Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-09-29
THE SECRET OF CLAIMS CASTLE

THE grim walls Of CLAIMS easrIe. in
Scotland. have concealed mystery
Tor number of centuries concealed
IL so well that no hint Of what II IS
OF whence its origin, has ever been
oeAnifely brought to light But that
the existence of the secret is well
known throughout the kingdom is ap-
parent from Sir Walter Scotts refer
ehce to secret chamber in the castle
! which by the law or custom of the
family. must be known only 10 three
persOns-the earl the heir and the
tlIrd In the line Of succession :" THE
popular version" adds the famous
novelist, lis that there is some horrible
remembrance connected with the Sc
cret which has existed for the past
two or three hundred years"
One writer claims that the mystery
concealed in the secret chamber was
human being-half frog and half
mainland recounts the story of the
Countess of Glenshire, who finally sue
ceeded in penetrating to the hidden
room, only to die of horror at what
she found there. This story. while
apparently well authenticated by writ
ers of the period, has little foundation
In fact-apart from the detail OF the
sudden and unexplained death of the
countess, who may have come to her
end in any one of a number of ways
and, in order to cover up the manner
of her assassination or accidental
death. ii is more than possible that the
story of the chamber of horroIs- was
spread broadcast through the sur
rounding country
Another version of the secret of The
castle appears in an old history of
Scotland. where it is stated that
there is one chamber in the castle in
which, some centuries ago, two gam
hlers were walled in and condemned to
continue their ghostly play, and where
the rafting Of the dice IS still to be
heard. The earl Of Strathmore and his
eldest son, Lord Glamis, must each
hear this once. and it is related that
the present lord las not forgotten the /
effect it had upon him" But. unless /
age-managed in a manner worthy of /
BelascO-with blush lights, skeleton /
hands. and a dice box suspended in
midair-it is hard 10 see how the mere /
sight of a room where a not unusual (
torture was practiced centuries ago,
could have such a profound effect upon
those who visited it, nor how it would
lead to such extreme measures for the
preservation of secrecy.
Still another story, and one which
appears to possess elements of horror
and at least an approach of PLAUSIBLE
lty not to be found in the other
legends, is that which appeared in
print in England only few years ago:
In the Castle of Glamis," stated
the writer, an eminent authority on
such subjects, 'is a secret chamber
which holds (or is reputed to hold) a
monster who is heir 10 the title and
property, but who is so hideous that
I is necessary to keep him out of sight
and possession. The secret is known
o only three persons, because. as the
reformed man is the rightful earl of
Strathmore. he must he concealed in
rider to safeguard the title of the
present earl, but the same misshapen
ispect which renders his Imprisonment
essential has also prolonged his life
ar beyond the appointed span. II
'That there is a secret room in the
astle is fact well known. not only in {
he neighborhood. but 10 all who have
made an examination of the structure.
'laced below the level of the ground,
t is apparently reached through a
taircase. concealed behind the paneled I
rails of one of the many large rooms E
Il the first floor Those who retail 3
he story of the monster supposed still
, inhabit this chamber declare thar h
is half reptile and half human. thus &
counting for the fact that it has sur Il
lved far more than the usual span Of 2
mans life-while others declare that c
re creature died years ago. but that u
$ mummified body remains as a warn S
IL to the new heirs that their tenancy o'
{ Office is founded on deception, for n
le tales about the chamber agree in II
1ly one particular. that its occupant q
the true earl of Strathmore."
The truth or falsity of these suppo-
lions has never been settled, but the
CT remains that Glamis castle hides
secret of some kind. which will never 10
, disclosed until the old pile is torn al
one from stone. OF