The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-11-19
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER te, 1910,


On November 10. 1903, there died in
the famous French fortress prison, the
Bastile. one OF the most mysterious char
acters reflected In history, who is known
az the Man In tho Iron Mask. N0twith-
standing all the curiosity and conjecture
that have been employed TO ascertain
his quality and pedigree nothing authcn
tic has ever been discovered
In l69S he was brought from the Island
NJ ST. Marguerite by Mons, dc ST Mars,
the newly y-appointed governor OF the Bas-
speet. maintained sumptuous table, and
had every possible Indulgence shown him
until the time OF his death.
The mysterious prisoner, ON his re-
moval 10 the Bastile. was carried in a
litter, accompanied by several men on
horseback. who had orders, to put him
to show himself. The mask which he
wore entirely covered his head and was
so constructed that he could eat with
out removing il,
The pains taken In his concealment
show that he was a person of considera-
bic quality and Importance. and from
the following circumstance 1t appears
singular that he was never discovered.
While at ST.. Marguerite he one day
wrote something with his knife on d sill
yer plate, which he threw from the win
dow toward a boat lying near the tower,
y fisherman took up the plate and
brought IL To the governor, who, With
great astonishment, asked the man if he
had read the writing or showed 1t to
any one. ana, dUnnuRn Ine USileTIldH
answered In the negative. kept him i'll
confinement until he was perfectly salts
fed after which he dismissed him, say
Ing. 1T is lucky for you that you can
not read
Immediately after the prisoners death.
his apparel linen. clothes. mattresses
and everything that had been used by
him were burnt. the walls Of his room
and every precaution was used that no
trace OF him might be left behind, When
he was on the road from ST. Marguerite
to his last residence, Mons. de ST. Mars
was overheard TO reply 10 question OF
the prisoner. relative to any design
against his life: mo. prince. your life
is in safety; you must only allow your,
self to be conducted" A prisoner told
NJ, la Grange Chancel that he was lodged.
with other prisoners, in the room imme-
diatcly over this celebrated captive. and
found means of speaking to him by the
vents of the chimney but he refused to
inform them who he was. alleging that 1t
would cost his own life as well as the
lives OF those TO whom the secret might
Various have been the individuals sup
posed to have been the masked prisoner
The Due de Beaufort the Count de Ner-
mandoIs natural son of Louis XIV. by
the Duchess de In Nalliere; the Duke Of
Monmouth, natural son of Charles II, of
England Gerolami Magni. minister OF
the Duke of Modena. the offspring of
secret. marriage between Anne OF Aus
tria and Cardinal Mazarin, ETC. etc.
Notaire SAYS that the secret was known
TO Monsieur de Chamillard and that the
son -in-law OF that minister conjured him
on his deathbed to tell the name OF the
man with the mask. but he replied 1t was
Il state secret. which he had sworn he
would never diyulGe.
The Supposition now generally re-
ceivcd is that this unfortunate person
was twin brother of Louis XIV. born
eight hours after this monarch and the
unhappy victim Of superstition and
cruelty. Louis Kill. being weak enough
to give credit to the prediction of some
impostors that IL the queen should be
delivered Of twins the Kingdom would be
involved in civil war, ordered the birth
Of this prince TO be kept a profound Sc
cret. and had him privately educated in
the country as the illegitimate son OF a
nobloman, but on tho accession Of Louis
XIV, the young man gave indications OF
having discovered his parentage. His
brother being Informed OF this ordered
him TO be imprisoned for life and TO
wear a mask in order to prevent his be-
Ing recognized.
November 1e 1894. jays treaty with
Great Britain was signed: the nullifica-
tion convention met at Columbia S. C.
In 1892; chloroform was first used as an
diers cemetery at Gettysburg was dedi-
Gated in 1853 Today is the birthday Of
Charles I. Of England G6oo); George II.
Clark founder of Louisville, Ky. Ql52); ;
Rear Admiral John A. Winslow 0S11D;
William c. Endcott, secretary OF war
under Cleveland QS263. James A: Gar
field. twentieth president Of the United
States 1S3D and General FJtshueh
Lee Gs35). Today is the date of the
death OF Fltsgreene HaIleck. the poet
GSSO.