New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-20
A HAUNTED PALACE.
Prince GustaUus AdoIphas Prefers
Christiania to Stockholm.

- PHnce Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden. Duke of
ScarSa, whose fancee is Princess Marguerite Vic
toria of England. and not, stated in the cable
dispatches, her younger sister. Princess Victoria
Patricia of Connaught, has asked and obtained
King Oscars permission TO make his home after
his marriage at Christiania, at the castle there
By the castle" the royal palace or 'KongelIge
Slot is meant, for the castle itself is used as q
fortress. an arsenal, prison and museum
and is not suitable for a royal residence in these
modern times. The royal palace. on the other
hand. situated eminence in the western part
OF the city. is only about sixty seventy years old
ana relatively up to date. 1t commands magnii-
cent view over the city, the ford and the Akers-
dalen. and is surrounded by beautiful gardens
The ballroom is superb apartment. two stories
IN height surrounded by a gallery OF forty-eght
iCorinthian pillars. and there handsome prf-
waite chapel and an immense banqueting hall. In
fact 1t is a most stately royal abode. and unlike
most royal residences in the Old World, is not
haunted
None of them have evil reputation in this
respect than the royal palace at Stockholm, which,
by reason OF the many crimes committed within its
walls is to such an extent subjected to uncanny
supernatural! phenomena that II has been twice en-
treiy RACED to the ground and reconstructed with
the object of disodgng the supposed ghosts
KING CHARLEs's PROPHETIC VISION.
The most extraordinary story, however of the
many dealings with the supernatural phenomena of
the Royal Palace at Stockholm is the vision by
King Charles XXI. and of which a record signed and
scaled by that king by Count Brahe the chief of
ms military household: by his principal physician,
by the senescha: of the castle and by several other
members Of his court witnesses. Is preserved
among the archives OF the Swedish crown. To put
the matter briefly, it a vision which is supposed
to have presaged the assassination of King Gus
tavus III and the consequent decaptation OF Count
Ankerstrom, the assassin. and his associates.
KING Charles it seems. late one evening when
about to retire asked Count Brahe what sort of
niqhT
drew the curtain. and Immediately stepped back In
amazement. for from the long of windows
the opposite side Of the courtyard of the palace
there streamed a blaze Of light wholly unaccounta-
BILE at this midnight hour. The King, greatly aston
shed, seneschai of the palace to be sum-
moned to his presence. This dgnitary could give
explanation of the mystery, which the King there
upon determined to elucdate. Ordering all present u
accompany him, he crossed the deserted courtyard
and with the keys carried ythe seneschal entered
the wing on the opposite side
The great hall in which the King and his party
found themselves was hung with black cloth. en-
tirely covering the tapestries, and the apart
ment was full of people. who took notice what
soever OF the King and his party. noticeable
thing the unfamiliar garb OF those present. 1t
was not of the period that OF the past. At the
extreme upper end of the hall a raised dais
occupied by the supreme court of justice and its
president, and in the centre of the dais appeared
magnificent bier, upon which rested corpse. partly
covered with velvet and ermne mantle. displaying
space interviewed between the dais and the first
benches In the midst stood block, and the heads
leaning his
Presently the murmuring ceased. the president
erose and made sign, whereupon woful pro-
oession of men, barehaaded and with manacled
hands, issuing from a side door and ap-
preaching the scafold. One after another the pris
oners knelt down at the block and were decaptated
by the headsman. deluging the floor with blood.
The last man in middle life. was evidently the
chief criminal He lifted his hand in menace at the
judges and then laid il the block. 1t was sew
cred at by a stroke of the axe. The head fol-
lowed Immediately and rolled in strange manner
to where the King Stood seemingly bespattering his
feet with blood
In amazement and horror. the King exclaimed IN
loud Soce .Merciful Lord, is this to be my reign.
or does it forbode the future?" The response came
from the aged president and repeated by the
multitude, Woe! woe! to the blood of Vasa!" The
words though faint and distinct. distinctly
heard by the King and his attendants.
AS the sounds died away the great light faded,
the figures grew dim and shadowy and the
whole vision vanished. The hall became empty and
dark save where the seneschars lantern made the
gloom visible. The black hangings had vanished
and the ordinary tapestries appeared usual.
When the King and his attendants returned TO his
apartments he then and there had the which
they had all witnessed placed record, himself
signing the document and causing those with him
TO put their signatures thereto we'll
hundred yearv later. that is to say, in 1892 this
scene thus witnessed in the form vision by King
Charles XI in 1892 enacted in that selfsame
hall of the royal palace at Stockholm. when Count
Ankerstrom and the other 'assassins of King Gus
tavus III were tried by the High Court and de-
capitated then and there, Count Ankerstrom having
his right hand chopped off by the executoner before
losing his head