Thursday, December 02, 2004

Witches Brew

Boston

I took the train 20 miles up the coast today to the town of Salem, famous for being the "second oldest city in America" and as the setting for the witch trials of 1692. There was an interesting presentation on this at the local history museum. It seems 20 people ended up being executed after a bunch of young girls started speaking in tongues and named them. The whole episode lacked the style of European witch hunting in that nobody got burnt at the stake or thrown in the sea to see if they'd float. Nobody even got covered in tar and feathers, although one poor sod was crushed to death with big stones. Recently the authorities in Massachusetts officially pardoned the last of the dead people, which I'm sure came as a great comfort to them seeing as they've been dead for 300 years. At least they can take comfort in the knowledge they gave their lives for tourism.

1 Comments:

At 2 December 2004 at 23:15, Anonymous Anonymous said...

.

.....'a bunch of young girls started speaking in tongues and named them'......

Something to do with Newcastle Football Club, bonny lad ??

Buda in Kaz

.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home