The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-09

remaining Years. aud the grave in the
prison door was cheated.
The Face beautiful.
found my self ia the central aisle OF the
little hall. looking al the most terrible in
strument in all this weird and instructive
oollection-the iron maiden, whose terror
inspiring embrace WAS one Of the horrors OF
Nuremberg in the fifteenth century.
This relic OF ancient cruelty stood in a
large glass case and had the most conspicu-
Gus position in the hall.
Fancy TO yourself great object Of wood
and iron ia shape like a long barrel This
opened down the side. showing hollow in
terror filled with iron spikes. The front q.
the instrument represented womana
form, the face beautiful, cold, implacable.
On the night preceding execution the
condemned was taken 10 the tower OF the
castle and placed in pillory opposite the
iron maiden. During the long hours OF
the awful night, filled with mental anguish
and horror that ehills as even 20 consider
IL, the wretch was forced 20 look upon this
instrument OF his doom. In the morning,
just at dawn, be was placed within il, his
body fitting perfectly into the hollow. The
front portion OF the iron maiden being
closed upon him, he died lingering death,
being literally impaled alive.
Fiendish Ingenuity.
There was fiendish ingenuity brought 20
the invention Of this CHASTITY relic, for as
studied 10 / noticed that, while the sharp
spikes were many, the spot that must come
opposite the heart was bare. so that the vi
tai spot was untouched and the agony
prolonged. After a few days the maiden
was rolled out ON the bridge overlooking
the fathomless moat. and the body was ig-
ANONYMOUSLY dropped into IA shameful grave
in the black waters. And what crimes were
punished by such DEATH II is mark Of
the superstitlous and imperial age in which
such monstrous customs hourished to note
from the lecturers description that, while
murders of the worst sort, such as parri-
eide, were thus avenged, any plot against
the government, any avowal Of religious
unbelief. also led the unfortunate 20 the
death clasp Of the terrible iron maiden.
A Terrible Ordeal.
Scarcely a romance exists Of olden dare
Of whatever country without some ref
erence to the thumbscrews, used TO force
confessions from supposed criminals. They
were here in plenty-thumb, toe, hand and
leg screws II a man was charged with any
against the church or government, the
thumbscrew was used TO make him reveal
his secrets and betray his confederates. 1t
was not in human nature, save perhaps in
very rare cases. TO stand this ordeal long
aud under its heartbreaking torture who
knows how many perfectly innocent people
confessed TO and We're convicted OF crimes
they had never thought Of?
Children supposed to conceal evidence
that would help TO convict their relatives
often their pRrents-of supposititious crimes
were not spared. No one was spared In
those days Of so called "chivalry' not the
tenderest youth, not lisping babes, not old
Rgc nor delicate women. | shall not soon
forget the shadowy pain that ran through
me when under one Of the galleries l stood
above the cradle Of unrest. How fifty and
horribly named! IL was made of iron, the
rockers very wide. and the interior was
thickly covered with short, pointed spikes.
Scarcely had ] turned from this when
felt a soft cloth brush my check | looked
up and saw a scarlet mantle headed by a
black mask. ] was IN the shadow Of an
executioners cloak, the sword beside IL,
having marks cut upon it proving record
OF 200 heads.
No Figure Of Speech.
Very curious are the iron gags. These
were small and could be placed easily IN
the mouth. but SO subtly were they ar
ranged by means Of springs that they could
be disteuded to a size which prevented any
utterance.
The rack and the wheel were duplicated
here many times. They were very large
with a variety Of ropes and screws attached
The saying breaking on the wheel" il
not at all figurative.
Among other interesting things, not com
ing under the head Of torture, yet connected
with them. noticed IA condemned's cru
cifX. which criminals innumerable had car
ried on their way 10 execution. There wa
also "a mask that WAS worn by one Of the
judges of the secret trihunal-the notorious
Nehmgcricht-iu which all were masked
completely. So that the accused might have
stood for Judgment before his dearest frien,
or father. So inexorable was the oath %
secrecy regarding the personality of thes'
judges that they were forbidden TO disclos
their identity one 20 the other, each beinl
secretly appointed by the crown. Fancy
prisoner coufrof;ing this iron masked ri
bunal whose Judgment none might gainsay
The atmosphere of horror and myster,
would have been terrible enough withou
further punishment.
There was also "a witch's idol. a carving
Of "a DEVILS head ia wood This was worl
by tine supposed witch on her way 10 b
burned at the stake Another curious thin
was piece OF the cloak worn by the Chris
tiau martyr, Johannes Hu--. who WA
burned 40 the stake at Constant. J saw ais
veritable hair shirt once worn for peuanc
by some monk.
] saw the lecturer pacing between IN
row. of kuotted wire ropes aud ghastl
shame masks, and ventured 20 ask hin
one question.
A Chinese Zine Art.
"rhe world is too enlightened for tortur
Of any sort nov. is 10 uots Does il stil
exist anywhere / asked.
only in China There they have n
duced Do TO "A fine art be said, with hal
TO- plying smile. They make DO weapon
, such rs are here 800 CHASTITY profusior
Those days are forever gone. but as piec
i Of interesting Information let me tell 30