The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-01
A Royal Ghost
Windsor Castle Has
an Aristocratic Spook.

| York Journal from London says: Once
more is England thrilled by the report
! ed appearance of a ghost in Windsor cas-
tie.
This time ii Is the uneasy shade Of
King Henry VIII. which has been de-
tected in the act of fitting about the cas-
| tie.
The king is presumed to be tortured by
remorse for his conduct TO his six wives
whom ne either murdered or treated with
! gross injustice and cruelty.
There are now three ghosts of the first
/ class who are reported on excellent au-
thority to be in the habit Of walking
! through the corridors and chambers Of
ancient Windsor. These are Henry VIII,
! Queen Elizabeth Charles l. The alleged
| appearance Of Henry VIII has been made
| public in somewhat round about manner
| 1t was learned this week that the queen
| had ordered the lighting of the great
| state library of the castle by electricity.
| As the room is a very ancient one, lined
| with splendid woodwork of great value
! and antiquity, the work of fitting in the
| electric light wire is a difficult and deli
| cate one Moreover il was not necessary
! for the benefit of readers, because no one
! has occasion to use it at night. The con-
| tents Of the library are chiefly ancient
| books and manuscripts. These are worth
millions of dollars. Among them are doc
uments of unequelled Importance bearing
upon history in England.
The news about the lighting of the IL
brary therefore created some interest.
and inquiry elected the fact that it had
been ordered by the queen a the request
of some superstitious members of her
family and household.
The last person who saw a ghost in the
castle was Lieutenant Arthur St Leger
Glyn, of the Grenedier Guards, grandson
of Lord Wolverton. He is young man
Of vigorous health with a matter of fact
| temperament and is said to be not at all
mystical in his nature
He relates that he was in command Of
the guard in the interior Of the castle.
It was late in the evening and twilight
when he was standing in the library. A
dim light struggled through the ancient
stained glass windows.
Suddenly he became aware of a figura
advancing silently down the middle of
the library. It came swiftly past him
and filed him with such fear and aston
ishment that he stood helpless for several
| moments.
Then he recovered and called sternly to
the intruder to explain who he was. The
figure passed on without paying any at
tention. Lieutenant Glyn drew his sword
and thrust it at the figure. The sword
met with no resistance.
The figure went on and disappeared
through the door. Lieutenant Glyn ran
out and asked a. sentinel # he had seen
the man who had just passed through.
The sentinel replied that he had seen no
one.
Lieutenant Glyn afterward consulted
with the librarian and old officials and
told them what he had seen. The figure,
as well as he could remember. was that
of a man in sixteenth contrary dress.
He wore long hose and a doublet, which
appeared TO be richly decorated. He was
tremendously heavy build and great
girth His features were bloated and
wore an expression of anguish.
Most of the castle officials with whom
Lieutenant GIyn consulted agreed that he
had seen the ghost of King Henry VIII,
whose appearance has been reported Al
Glyn admitted that all he had seen tend
ed TO confirm this view
Accepting the old-fashioned convention
al view that ghosts haunt the ear n be-
cause of crimes they committed in flesh
Henry VIII has good reason to furnish
a ghost He divorced his first wife. Cath
crime of Aragon, merely because he wish
ed to mary Anne Boleyn. Having mar
ried the latter, he had her executed on
baseless charges. For a third bride he
took Jane Seymour who died after A year
OF married life on account of his cruelty.
Then he married Anne of Cleves, whom
he divorced in order to mary Catherine
Howard. whom he executed. His sixth
wife Catherine Parr had the good luck
to become a widow He was a monster
of cruelty. and a slave 10 his passions.
He was STEPPED to the ewes in blood and
sin. Believers in ghosts find pleasure in
thinking that he is expiating his crimes
still.
1t is astonishing 10 find so many peo-
pie of high position and presumably high
intelligence in England who give cred
ence to these ghost stories Princes and
Processes. army officers, high dignitar-
les of the church and court officials do
not question these supernatural appear
ances in Windsor Castle. Many of these
persons give circumstantial accounts Of
apparitions they witnessed
When Lieutenant Glyns story became
known il was decided that the ghosts
were becoming too numerous and Il men
ace TO peace and comfort. OF course,
they cannot be prevented from walking
in the small hours Of the Forming. but
that they should disturb modern ladies
and gentlemen early IN the evening is
intolerabIe. The queen wss therefore pc
titioned to have the library lighted by
electricity. and gave her consent It is
not supposed that the ghost Of a six
teenth century king viii care TO appear in
the electric light.
II IS only two years ago since Mr.
Holmes. the librarian Of Windsor cas-
tie. reported the appearance Of another
ghost in his library He was reading
there when he became aware Of a mys-
terious presence. He looked and saw a
woman wearing Coroneta1 immense
rufYle. a stonacher covered with Jewels
ana a volumiaous skirt He az once re
c3snized that II was Queen Elizabeth
She was wrineing her hands. and her face
wore an expression of fear
Mr. Holmes followed the apparition. bu,
il disappeared through door. and wo-
man who was outside said that she had
seen no one
The Empress Frederick of Germany,
oldest daughter Of the Queen. declares
that she saw the saost Of Queen Eliza Z
beth in The library when she was child
In the library there is a gallery which
ms buiff hy Queen F.I.zq5rth It's win