The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-12-26
A STRANGE SCENE.
Terrible Midnight Vision Of Charles
Of Sweden.

by the King-A Presage of the Assassina-
ton of Gustavus III.
There is legend attached to the royal
castle of Stockholm which is very weird
in it's way, and which is often told by
Scandinavians around the fire on winter
evenings. 1t is the tale of vision seen by
King Charles XI--a vision which is sup
posed to have presaged the assassination
of Gustavus LII and the consequent de-
capitation of Count Ankerstrom, the as
sassin, and his associates. Thus runs the
story: King Charles, in deep grief at the
loss of his queen, whom he had passionate
lyloved, was sitting in his apartment one
night In attendance were Count Brahe,
his aid-de-camp, and the kings physi-
clan. The bereaved monarch had given
no encouragement to conversation, and
silence had reigned for some time, when
the castle clock struck the hour of mid
night. The king rose and expressed his
wish to retire for the night. He asked
what kind of night it was, and the count
went to the window and withdrew the
curtains-and Immediately stepped back
in amazement. The royal castle in Stock
holm is an immense pile of buildings sur
rounding vast courtyard. The Swedish
diet parliament} is domiciled within the
precincts of the castle, and when in ses-
sion occupies now, as in King Charles
day, great hall opposite to the royal
apartments. From the long row of win
dows streamed blaze of light. Parlia-
ment was not in session, and the illumina-
ton at this midnight hour was wholly I'M
accountable. The king commanded Count
Brahe to summon the marshal of the cas-
tie to his presence. The old man came in
a state OF bewilderment and trepidation,
and could of course give no explanation of
the mystery. The king determined to as
certain the cause for himself, and, bidding
the seneschal precede him with his lantern
and keys, he crossed the deserted court
yard with his two attendants. Entering
the vestibule of the diet hall, they became
aware that the walls were hung with black
cloth, entirely covering the faded tapes
tries. Awed and impressed, the party
stood silent and undecided for awhile, a
murmuring of many voices, evidently
proceeding from the great hall, being faint
ly but distinctly audible. Deciding to
solve the mystery at all hazards, the king
commanded the seneschal to open the
door forthwith. In mortal terror the old
servant fell on his knees and implcred his
majesty to forego his determination, de-
claring his own inability to obey his kings
command. Turning to the count, the king
babe him open the door. "Your majesty
can bear me Witness" said Brahe, "thatI
have always done my duty in defense of
my king and country. I fear no mortal
foe, but I confess have no courage to
face those of another world, in whose aw-
full presence we evidently stand"
The physician likewise showed his IT,
Nudity or unwillingness, whereupon the
king snatched the key from the hand of
the seneschal, exclaiming, "Iperceive that
these things concern myself alone" With
out further hesitation he opened the door
and crossed the threshold, his attendants
following, in fear and trembling, but
ashamed to desert their master.
A parliament was in full session, and the
vast hall was crowded with people None
looked at or seemed to be aware of the
king and his party as they entered. A
noticeable thing was the unfamiliar garb
of the members of the midnight parlia-
ment; it was not that of the period nor
that of the past. The Swedish rigsdag, or
diet, of that day consisted of a supreme
council and president and the members of
clergy, burghers and the peasants. AS
usual, the benches in the lower part Of the
hall were occupied by the peasant mem
bers; above them sat the burghers, the
clergy and the members of the nobility, ac-
cording to their degree. At the extreme
upper end of the great apartment was a
raised dais occupied by the supreme coun-
Gil, or court, and the president. In the CEN
1.
which rested corpse partly covered with
velvet mantle displaying the royal arms
OF the house of Vasa. large open space
interviewed between the raised platform
and the first benches of the nobility. In
the midst stood block, and the headsman
leaning on his ak.
The murmuring had gradually died
away into silence An eager and horrible
suspense was apparent in the faces of the
assembly. Presently the president arose,
a gigantic figure, but bent with age, and
made sign whereupon woeful process
sion of men, bareheaded and with man
acled hands and attended by guards in
strange uniforms, was seen issuing from
a side door and approaching the scaffold.
Another sign from the president, and the
first man knelt down and was dispatched
by the headsman. One after another came
up and suffered his doom, deluging the
floor with blood. The last, man in mid
die life, was evidently the chief criminal.
He lifted his hand in menace at the judges
and then laid it on the block It was sew
cred at once by a stroke of the ak. The
head followed Immediately and rolled in a
strange manner up to where the king
stood, seemingly bespattering his feet with
blood. In amazement and horror the king
exclaimed in loud voice, "Merciful
Lord, is this to be in my reign, or does it
sorbode the future?''
The response came from the aged chief
End was repeated by the multitude, 'sWoe,
woe, wee, to the blood of Vasa!" The
words, though faint and distant, were dis
tinctly heard. AS the sounds died away
the light faded and the figures grew dim
and shadowy, and soon the whole vision
vanished. The guest hall was empty and
dark, save where the seneschal's lantern
made the gloom visible. In the antecham-
Der the worm eaten hangings appeared as
usual When the king reached his apart
ments, having sworn his attendants to Sc
crecy, he commanded the physician to
place on record the portentous scene which
had