The National tribune., 1893-12-28

of the hall. but more does she clasp her unwtli-
Ing victim in her deadly embrace.
This terror-inSpirisg maiden is made of strong
wood bound together with iron bars, and opens
with two doors To allow the prisoner to enter
The interior is lined with long, sharp iron spikes,
that when the doors closed the sharp prongs
such Il manner that he fingered in the most agon-
izing torture. r.tE
WHEN INVENTION WAS CRUELTY.
Among many cruel inventions is the Spanish
Donkey, terrible instrument with e-shaped
top, worked TO a hue point.
The victim was placed straddle-legged on this.
and heavy weights placed each foot until the
sharp points of the donkeys back cut clear through
his bndy or broke him in halves.
The Stretching Galows was equally horrible.
At the foot strong iron rings INTO which the
feet placed. The hands were then fastened to
a triangle. which was raised by means OF ropes and
pulleys until the prisoner was stretched beyond
endurance. When in this position he was whipped
at intervals by the exeeutfoner.
A very curious oak cage. about six feet, was
cal ed the Bakers Ducking Cage, and in this cage
the baker who gave short weight WAS locked up.
The cage then fastened with chains and
drawn up and down the river until he was nearly
drowned.
The Drunkard's Block, made In the form of a
barrel, wider at the top than al the bottom, was
hinged to open. The drunkard, or ne 'er. do
well. placed in il and it was closed and locked,
the top having an iron-boHBd oritioe Just large
enough to let his head through. On the victim
head was placed a helmet, lined with iron bars,
through which he could be seen by all.
The Shame Mask worn by the woman who
abused her busbanG-in other words, tho house.
dragon"-was a very large-sized mask. shaped
like iends head. with horns. proiruding eyes
and teeth.
As in all of these old punishments the cuIprit
stood i'm the most public place and received the
ecorn of all beholders.
BREAKING-wHEEL AND ToNGUE-TEARER.
The breaking-wheel literary means breaking
wheel. When the condemned wretch was laid on
a wooden bed the wheel was rolled over his body,
weighted with all the strength of the executioner
and assistants, until every bone IN his body was
broken; then he was left TO die in lingering tor
ture.
An iron tongue-tearer was made In the shape OF
pair of tongues with screws. In this way strong
hold could be taken of the tongue, that it could
be torn right out by the roots.
A carving Of the devils head, the orthodox devil
witch on her way to be burnt at the stake, is an
interesting device.
scoLDs AND sCANDAL-MoEGERs.
Scolding women in the oIden times were treated
as offenders against the public peace, and there
were many i'm d emeuts used for their punishment.
wooden instrument resembling a viOincello,
with hole in it large enough for the head to go
through, was put on the scold, and she was driven
about the streets accompanied by drummer. who
beat his taps to call the attention of the public to
her disgrace.
A similar arrangement, made double, was used
for the women who scandaiZed each other. They
were fixed facing each other, hands and neclks fast
ened, and SO marched around town. II il so hap
peDed, IL often did. ina. the shame OF the pun
ship they were reduced by hunger.
For this purpose soup bowl and spoon were
displayed The bowl aft xed TO the collar,
filed with soup, and hung under their noses; the
women had one hand loosened. and when their
pangs of hunger became keen, they were glad to
eat out of the same bowl. using tue same spoon,
each IN turn.
This taken as q sign Of good viii. and they
were released.
THE DEVILS DEyJCEA
These and hundreds of other instruments were
found in this unique collection. Shame-o1asks,
pinchers, thumb-screws, spiked collars. branding
irons. bracelets thef-cs,chers and implements for
minor niisdeeds abound, while religious and peni-
tential torture is very rich In examples.
There are branding irons for burning On fore
heads aud backs; maEtyr-lashes, which tore the
hess at every sirkei pear-shaped gags. which pre-
vented any cries; torture-seats, feet-squeeZers;
iron boots. which were filled with molten metal |;
iron flagellants, and other awful instruments rep
re-enting every phase of outrageous torture.
My only regret is that visited this barbarous
collection at night. 1t was grewsome and APP
peaed to my imagination to such alarming
tent, that dreamed all night of being pursued by
fierce torturers and whole procession of ghosts
and devils. headed by the Iron Maiden.