Evening star., 1896-06-16
A SKELETON IN IRONS.
Curious Relic of Past Cruelty Which
Was Dug Up In King George CO., Va.

Curious Relic of Past Cruelty Which
Was Dug Up In King George CO., Va.
From the Philadelphia Times.
One Of the strangest finds of recent times
is that made by an old farmer down in
King George county. Virginia, who in the
course OF his labors came upon a skeleton
ef cased In iron bands. While it reminds
one of Lonsfellow's story Of the Skeleton
in Armor," there Is nothing Of romantic
cfivalry to be attached to the gruesome
thing, which Is now ON exhibition at one
of the numerous resorts down the shores
of TIE Potomac river. In digging on tho
opening of a new road in King George
county some months ago, William Henry
Harrison Caywood began to hoe In some
ground which had never before been struck
by spade. Suddenly his instrument
struck Oh a piece of old. bent iron and as
trGcinss could be detected OF some cOnnec-
tion further on. men were called, who dug
carefully about what seemed to be the out
EEes of human form.
In a short time the labofers had uncov-
cred and taken out something which struck
terror to the hearts Of the natives. 1t was
a frame of iron bands fitting about a skel-
ton form. of which the bones remained IN
their nakedness, the skull grinning through
its cage. The bands came around the head,
over the top, down past both ears. ending
at the neck in a collar, while over the fore
head ran a similar band, so that the un-
happy victim could not move in any direc-
ton. Down the sides OF the form were
iron bands. linked around the knees and
wrists, at the shoulders and ankles by
similar bands. which ran around in rings
and joined the upright framework. The
hands were evidently thus pinioned tight
ly to the side, and the whole body main
tained in rigid. upright position TILL
death. and even afterward. z
Just as soon as the skeleton was moved
out of the earth the bones fell apart from
the joints and dropped out Of the frame:
yet the skull remained. not being small
enough to get through the four iron strips.
The bar from which the cage was sus-
pended is also there. and as the uncanny
thing swings aloft the skull grins out OF Its
cage Of iron. the same cage out OF which
1t looked in despair more than NO years
ago. No clothing was found about the
body, anything like clothing being soon
rotted in the dampness of the earth. but
several brass buttons. large. round plain
ohes. were picked up from the grave AS
there was no engraving on them. they were
evidently made years before the custom OF
having names cut on buttons was begun
by tailors.
That this skeleton Is Of great antiquity
is proved by the fact that the bones are so
much decayed, for human bones must have
been long period in earth to rot. Another
fact going to show that the victim. must
have met his death at least 300 years ago
Is the fact that, though records are Kept
Of all executions. none are to be found OF
this mans death. AS King George county
was taken from Richmond county In 172O.
and no account is in either court house.
the date must have been prior to the estab-
lishment Of either county. 1t Is thought by
scnle that the skeleton is that of some
terrible Indian chief. Gagged alive for his
crimes. or of public official guilty OF
treason to King George 1, for Virginia was
then colony. To encase q man in iron
bands and hang him in view of the people
till he died maniac was doubtless mode
Of punishment visited only on some great
criminal