The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-12-17
BEFORE HANGMAN

behaved In most extraordinary fash
ION, and nowadays any one who acted
as he did would probably be said 10
he slightly dcmcntcd Before landing
he called the ship S surgeon and or.
dered a black silk plaster. which he
placed over his right eye, thus causing
people TO believe he was partially
blind. After three days he transferred
the plaster 10 the left eye. where he
wore IT for another three DAYS, and
thon. diScardinC il altogether, an
nounccd that his sight was restored.
The object Of this mancuycr is not
very clear, unless he thought that hy
appearing 10 be partially blind he
could keep sharper watch on his
suhordinatcs than they suspected.
During his first few weeks in office
ne seems TO have cndcavored 10 make
himself popular, but This state of af-
fairs did not last long. Day by dav
he became more and more tyrannical !,
his savage outbursts of rage moro fro.
qucnt, till every ono trembcd before
him in dread Of punishment. the gov.
crnoTs Of those days having almost un-
limited power in the small colony.
senate. His fcrocity increased 10 q
fiendish intensity, while he took a
diahoIicsl delight in witnessing the
sufferings and iortureS inflicted by his
orders, and daily some awful tragedy
was expected. but IT was not until he
had governed two wears and two months
that thr event occurred which tcrnli-
mated his vicious career.
At that time the soldiers who carri.
soncd the Cape were allowed in their
spare time to take up any employment
by which they might earn additional
money. the pay for their military du-
fics being absurdlv inadequate, aud
often insufficient even TO supply them
with food Van Noodt, who added
ayaricc 10 his other sins. ordered that
the men should provide themselves
with shoes. socks and other necessarlcs
ont Of the money they earned. in order
in spite Of remoustran"eS from soldiers
and Officers alike, tho edict WIS pnt
into force. The mon who rebcllcd were
merely beaten and thrown into the
dungeons with which thc castle rs
honcvcomhcd. Before this several de
! scrtions had taken place, hut If not
captured The unfortunate men had in
yariahly been either starved Ia death
on the ycldt or killed hv natives or
wild beasts. But in spite Of this well
known fact forty men Of Van Nuodt 5
| garrison determined 10 make a bid for
! freedom, prefcrring 10 die Of starvation
| in The desert rather than live in state
Of hunger and hard work III Cape castle.
| Their plan was to steal as much row
der aud shot as thcv could lay their
hands on. and then. dropping over the
castle walls the first dark night, en-
| dcavor 10 reach Portuguese settle
ment nv keeping TO ihc scashore. But
| ono of them, more chicken hearted than
| tho rest. betrayed the scheme TO head
| quarters. and eight of his comrades
were arrested and thrown into der
donckel gait ('thc black hole y. only
used for prisoners condemned 20 death
! Among them wcTc two theological can
didafcs. supposed TO hc the ringlcaders
aud German "cavalicr' OF very good
| family. Tho latter. by pleading III
health. was allowed 10 90 into hosnital
whence he managed TO escape aud get
on board ship lust smiling for the
| Netherlands.
Tho other seven. however. wcrc left
| in tho dungeon on bread and water TIL
the 2lst Of April. when they were tried
bv the senate of Justice aud condemned
10 "ruu the gantlct'' ten times. and
then 10 bc sent to Batavia az sailors
| This sentence was severe enough. IN
all conscience; but it did not satisfy
the governor. who, when he heard Of It
was seized With paroNysm Of rage
and shouted: ''Thev shall hang. the