The times., 1898-07-03
"OLD NICK'5" STRONG BOX
A Relic of The Days of Old
Time Piracy.
HELD MILLIONS OF EOOTY
A Reminder of the Era when the
Towns of Hansa Organized
AEainst Land MnrHuders and
Freebooters of the North Sen-Icx-
pIoits OF Nicholas stortebeciser.

pIoits Of Nicholas stortebeciser.
A relic OF piratical days. far ante-dat-
ing the era when Kydd and Morgan
spread terror over the seas and with their
black flags at their mastheads levied trib-
ute upon the commerce Of the world is
displayed IN the window of an establish
ment on Lafayette Street in Chicago. This
Is no more nor less than a veritable pi-
rates strong box. a safe Of the cen
tury in which the free cities OF Germany
nnd the pirates of the North Sea were at
almost constant strife
It is a plain black iron box, about II
inches in length by in width and depth.
il opei.s from the top, the entire inside Of
the lid being covered with a complicated
and curious, though well-constructed,
lock. This has seven large iron catches,
three on The back side and two on either
end and the front. These are actuated
by springs which make the safe self-lock-
ing. These catches are all thrown stimuli
taneousIy by means Of a large iron key
which is inserted in a hole in the center
of the lid. Placed beside one Of our mod
ern safes it would produce a strange,
though instructive, contrast.
The venerable old box attracts much
attention. and is a recipient of no little
comment upon the wealth in gold and
precious gems that were many a time
contained within It no less than upon
the deeds Of cruelty and daring which
EN-
box. which is little more than cubic
foot in extent, is capable Of holding
fortune, even in these days. when for
tunes range far beyond the wealth Of the
descendants of the Vikings. 1t was az one
time the property Of genuine old Dan
fish pirate His name was Nicholas Stor-
tebeoker Whether he caused it to be
manufactured in Denmark or captured
81 from some richly-laden ship Of the
free cities cannot be learned. There are
no records touching upon that compara-
tively unimporJant circumstance.
The free cities Of Germany. readers Of
history all wei remember, were known
as the Hanseatic League, which was es-
tablished in the thirteenth century in
northern Germany for the protection of
their trade from the rapacity Of rulers
and the lawIess attacks of marauders on
land and pirates at sea The league was
made up Of many towns and cities, princi-
pal among which were Hamburg Lubbock
and Bremen. For the most part these
cities We're engaged in manufacturing.
and the organization was in the nature Of
q trades union, the first that made its ap-
pearance in Europe. Rich carEoes were
soon being dispatched, largely 20 Eng
land. where the league maintained fac
tories and was treated with great favor
and consideration by the English govern
ment These attracted the attention Of
Danish and Norwegian pirates. who Sc
cured vast fortunes as a result Of many
bloody sea fights.
The league, otherwise known as THE
Hansa,' became very weary Of this. and
established a naVy-a formidable one in
those days-to disperse the freebooters.
Its greatness WAS demonstrated in the
fact that at different times il engaged IN
successful wars with Sweden and Nor
way. in 1f2S the league sent forth a feet
Of rs ships carrying over 1900 soldiers
against Eric Of Denmark.
In those days the pirates infested the
mouth Of the Elbe and the outlets of the
Baltic They were easily enough defeat
ed by the fleet Of the Hansa but they had
thousand hiding places along the coast
and their determination was NOT accom-
plIshed in centuries
About the time of the combination Of
the Hansa the most famous Of all the
pirates Of the North Sea was StortebecL-
er, the vcritable "Old Nick who was the
pJssessor of the strong box alluded to In
this article His name and fame. III as
It was. are recorded in the history Of
Germany and his deeds are well remen-
bered.
In the prime Of his glory he exercised
almost hngly pTer0gatives. holding court
AT Castle Ritzebuttel which was located
D. few miles from Coxhaven, at the mouth
Of the Elba. Here he massed his desper-
ate followers in force and resisted more
than one heavy siege. But, as time at
last makes all things even" the prey Of
''Old Nick became the pursuers.
In 1885 he was engaged in despoiling
several vessels from Hamburg in the
North Sea, near the mouth of the Elbe
when a large fleet OF the Hansa de-
scended upon him. A long and bloody
battle ensued. Stortebecker and his pi-
rates fought with the desperation of de-
mons. destroying some OF the leaguer's
ships and killing many of their enemies
Though badly wounded the pirate king
was taken alive, together with $50 of his
men When the mouth Of the Elbe was
reached a landing was made and all the
pirates, with the exception of the chief
were beheaded. AS the victorious feet
sailed triumphantly up the Elbe its yes
sels made frequent landings and gibbeted
the heads OF the executed pirates on long
poles the ghostly line reaching as far
as Hamburg, the trophies averaging two
TO the mile
Stortebecker was publicly beheaded in
the free city Of Hamburg amid the fes-
tiVitles OF a general holiday. His castle
was taken and much treasure and many
curious relics secured. The greater por-
tion Of these. including the pirates coat
OF arms. are on exhibition in the Ham
burg museum. The safe, which con-
tanned quite large treasure when dis
covered in the Castle Ritzebuttel. passed
through the great fire which devastated
Hamburg in 1872, one Of the handles be-
ing destroyed. 1t was brought to Chicago
not long ago, and is one of the most curl
MS and valuable relics in the city.
Adjusting a Difficulty.
(From the New Orleans Tirnes-D Dernocrat1
J. c. Stuart, local manager Of the Wells-Fargo
Express Company, in this CITY tells a good one