The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-03
HOW THE pOpF'S SIdNET RING
WAS RECENTLY LOST AND FOUND

duently ordered Lucido to be brought koS
fore him a second time, and after o14N
monishing him on account Of his th0unhf9S
lessness, gave him In Pio's charge. z
You will now proceed to the hoaI5
fathers anteroom." said his eminene1fS
.'and wait there until his holiness rinr5
for breakfast. Then Master Pho viii ma
nounce you. and II the pope deigns 70 ~
ceive you. you will throw yourself at hlfsl
feet and return the ring to his holiness
stating how you found it, and that yoCf
didn't know its Significance" NJ
This plan was followed to the lettert
When the pope learned that one OF hl1*
lackies begged permission to throw him
self at his feet. he at once admitted hitntE
thinking that the man desired his bens&
dict,on on engaging upon important buBi5
ness. but instead Lucido held up the Fish
erman's ring. saying: 'Your holiness
humble servant returns to the pontiff tn
Jewel. the loss OF which would not only b.
felt by your holiness. but by the who'll
world" #
The pope took the ring from the gcidssf
salver in the hands of Pho, where Lucidu;
had deposited It. "
Rise. my son." he said to Lucido. tin
church thanks thee through my moutn63
Thou shalt he rewarded, MS thy case de-
serves, upon investigation"
After breakfast the Pope interrogato
Pho again upon the finding of the ring. Tk&
faithful valet told his story. and the pc1o
said. II am glad did not hold out anSX
great reward to Lucido for it's you. nh
son, to whom the credit is due. At M
same time, Lucido should get something to
recomponse him for the fear he has under&
gone. Tell the treasurer to give him nf5S
teen lires."
That settled. the holy father ordefc6
that, as usual. the secretaries should c0cn4
In with tho dispatches hut the doorkeep
announced that the notwithstanding o}*
state himself was In the ante-chamheR&
The pontiff gladly welcomed cardinal RamE
poiia, expressing satisfaction at the manna
in which his eminence had suppressed tn
sensational features of Lucldos blun91<fE
Then his holiness raised the ring on hM3
finger, showing that the hoop was n11l~#
too wide for him now, whereupon the o4g{
dinal begged permission to measure th&'
third joint OF the pontlff's right forean1
and take the ring to one Of tho goldsmitM
OF the Vatican to have the hoop th'cko1
The work was done In the ptesenuo el
Cardinal Rampolla, who immediately A4&
turned the ring to the pope, and the ins
dent was closed. SSl{
Under Pope Sixtus v. the TishsrmAn'
ring was stolen for the first time ~
honest body servant committing the dN11
which. IN those days. was Regarded t&'
the worst OF crimes. The thief was SUD I'M
have been hired by Henry Nv. when u1X|
pope contemplated the kings excomn1urt
cation. Henry thought that by deprivM
the pontiff OF his official signet his he
ness would be unable to Issue the bull IN Y
the scheme miscarried. for Sixtus no soo3
err had discovered the loss than he plsee
his court under martial law and began
investigation, whereby the culprit 49,
quickly exposed and executed Tor
treason.
The second pope who temporarily
deprived Of his great seal Of state w1&
Plus vi. After the commissioner %
French republic, Haller by name. dcclan
the state of the church republic on ES4&|
ruary Is, 1888, he went to the pope demen9
ing that he Immediately abdicate. ~
Plus. though Ill and infrm from old ~
refused to abandon his duties. and
nothing could change the attitude Of
pontiff. Haller ordered that the vatcan
sacked. He himself robbed the venerap
man of the jewels he wore, taking amor
other things the Ffshermans ring.
failing to perceive the latter's signifcanr1
he sent it back the next day with m
lent note, telling the holy father that y
might keep his ring.
Napoleon l. robbed Pope Plus VII a
his personal property. His lieutenant
that occasion was Gen. Radet on "a
night of July 6. 1909. this captain inxade
the Quirinal to place the pope and hlg
wants under arrest, and took away a
belongings. including the Fishefm4
ring, which he wrung from the pontiKp
ger. While Plus was deported to Gran
the ring went to the crown treasury "a
IS and remained In the French treasury II
I'll after Napoleon's fall. One OF the 4
acts of Louis XVIII. was to return the ~
Ell to its owner. q
There seems to he some conflict "a III
therity as to the material OF when
Fisherman's ring is composed. One VT!
describes II as being "a hoop OF cure II
upon the collet of which Is mounted an
graved precious stone. exhibiting the 2&
vice of st. Peter. with the Lord In
throwing out the net. Hence the mans
In the time of Henry of Navarro =
described as being a ring of bronxe
American Encyclopedias describes y
ring of eteel. At the death of pcp4
Fishermans ring Is taken from his fms
the Cardinal CamerIengo who wears
til a new pope is elected, when IT y g
en- up, new ring after the same p44
txxfx, <1s- u.