Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-10-21
THE TREAD MILL.


This barborus machine Of torture was
in use about the year 1920, and the
mopotonous steadiless which cOnstitu-
ted its terrors was sufficient TO break
down the obstinate spirit; il also caused
the veins in the legs to become vari-
cose and form in knots as large as hazel
nuts.
In Blackstones Commentaries we
read of curious and barbsrous trials OF
persons charged with violation Of the
law. For instance, the person accused
was required TO run his bare arm into a
kettle OF boiling water. II burned by
the operation, he was adiudged gully.
II not then he was acquitted. BY this
mode it was pretty safe to guess
that few were acquitted. Another
mode was to lay hot plow-shares a few
feet apart, biudfold the cuiprlt and
cause him to walk over the hot irons.
n he stepped on any Of them, he was
adjudQed guilty. Galley slavery was
introduced into France about the be-
ginning of the l4th Century and abolish
ed in l74S. The slaves were put into
heavy, RECONSTRUCTED boats, tied TO the
seat and made TO row all day la the
brOiling sun.
In England the convcIs used to be
transported to Port Arthur and were
called IVAN Dieman's Land convicts. s"
Port Arthur is a sterile peninsula and
was then reached by narrow strip OF
land on either side of which large
number OF ferocious dogs were chained.
Here the poor convicts became so
abandoned that they often killed their
KEEPERS and companions for want
of something better TO do. A re-
mort made in 1898 OF return OF the
attempts to escape from, Mace uarri Har-
Dor. a penal station, shows thai OF ll6
who escaped IS persisted in the woods,
were murdered, were eaten by com
panions, and all but ten OF the rest were
Shot for bush-ranging.
THE INIQUsITION.
Some OF the most horrible fortunes
known to mankind were in vogue during
this period. The torture OF the pulley
consisted of pulley fXed TO the roof.
A rope was tied 10 mans hands and
ne was drawn up with hundred-pound
weight attached to his ankles. While
thus suspended, twelve stripes were in
ficted. de was then allowed TO fall
suddenly, but not quite touching the
ground; the heavy weight nearly or
quite tearing his BODY asunder
The torture of the rack was quite as
terrible. Tae person was subjected 10
eight distinct aud strong contortions
OF his upper and lower limbs. and while
in this position, made TO swallow seven
pints of water which was run into his
mouth on piece or ribbon and glided
down his throat causing all the seusa-
tions OF . person drowning. Torture
by ire was had by placing the person
in stocks and grsssing the naked soies
of the feet with lard and oil, ana then
applying blazing chaiing dish to them,
by the heat Of which they were per-
Iec,lv fried. The accused were also
chained to stakes and allowed to be
eaten alive by swine. others were hung
I'D by the thumbs, aud some were wall
ed up alive snd allowed 10 starye or
suffocats.
EARLY CHRISTIAN MARTYRS
were often placed in large kettles alled
with oil. They were then chained fast,
fire buff under the kettle and the
fluid allowed TO come slowly to the
boiling lint. If they then refused TO
denounck their Savior and werestill
alive Thy were taken out aud dfagg I'D
throneA the streets. Many OF thd m
were q i tied hand and feet ana at
tached d horses which we're compelled