The Red Cloud chief., 1892-09-02
STEALING eNoLANp's GROWN.
Ono OF he Most Original ana Daring Rob-
berries IN Modern History.

ceivcd and executed robbcrics i'm history
Is that which occurred in the year 1919.
when the bold attempt was made by
Col. Blood and his associates 10 got
away with the crown, orb and sccptcr
of English royalty. One IL almost
tempted to wish that the scheme, car
ricd so fur, had been u succcss-a feel
ing cngendcrod. no. doubt, by the in
stinctivc sympathy that humanity feels
with any who attempt u daring deed.
Blood was no ordinary thief or bur
glar. As his title indicates. he had
served his king and his country In the
army. and had been u gallant officer.
His confcdcratcs were m Parrot, u silk
dyer, who had seen some fighting In
the civil wa between Roundhcads and
Cavaliers, and "a young man named
Hunt. u s~on-in.law of the colonel.
Blood fancicd he had n grievance
against the king, alleging that he had
not been sufficiently paid for his serv-
ices iic had INDUCED in plots against
the king and the Duke Of Ormondc,
which failing, he bcthought himself Of
the crown jewels Ms offering rich
plumber rs well rs his coveted revenge.
His plan was ingenious. Attired In
a parsons habit and accompanied by u
woman who posed rs his wife, he visited
Che Tower ~ London, and requested
To be- shown the rcgaiia. The warder,
II Mr. Edwards, received them courtc-
ously, and conducted them TO tho jewel
tower. While they were inspecting the
symbols Of royalty the woman pre-
tended to be suddenly seized with Sc
we're pain and foil In II faint. Sympa-
thctic yet cautious Edwards sent his
wife for r~cstoratives, but did not leave
the apartment. Mrs. Blood socn rccov-
cred sufficiently To be able to stand, but
as she WAS still weak, she was invited
into the house to rest awhile. The
''parson" and his lady returned in three
or four days with Il gift Of some gloves
as an evidence Of gratitude to their
kindly hosts, and from this sprang u
friendship and intimacy which ulti-
matcly eliminated in the proposition
by blood Of n match between his nephew
(rcally his son-in-law) and that pretty
gentlewoman." Edwards daughter. Ed.
was immensely pleased with the idea,
and invited the p1rson and his wife to
dinner the next day, when the final mr.
rnngcmcnts were TO be made, ostcnsibly
for the engagement OF the young people,
but In reality for the theft of the regal
jewels.
At the hour appointed Col. Blood. his
''ncphcw" and two friends, Of whom
Parrot was one, appeared Mt the tower
and were met by Edwards with n r
dial greeting. Edwards was arrayed in
purple and fine linen for the occasion,
or, rs we should put il nowadays, he
was gotten up regardless" To pass
the time until dinner was ready they
went into the jewel house, leaving the
nephew at the door as q sentinel.
Once inside work was quickly begun.
A cloak was thrown over Edwards and
n wooden gag forced into his mouth, an
iron hook being used to close the nos
trils and prevent him from making the
slightest noise. lie was told that to
resist meant death, but, nevertheless,
nc kicked, struggled, and tried in every
way to give the alarm. lie was then
knocked on the head with n mallet, n
NtSkti was iuIiGtu thtO HIS DTcuSu, unQ
tho. conspirators believed him dead.
One man put the globe into his breeches
pocket, Blood hid the crown under his
cloak, and the third man tried desper-
ately to file tho scepter In two, II being
too long To carry away in its entirety.
While all this was going on Edwards
son., who had just returned from the
SEA, reached the tower. He was met by
the sentinel. who asked him his busi-
ness, to which Edwards replied that he
belonged to the house. Surprising that
the Young man wished to see his father,
the warden, Edwards went upstairs
and promised TO send his father down.
Hunt the sentinel Immediately
gave the alarm and the conspira-
tors took fight. Tho odd man
Edwards, who had only been feigninQ
death, Immediately pulled the gag from
his mouth and yelled Murder!
Treason!' His daughter heard the out
cry and rushed to his side. Seeing her
father wounded she i'm mediatcly ran
out upon Tower Hill and cried:
Treason. the crown Is stolen!' The
alarm being tins given, Blood and his
companions found themselves In dan.
ger. They nudged each others arms
and thereby aroused suspicion, where
upon they quickencd their steps.
Young Edwards and an officer of the
Tower named Capt. Hickman were by
this time On the trail Of the fugitiyes,
who had got beyond the main guard.
The alarm was again given and the SEN
try at the drawbriigs challenged the
men. Blood drew a pistol and dis
charged it AT the soldier, who was so
terrified that he immediately dropped.
At the ward house, for some unac-
countablc reason, no eff rt was made
10 stop the thieves, aud they gained the
street. They then led the mob in an
excited chase after the miscreants,
meanwhile making their way towards
their horses, which were tici at st.
GATHERINGS gate. Young Edwards and
Beckman were close at their heels,
however. and Blood fired his pistol at
Beckman. Becknan lodged the shot
and Immediately grapplcd with his OPP
ponent, from under whose cloak he
wrcstcd the crown. Edwards tackled
PARROT and fnnlx thai o~Ioha f,on