The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-07-01
Visits el the Dead.
Notes and Queries. /

In 1871 ] was at Naples, where an Italian
corvette, the Amirae CaracciolO, was
launched at Castellamare. The vessel was
christened by the Countess Teresa Carac-
ciolo, the daughter OF the chief of the
elder branch of the CaracciOlo. was
STAYING at Naples as the guest Of the young
lady's father, and heard from him
very remarkable story connected with
the death of the unfortunate Off
Ger in honor OF whose memory
the vessel was named. The circum-
stances which led to the execution Of
Prince francesca Caraceiolo i'm 1899 are
well known. shall merely state, therefore,
that he was condemned by cOurt-martial,
composed OF Sicilian officers, TO be banged
at the yard arm OF the flagship for bearing
arms against his lawful sovereign. When
the official communication OF the find
ing and sentence OF the court was
brought to the Prince he was explain
ing the names and uses Of the various
parts of the rigging to some young
Neopolitan nobleman who happened to be
on board the ship. A glance at the letter
was sufficient TO show him its contents.
He showed no sign OF emotion, but re-
| quested the officer who brought the dis
patch to wait for few minutes while he
finished has explanations. This being done,
he retired to his cabin; and after vain
attempt TO get the sentence changed
to more honorable manner of death,
he resigned himself to his fate, which
he met with great fortitude. Some days
after the event the King, who had been for
an afternoons cruise ON Sicilian ship.oi-
war outside the bay, was returning TO Ma
Piles In the evening. IL was a moonlight
night, and the sea was perfectly calm.
There was, indeed, so little wind that IL
was difficult TO steer the vessel. The King
was sitting IN the balcony OF the stern
cabin, watching the sea, when suddenly
he became aware that something was
following the ship. AS the object came
nearer 1t was easy to distinguish
that IL was the body OF man In an upright
attitude, as II treading water; and very
soon the King was able to recognize the
features Of Admiral Caracci0lo. His eyes
were open, and seemed to be fixed on the
King, and, except for its CHASTITY pallor,
the face was unchanged. The ex.
PLANTATION was simple. After being sub
merged for some days the body
had become so buoyant that the
weights attached to the feet were not sufli-
GENTLY heavy TO keep 1t under water; but
they retained II In an upright position, and
it was drawn along by the current created
by the movement OF the ship. II Is easy to
imagine the horror Of Ferdinand at what |
he believed TO be an apparition from an |
other world. When at length II was ex-
planned TO him what had happened, he |
gave orders that q boat should be lowered
and that the corpse should be brought on |
board and taken TO Naples for Christian
burial. But the superHitious Sic,liaps
dared not obey the royal command, and
the ship, drawing In Its wake the upright I
body Of the Admiral. sailed slowly into the
bay OF Naples. Here boats crew was
obtained from an English mar-oi-war, who
ook the Admiraps body ashore, where il
vas deposited In his own palace, and at
ength received the last rites Of the Church.