Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1874-11-19
BOI.D BRIl;.ANisS.
The Recent Capture Ofa t':.7:.i Chamber.
lain by tErns.


Writing from Rome October !yh. .hc cor
respondent of the London U"tjy -\,rs says:
The news was spread last niy Int that Mon
siwnor ThcSdali, one CT the fope> chamber
lains, had been captured Ey trigaGd> near
FrOsinone and that ID. OC0 francs had been
demanded for his ransom. This piece OF IN
tcligence produced Il great impression here,
inasmu:h as it is tour years since \ slniiar
occurrence took place in The province CT
Rome anu also because Mon>i gnor I.leodall.
belonging to one of the aris,Ocrailc families
of this city, is very we'll known and much
esteemed by per- ons OF ali clas.c".
''MOnsignOr Iheollali, & short. stout man,
who has always taken great care OF himself.
and who, as soon as fever makes its appear
ancc IN Rome, takes bis departure, was stay
inc ~ Tr;vulti, i: vast and picturesque abbey,
near arosinOne. Built on the summit OF Il
hill, ,nrrounded by fine woods. it was pre-
sentcd by Pope Innocent Ill. to Tic Order OF
the Car!hilsians. who have never abandoned
it. Don DomcnicO Santucci, who wrote
history of the province, published the most
curious and interesting information ON the
character Of the place and its popu!atlon
Few spots preserve more medieval charac-
ter. and, walking among these woods, one
might very we'll fancy 4 troop OF the C0onna
marching to attack one of the old towers
Monsignor Theodali cnjoycd the abbey, amaZ-
ingly, and was accustomed every day after
dinner to walk through the woods to spot
where a small chapel to the Virgin had been
built. The other day h" v"n:nred to pass the
chapel, and had not walked over five minutes
in the wood when five ru1iians. armed with
guns, stopped him, saying, in the Neapoliian
dialect, ''We've been waiting for You TOR tne
last ten days: now, then, follow Us. II may
| easily be imagined in what state poor Mon
signor Tbeodaii found himself. There was.
however, no help for it. He knew that any
resistance would be useless, and he followed
the briSantls to the top OF hill. Il" ser
wants and monks at the abbey who 1T the
usual hour saw no MonsigEor return became
rather frightened. and walked through the
wood to see what had happened to the Old
prelate Their fright soon changed into ter
ror when, meeting a young lad, they received
| from him scroll of paper on which Mon
sienor Theodali in his own hand had written.
Il am captured by the brigands, who demand
80, 600 francs for my ransom. Eet the money
at cncc, and be prudent The servant and
the perks hae to e Soey :m o i6e
top CT hill. where they found Monsignor
TheOdali seated under tree with his coat
|
old man. His position IS prisoner was not
quite SO pleasant as that of the other ''pris-
oncr' at the Vatican. | Am sure he would
willingly have changed places. The brigands
refused the money, saying tina. Monsignor
was not worth a farthing less than 80, 600
francs, and refused to liberate the prcate
Monsignor Theodali, followed by his servant.
and, Of course, the brigands was dragged
about for two days and two nights from hill
to hill, from forest to forest. until at last the
entire sum demanded made is appearance
Then he was sent free.
The family and servants Of Monsi.nor
Theodali, in order not to compromise the
life of the prisoner, made no mention of the
| fact to the authorities until the captured pre-.
late had been set at liberty Now troops and
policemen arc searching every hole and cor
ner, and there is no doubt the rutlians will
fall into the hands of the law Aggressions
Of this nature were once common, not only in
the province Of Rome, but in Rome itself,
under the papal regime. They are net, how
ever, common now. Hence the deep impress
sion the news has created"