New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-22
CLAIMS CASTLE TO LET.
End of the Famous Mystery and
Its Explanation.

CLAIMS Castle IS to let. at very high rent it is
true: but the fact that the Earl of Strathmore
should be willing 10 lease his ancestral and historic
home shows that the celebrated mystery in connec-
ton with this Castle-the most ancient in Scotland
Is now at an end and the necessity of keeping
secret and secluded one or more chambers of the
castle no longer exists All sorts of stories have
been told with regard to this mysterious chamber,
the exact locality of and the secret in connection
with which are said 10 have been known only TO
three persons-namely. the Earl of Strathmore. his
eldest ana heir, Lord CLAIMS. which must be
pronounced "Glahms." and the factor, or manager
OF the estate According to general belief the secret
chamber supposed be Inhabited by some
human mons;rosity maniac. son OF the eleventh
Earl OF Strathmore born in 1901, and, according to
Scottish tradition, the earls eldest child. who
strictly speaking. should have succeeded him In
stead Of his grandchild the offspring OF his second
son. 1t is curious fact that nothing is recorded
of the GIamis mystery prior the nineteenth CEN
fury but during the last one hundred years II has
furnished the theme for end of speculation
There is much in favor of the supposition which
have just mentioned. and stories are told when go
far to confirm it, Thus it is related that when on
occasion. after dinner. the claret ran short. the
late earl instead of sending the butler or one or
the footmen for more. went himself for further
supply. lie gone 4 long time. long that his
guests wondered at first. then became anxious and
mindful of the mystery went to look for him-
They had reached the cellar door, when the earl
His clothes torn his face bloody and he
showed every sign of having been in a struggle
with somebody o something in the cellar What or
who it he would not say. 1t then came to light
that the chief celarman. or the man hired as such
had died, and there had been some delay In filling
his place One two men were tried. but after a
short experience did to stay one of them
sustaining injuries of the sort those or the
earl.
It is therefore quite possible that somewhere IN
the huge old castle eldest son of the eleventh
Earl OF Strathmore. a maniac of great size and
strength perhaps a monstrosty was kept In cap
tivity. guarded by hired ostensibly as cell
larers and that to the secret apartments In
the castle where the lunatic confined led
through the cellars where the wine was kept This,
any rate is the most plausible explanation ana
the one most universally believed.
Moreover it may be pointed out that the old
houses of the nobility in Great Britain and on
the Continent OF Europe offer several well known
instances where eldest sons. horn monstrosities,
who have in their youth become dangerous luna
tics have been quietly set aside. placed in secret
confinement, classed dead their brthright pass
ing 10 the next heir Perhaps the most notable
instance C this kind was that of the eldest son OF
the second Duke OF Queensberry In the reign or
Queen Anne. Whoever the uncanny occupant Of
the secret chamber Of CLAIMS Castle may have
been. It is believed that he died about fifteen
twenty years ago and it is evident that there
IS 40 further reason for mystery. since
otherwise the present earl who was initiated into
the secret when he came of age in 1896 would not
be advertising the castle for 10 perfect
strangers.
CIams Castle has been described a little town
within fortress, the house being reached by half
a mile OF outer court, which joins inner court,
in which are four colossal statues two of which
represent, respectively. Charles l and King James
VI The castle is remarkable for It's immense
height The stairs 10 be climbed from the front
door 10 the top story are something like one hun
dred and forty. on the grand staircase. each step
Of which is fashioned Of n solid block Of ma
hogauy. five people walk abreast. In the hall
some valuable pictures and many ancient
relics including the suit Of armor by Macbeth
and also his sword. There are no less than forty
rooms on the first floor alone.