The Helena independent., 1893-12-27
STRANGE MIDNIGHT VISION
4 Dream Presaged the Assassination
OF Ruler and On Exc
cution.
Tho Weird Legend OF the Royal
Castle OF Stockholm, Swe-
den'a Capital.
0hsstly Execution That Was Witnessed
BY the King-A PsrliAmc cnt Of spooks
In Session.


In Session.
There is a legend attached to the royal
castle of Stockholm which Is very weird
In Its way, and which is often told by
Scandinavians around the fire on winter
evenings. 1t Is the tale of vision seen by
King Charles Xl-a vision which Is sup
posed to have prcsaged tho assassination
Of Gustavus III and the consequent de-
capitation of Count Ankerstron,, tho as
sassin, ant.his associates Thus runs the
storys King Charles, in deep grief at the
loss Of his queen whom he had passionate
~ loved, wks sitting in his apartment one
night. In attendance were Count Blahe,
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 a vast ccu. .ya.i. The Swedish
diet CparliamenD is domiciled within the
precincts of the castle, and when in ses-
sion occupies now, as in King Charles
day, II great hall opposite to Che royal
apartments. From the long row of win
dows streamed blaze Of light. Parlia-
ment was not in session, and the illumina-
tion at this midnight hour was wholly un-
accountable The king commanded Count
Bralse to summon the marshal Of the cas-
Ia IL n = B..
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 seneschnl 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,
murmuring of many voices, evidently
proceeding from the great hall, being faint
ly but distinctly audible. Deciding to
solve the mystery at all hazartis,, the king
commanded the seheschal to open the
door forthwith. In mortal terror the old
servant fell on his knees and implored his
majesty to forego his determination, de-
claring his own inability to obey his kings
command. Turning to the count, the king
bade 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. fear no mortal
foe, but l confess l have no courage to
face those of another world, in whose aw
ful presence we evidently stand"
The physician likewise showed his IT,
midity or unwillingness, whereupon the
king snatched the key from the hand of
the seneschal, exclaiming, ~ perceive that
these things concern myself alone!" With
out further htSitation he opened the door
and crossed the threshold, his attendants
following, in fear nnd 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 rigsdng, or
diet, of that day consisted of q supreme
councilnnd president and the members of
tie four estates of the realm-the mobiles,
clergy, burghers aud the peasants. AS
usual, the benches in the lower part of the
hall were occupied by the peasant mem
bcrs; above them sat the burghers the
clergy and tho members of the nobility, ac-
cording to their degree. At the extreme
upper end Of the Ereut@apartment was a
raised tlais occupied by the supreme coun-
Gil, or court, and the president. lii the cen
ter appeared II magnificent bier, upon
which rested a corpse partly covered with
velvet maEtle displaying the royal arms
OF the ho,Se of Vnsn. A large open space
interviewed between the raised platform
and the FIRST benches of the nobility. In
the midst stood block, and the headsman
leaning Oh his nx.
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,
agigantic figure. hut bent with age, and
made II sign. wirrcUpon Il Woeful process
zion Of men. hnrrhrndpd and with man.
Ecled hands and attended by guards in
strange uniforms. was seen issuing from
side drrr and approaching the scntfold.
Another sigi, from the president, and the
first man knelt down and was dispatched
by the hcadsmun. One after another came
Tip and suffered his doom, ,lcluging the
floor with blood. The last, n man in mid
die life, was evidently the chief criminal.
He lifted his hand in l.!pnace at the judges
and then laid it On the block 1t was sew
cred at once by II stroke of the ax. The
head followed immediately and rolled in Il
strange manner up to where the king
stood, seemingly hespattering his feet with
blood. In nmnXencnt and horror the king
exclaimed IN loud voice, "Mercful
Lord, is this to be in my reign, or does it
forhode the tlturcs'
The response came from the aged chief
and was repeated by the multitude. "Woc,
woe, woe, TO the blood of .Nasa!" The
words, though faint and distant were dis
tinctly heard. As the sounds died away
the light faded and the figures grew dim
and shndowy, aud soon the whole vision
vanished. The guest hail was empty and
dark, save where the seneschal's lantern
made the gloom visible. In the autechnm-
ber the worm eaten hnngings 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
they had all witnessed that night. He
then affixed his signature and seal. The
attendants likewise signed the document,
which is said still to exist among the Sc.
cret archives of the Vasa family.