Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-02-19


this world was disturbed by the unlocking
and unbarring of the doors of her cell, and
the appearance of the head jailcr with u
light. Anime started up-she had boon
dreaming of her husband-of happiness!
She awoke to the sad reality. There stood
tho jailer, with a dress in his hand, which
he desired she would put on. He lighted
lamp for her, and left her alone. The
dress was Of black serge with white stripes.
Anime put on the dress, and threw her
self down on tho bed, trying, If possible,
to recall the dream from which she had
been awakened, but in vain. Two hours
passed away, and the jailer again entered,
and summoned her to follow him. Per
haps one Of the most appalling customs Of
the inquisition is, that after accusation.
whether the accused parties confess their
guilt or not, they return to their dungeons
without the least idea of what may have
been their sentence, and when summoned
on the morning of the execution they are
equally kept in ignorance.
The prisoners were all summoned by
tho jailers from the various dungeons, and
led into q large hall, where they found
their fellow sufferers collected
In this spacious, dimly lighted hall,
were to be seen about 200 men, standing
up as II for support against the walls, all
dressed in the same black and white serge;
SO motionless, so terrified were they, that
II 10 had not been for the rolling Of their
eyes, as they watched the jailers, who
passed and repassed, you might have Inn
agined them to be petrifled. It was the
agony Of suspense, worse than the agony
Of death. After q time, wax candle,
about five feet long, was put into the
hands of each prisoner, and then some
were ordered to put on over their dress tho
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the Salnarias. Those
who received these dresses, with flames
painted on them, gave themselves up for
lost; and it was dreadful to perceive the
anguish of each individual as the dresses
were, one by one, brought forward, and
with the heavy drops Of perspiration on
his brows, he watched with terror lest one
should be presented to him. All was
doubt, fear, and horror!
But the prisoners in this hail were not
those who were to suffer death. Those
who wore the Sanbenitos had to walk in
the procession, and received but slight
punishment; those who wore the Samarias
had been condemned, but had been saved
from tho consuming fire by an aoknowl-
sdgment Of their offense; the flames paint-
ed on their dresses were reversed, and sig
nifed that they were not to suffer; but
this the unfortunate wretches did not
know, and the horrors Of cruel death
stared them in the face!
Another hall, similar to the one in
which the men had been collected, was
occupied by female oulprits. The same
ceremonies were observed-the same
doubt, fear, and agony, were depicted
upon every countenanoe. But there was
third chamber, smaller than the other
two, and this chamber was reserved for
those who had been sentenced, and who
were to suffer at the stake 1t was into
this chamber that Anime was led, and
there she found seven other prisoners,
dressed in the same manner as herself;
two only were Europeans, the other five
were negro slaves. Each Of these had his
confessor with him, and was earnestly
listening to his e1hortation.
A monk approached Anime, but she
waved him away with her hand; he looked
at her, spat on the floor, and cursed her.
The head jailer now made his appearance
with the dresses for those who were In
this chamber; these were samarias, only
different from the others, inasmuoh as the
flames were painted on them upward in
stead Of down. These dresses were Of gray
stuff, and loose, like wagoners frock;
at the lower part Of them, both before and
behind, was painted the likeness Of the
wearer. that is, the face only, resting upon
a burning fagot, and surrounded with
flames and demons. Under the portrait
was written the crime for which the party
suffered. Sugar loaf caps, with flames
painted on them, were also brought and
put on their heads, and the long wax can
dies were placed in their hands.
Anime and the others condemned, being
arrayed In these dresses, remained in the
chambers for some hours before 1t WAS
time for the procession to commence, for
they had been all summoned up by the
jailers at about clock in the morning.
The sun rose brilliantly, much to the
Joy of the members of the holy office, who
would not have had the day obscured on
which they were to vindicate the honor Of
the church, and to prove how well they
acted up to the mild doctrines Of the Saw
iour-those Of charity, good will, for
bearing one another, forgiving one an
other. God of heaven! And not only did
those of the holy inquisition rejoice, but
thousands and thousands more, who had
flocked from all parts to witness the dread
full ceremony, and to hold jubilee
many, indeed, actuated by fanatical SUI
perstition, but more attended from
thoughtlesspess and the love of pagcantry
The streets and squares through which
the procession was to pass We're filled at
an early hour. Silk, tapestries, and cloth
of gold and silver were hung over the bal
comics and out Of the windows in honor of
the procession. Every balcony and win
dow WAS thronged with ladies and cavaliers
In their gayest attire, all waiting anxious
~ to see the wretohes paraded before they
suffered; but the world is fond Of excite
ment, and where ic there anything so ex-
citing to superstitious people as an auto
da-fe!
AS the sun rose, the heavy bell of the
cathedral tolled, and all the prisoners were
led down to the grand hall, that the order
Of the procession might be arranged. AT
the large entrance door, on raised throne,
sat the grand inquisitor, encircled by
many of the most considerable nobility and
gentry of Goa. By the grand inquisitor
stood his secretary, and as the prisoners