THE MYSTERY OF GLAMIS CASTLE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3768, 13 August 1883, Page 4

THE MYSTERY OF GLAMIS CASTLE.

Tho Strathmore family is one of the oldest and most historical of Scotland. They have boon carls .since 1423, and inhabit a no less historical castle than that of Glamis, associated with the Macbeths. In 1-105 Lady Strathmore, falsely accused of conspiracy by witchcraft against the life of King James IV. of Scotland, was burnt in tho Glmscmtirkct.s, Edinburgh. Her son, ch'ivcn desperate by persecution, flung himself over a rock and perished immediately. The title remained some years dormant, but wus revived l>y James I. of England and VI. of Scotland. It is said the Lady of Strathmorc cursed her family for having abandoned her in her distress. .'Bo this as it may, here is what recently transpired in this ancient house. Tor four μ-oncrations there has been a mystery at Ciliiinis Castle which no one lias ever been able to fathom. Some said it was a ghost, others a mysterious hidden treasure ; but rumours of a more or less uncanny nature floated round the country, and have done so for about 93 years. Four earls of Strathmoro have seated themselves in ancestral state at Westminster, and yet all the while tho real carl, tho eldest of the family, was alive, hidden in the vast old feudal palace at Glamis. Ho died only last year, aged 92 years, and he was a monster. He stood eight feet in height. His head and the upper part of his body resembled that of a toad, ilis slfin was mnrked in black and white splotches, and his hands were webbed. He could not speak or hear, but his eyes were bright but wild. He never showed signs of reason, and in order to avoid legal difficulties and painful revelations, this horror was hidden in a building erected on purpose. His gaolers were paid handsome annuities to keep wilont. As each earl succeeded to tho estate he was taken to see this terrific creature, and it is said that one of these gentlemen almost lost his lvason on beholding this loathsome and gigantic horror. Last year the poor wretch died, and his .secret has come out, owing to tho difficulties concerning , the disposal of his remains. The most extraordinary part of it all is that the whereabouts of the monster earl was kept so wonderfully quiet, and also that ho lived to such an advanced ago.