The Meeker herald., 1916-10-07
A ROYAL MYSTERY
Most Famous State Secret of the
Reign of Louis XIV.
THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK.
who the Unfortunate Prisoner Was
Has Never Been Disclosed, and
Whsn He Died His Body Was De-
stroyed by Chemicals In His casket.

When He Died His Body Was De-
stroyed by Chemicals In His casket.
A famous state mystery of the reign
of Louis XIV, of France was the rnys-
FERROUS prisCAer, the Man In the Iron
Mask. Many are the suesses which
have been ventured as to who he was.
Plays and novels have been written
with the iron mask as the central char
acter, but his identity has remained II
secret. 1t is known without doubt
that st. Mars during his life had as
a prisoner man whose face always
was covered with a mask of black
velvet fastened by springs of steel be
hind the head.
The guards had orders to kill the
man II he ever exposed his face, mud
St, Mars own life depended on no
body finding out who his prisoner was
His first prison was the castle of ri
gnerol When st. Mars was trans
ferred to the isles of st. Marguerite the
King himself told the jailer to take his
prisoner with him and cautioned him
not to let him speak to any one. even
his guards.
On the night of April 20, 1914. clos
ed litter escorted by Il troop of horses
stopped at Bron, some leagues from
Lyons From the litter descended a
young man Of slim and active figure,
his face hidden by mask and his
hands firmly tied. in which state he
lay down on couch prepared before
hand Next day ten horsomcn arrived
with sealed orders to convey the pris-
oner with the utmost secrecy to the
fortress of Pignerol So 1t was the
Man In the Iron Mask began his
twenty-nIne years of captivity under
the impnssive. silent. rcmorseless st
Mars.
Several years later the man of the
mask was seen again when St Mars
was transferred to st. Marguerite.
This times troopers surrounded n chair
covered with waxed cloth The tray
elers stopped Mt an inn for supper
The more daring of the curious peas
ants peeked through small window
from outside the locked supper room
The prisoner sat with his back to
the window. and they could not tel!
whether he had on his mask. st
Mars sat opposite him with pistol on
each side of his plate.
This prisoner was the subject of
much correspondence between st. Mars
and Louis XIV. of France. Louis con
tinually was asking about him. He
gave full Instructions as ia the care
Of the man. and about the cell he was
to occupy the king wrote:
,"Let there be so many doors closed
one after the other that the sentinels
cannot hear a word. and You Will new
err listen to anything he has to say on
any pretext whatever. Threaten him
with death II he ever opens his mouth
to speak of anything but of what he
may be absolutely in want of"
The blindly obedient st. Mars fol.
lowed his instructions carefully. The
doctor who waited on the prisoner said
he had never seen his face. although
he had examined his tongue. Dishes
and plates were examined each time
the prisoner was served to see If there
was any writin. on them. The guards
always were ready to Kill the moment
he took Off his mask.
In other respects the greatest atten-
ton was shown him. and nothing which
he requested was refused. He always
was dressed In black. st. Mars him
self stood uncovered in his presence
and remained standing until the pris
oncr had requested him to be seated,
The jailer often took his meals with
the prisoner.
Just who was the Man In the Iron
Mask? SUme thought lie was an illc-
Ultimate son of Anne of Austria 9th
ers said he was twin brother of Louis
XIV. whose claims might have de
prived the king of his throne. Another
writer makes him the leader of an as.
ISOLATION which was formed TO aSsnssi'
nate the ruler. The most general be
lief is that he was Count Mattioli. first
minister of the Duke of Mantun. who
had betrayed the interests of Louis
NV. by failing to secure for him, AS
he had pledged himself to do in com
sideration for bride, possession of
the fortress of Casale from his master
Louis XIV. knew the secret. but to all
questions replied that if it was known
who the prisoner was every one would
be surprised to find Him so uninterest'
ing Il person.
The prisoner died after Il short illness
in 1903. He was buried one autumn
day, and his name was inserted in the
prison register as IN. de Marchiel.''
Eighty-six years later the frenzied
citizens of Paris broke into the Basti.le
and rushed to the cell where it was
known he had been kept They stopped
short before clean whitewashed walls
Nothing was in the room. The prison.
er's clothes and the mask had been
burned when he died. Chemicals had
been put In his casket to destroy the
body. Only one man had seen the face
behind the iron mask during the TWEEN,
ty-nfne years. He was St Mars, And