Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-01-16
CATAC0MBs OF PALERMO.

In a late number of the Independent, Geo.
Alien Butler thus describes one of the strange
sights at Palermo, the Sicilian city which has
just come into the possession of the victorious
legions Of Garibaldi
"The strangest of all the strange sights at
Palermo are the catacombs of the Capuchins.
We are all familiar with the character of the
Roman andN eapolitan catacombs underground
excavations, remarkable for their great extent,
and Tor their associations with the history of
the early Church. The Palermo catacombs
nave afrightful popularity of their own. You
descend from the little church, just outside the
walls, not into deep, subterranean passages,
but into succession of vaults, well lighted,
and OF no greater depth than an ordinary cell
lar. These vaults are long and narrow corr-
dors, on either side of which, in inches cut
out of the wall, ranging in ghastly ranks, are
preserved the bodies of the dead, not confined
out of sight, but each in the garb appropriate
to it while living, or else in long robe or
winding sheet. Below these inches are wood
en- coffins, with windows at the sides to show
the faces of the occupants. Overhead, near
the ceiling, are skeletons of children sitting,
or OF men reclining; all perfectly preserved,
some with the skins still covering the bones,
others having nothing left but skull, and
shoulders, and hip bones, with the arms in
front, pIously crossed. Some popularity of
the soil prevents the ordinary decomposition,
y
still survive in this skeleton company. Strange
to say, they are not permitted to rest in peace.
On the Sd of November in every year, the
jour des morris, Or festival of the dead, their
relatives flock to this dismal place, the well
known mummies are taken out of their glazed
coffins and dressed in gala costume. They
number not less than six thousand in all and
l know of nothing more fearful than for a
living man to find himself, as did, unexpec-
tedly among this army Of dry bones.
ssThe most horrible feature of the whole ex-
hibition is, that nearly every face wears in its
fossil decay and ruin dreadtully ludiccouS
and comic gaze, and as they look down upon
you, seem to have sort of grim vitality OF
their own, and through the entire array it seems
as if there was dumb intelligence mute
correspondence and sympathy-in the sinis-
ter and almost wicked way in which they re-
turn the curious stare of the intruders. Yet
you cannot help staring in spite of all this,
and the eye wanders from one group to an
other, with a strange and morbid fascination.
ssSome are large-limbe thick skulled, COM
placent in their successful preservation 9TH
ers, with worn and weary looks, as if tired of
such stiff, calcareous companionship; others,
who seemed TO have twisted and wriggled their
joints loose, must stand perpetualiy still, or
fall to pieces; others, with their ruined heads
hung down, as if in contemplation of their
ended earthly life; and others, Indifferent and
idle, some indignant, like the ghosts that
Dante saw in hell, with scowls and grins sar-
castic-all silent, sepulchral, almost internal.
Gone such sight is sufficient for life time.
AS l write, / recall those spectral forms with
thrill OF horror-the monks and priests in
scarlet and black, the children in full holiday
garb, and the women, most hideous of all, in
capes, and Shawls, and satins."