. The old man re
co. I'e gu tae enormous sum of GOO and hi
Va.yIoJ, Tor signal services to the state |!
70 ettly' 1t sometimes pays handsomely ne
enough scale.