The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1911-09-30


III Of the Castle Rock. Long be-
fore there was a royal palace
or even religious house of Hollywood
there was a fortress here The cas-
tie preceded even the village of mud
huts which originally sprung up under
its shelter, and which developed into
"Edwin,s burgh."
Its earliest history Is lost in cloud
of legend and romance. The rock is
believed to have been occupied with
fort by the aboriginal tribes prior to
the invasion of the Romans.
1t is reasonable, indeed, to think
that place so well fitted by nature
for fortress, commanding a wide
view of the country and of the routes
north and south, would commend it
self from the earliest times for pur-
poses of defense.
There is a legend connecting it with
King Arthur Of round table fame, al
though the association does not come
down to us in quite SO localized a
form as that which connects the great
sovereign of romance with the hill
which bears the name of Arthur's
Seat
There are grounds for believing
that the rock was place of strength
time of the introduction of artillery 1t
was impregnable to assault. 1t could
only be taken by surprise or through
treachery.
Reliable history really begins with
Malcolm Canmore, who built resi-
dence here in. the eleventh century.
There still exists a relic of his saint
ed consort, the early Norman chapel
of st. Margaret in which she passed
much of her time. In the castle the
queen died within a day or two after
she received the tidings of the death
of her husband, and her body was car
ried out of the sallyport on the west
ern side and down the rocks while
Donald Bane, the usurper Of her sons
rights, Numbered at the main gate.
To that same sallyport, If tradition
says true, Bonnie Dundee" climbed
many centuries afterward to talk to
the governor of the castle.
In the old wars between Scotland
and England Edinburgh castle played
prominent part. 1t was captured
and recaptured again and again, and
many bold deeds were done by gal
liant Scots. 1t was associated closely
with the fortunes of Bruce. Three
| times 1t was captured by Edward
| Longshanks and three times 1t was
taken again by the Scots Valiant
deeds we're done here by the Douglas
and by Randolph in defense of the
independence OF their country.
A Brave Dundee Shi2master.
In the rej~n of Edward III. the cas-
tie fell once more into the hands of
the English, but It was recaptured
| through brilliant and romantic
stratagem devised by William Bullock
and carried out by the Knight of Lid
desdale, Sir Simon Fraser, and a
brave shipmaster of Dundee. William
Curry
Curry, pretending to be an English
L
| wine merchant, offered to supply The
governor of the castle with wine and
wheat. The offer was accepte, Cur
ry. pretending also to be afraid of the
Scots. got permission to deliver his
| cargo early in the morning Before
1t was light Douglas and number Of
his followers concealed themselves In
| the vicinity.
At daybreak Curry. Sir Simon Fras-
err and few resolute Scots, all dress
| ed in smocks, appeared at the gate
/ with barrels and hampers The por
/ ter opened the outer gate and lowered
/ the drawbridge, whereupon Curry and
| Fraser and their men set upon him
| and took his keys, opened the inner
| gate, and placed the casks and ham
| pers SO that it could not be shut OF
| the portcullis lowered. The sound Of
The horn brought Douglas and his men
| from the foot of the hill The garri
son by this time was alarmed, and q
desperate fight took place, The Scots
however, proved victorious
Several OF the Scottish sovereigns
had a residence in the castle. Ever
after Holyrood was built they were
glad at times to take refuge IN ,he