New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-04
THAT CLAIMS MYSTERY
iscotLasad's Oldest Castle Rid of It's
Terrible Secret.

lot Of nonsense has been printed in the English
press and copied here in connection win the &c
csnt coming OF age OF young Lord CLAIMS '"'lio
must he pronounced '-C5Iakms') the eldest son OF
the earl and heir the earldorn OF StTathlioL .
WIN. o. Is quite true shat mystery formerly eA-
listed IN connection with CLAIMS Castle. the most
ancient in Scotland ii has ceased. at any rate
IN So far as the necessity OF keeping secret ana Sc
clsed one or more chambers OF the castle Is con-
os-,e6 Fer Giants Castle has been repeatedly ad-
-4fsed 20 let during the last twelve months in the
English as well IN the American newspapers and
Lord strathmore would certainly never have been
Wiling rent his castle to strangers had the fort
vues and honor Of his house necesstated the pres
-s4foa Of any secret concealed in OF the cham
bs-s CT the castle. The stories published describ-
,.x the solemn manner IN which the earl initiated
Iord Giarnis into the terrible mystery connected
nth the ancestral castle therefore purely
tr7ariuery and without foundation.
AccerdIns 10 general belief, the secret chamber
~ chambers were supposed to be inhabited by
some human nonstrosity or maniac, a son OF the
eleventh Earl OF Strathmore, born in 1901 and, &C
eo7dinr 70 Scotch tradition, that earTs eldest
child who, strictly speaking, should have sue
cee6ed him instead Of his grandchId, the offspring
Of his second son. It is curious fact that moth
ing is recorded OF the CLAIMS mystery prior to the
nineteenth century, while during the last hundred
wears II has furnished the theme for no end OF
speculation. L may be pointed out that the old
houses Of the nobility Of Great Britain and the
continent Of Europe offer several well known in
stances where eldest sons born monstrostues or
who have in their youth become dangerous lunatlcs
have been quietly set aside, placed in secret con
fnenent and cIassed dead. their birthright pass
ing 10 the next heir. Perhaps the most notable case
OF this kind that of the eldest son Of the sec
ond Duke OF QueensberTy in the reign OF queen
Anne Whatever the uncanny occupant Of the secret
chamber az GIans Castle may have been, It IS be-
usvsd that he died about fifteen or twenty years
ago and It is very evident that there is no further
cause or reason for mystery, since otherwise the
present Earl Of Strathmore who was Initiated into
the secret when he came OF age in 1876. would not
have been advertising the castle for rent TO perfect
strangers
IN support OF the above explanation Of the
famous CLAIMS mystery may cite the story often
told in connection Herewith of how occasion
earl instead of sending the butler or one Of the
footnnen for more, himself for further
supply. He was gone for a long tine-so 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
flung himself out, shut and locked il behind him
His clothes were torn. his face was bloody and he
showed every sign Of having been in struggle
with something or somebody in the cellar. What
or who It was he would not say. II then came 10
light that the chief cearnlan, man hired as
such had died and there had been some delay in
filing his place. One two men were tried, but
after short experience did not care 10 stay one
Of them sustaining Injuries Of the sort as
those OF the earl It is believed that the assaiant
in each case was an eldest OF the eleventh earl
CT Strathrnore maniac Of great size and strength
perhaps ulonstrosity, kept in captivity. guarded
by men hired ostensbIy ceIlarers, and that
access 70 the apartments n the castle where
he was confined led through the cellars