The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-11-06
FATAL POSSESSIONS.
Weird Romance of a Finger Ring
That Killed a Bride


That Killed a Bride.
Some of the most weird and curious
romances are associated with posses
sions which appear to have no other
purpose than to bring misfortune and
trouble on those who own them. A
tragic instance of this is related in
connection with the Lindsey family.
According to the legend, Colin Lind
sey, a former Earl of Balcarres, was
quietly eating his breakfast when he
should have been awaiting his bride
at the altar. When reminded of the
fact he hurried off to church, and, for
getting the indispensable ring, bor-
rowed one from a friend, which be
duly placed on the brides finger.
At the conclusion of the ceremony
The newly-made countess took a
glance at the ring and, on seeing that
Il bore a grinning deaths head, sud
denly tainted away. The incident at
eected her to such al extent that, on
recovering consciousness, she express
ed her conviction that she was des-
tined to die within twelve months.
And sure enough, in less than that
period her life came to an end. Ma
poleon III was the possessor OF two
rings, which he constantly wore, and
which had belonged to his predecess-
DR., Napoleon l, who "as fatalist IN
the fullest meaning OF the term. When
Napoleon III died it was proposed
that these rings should be removed
from his finger; but the prince i'm
penal refused to have them.
They were accordingly buried with
his father at Chislehurst, and, so far
from regarding them from the same
point OF view as the prince, the en-
peror's servants firmly believed that
be would come to an untimely end
tor discarding the rings. And when,
In 1879, the unfortunate young man
met his death at the hands Of the Zu-
lus, against whom he was fighting for
this country, they saw IN this deplor-
able event the realization of their
tears. One of the bsst-known public
men IN New Zealand, a wealthy resi-
dent Of Hokiangi, North Island, re-
Gently travelled all the way to St.
Louis, q. S. A., in fruitless endeaV-
DR. to have an idol cremated which had
cast an evil spell uTer him. The
heathen idol had come to him as part
Of a legacy from his grandfather, to
whom 1t had been presented by Ma
ori chief. Said its owner, Il have
travelled 10000 miles with the image,
and it has brought disaster after dis
aster upon me. I have often endeav-
pred to destroy it, but without avail.
II once threw it under train, and,
In running to get out Of the way, fell
and broke one OF my fingers. Then
[ was arrested for endangering the
lives Of passengers. When in London
three months ago I threw it into the
Thames, and a drunken sailor who
ashed it out brought it back to my
rooms, and In his rage at not receiv'
Ing a reward, almost beat me to death.
While In San Francisco I tried to chop
It to pieces with an ak, when the Ak
rebounding, struck me on the fore
head with almost fatal effect. The
wood is so hard that an ordinary fire
will not destroy it, and I am afraid
10 get rid of it otherwise because OF
the evil results" The image was a
crude figure in rosewood and ebony,
and about two feet long. Failing to
ret It cremated in St. Louis its owner
started for New York, where he was
determined to have it destroyed at
whatever cost.
Buried in the shadow Of Diamond
Head Volcano, at Henoiulu, is a violin
known as the "violip of Death" In
the space of a few months two per
sons who had owned ititook their own
lives and third mystsriously disap
peared. The last victim \Qf this weird
instrument was George Il. Scott, g
sergeant of the United States army
66th Coast Artillery. This victim kill
ed himself at the barracks st Camp
Mckinley, but few days before doing
80 he realized the evil influence OF
the violin and buried it as abova stat
sd.-Tit-Bits.