The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-10
FEAST OF ST.FORPUNAHA
Sieilian Italians Celebrating in
New York City.
4 Three Days Affair. BEGINNING
Wlth II Gun salute Tenements
GorgcousIy Bcdecled with Flags
and Bunting-Bands Striving for n
Prizc-ChiIdren ALFRED az Angels.

NEW YORK. Sept. 9.-The sicilian Gtal-
ians of the Elizabeth Street district are
engaged in a grand celebration in honor of
St. Fortunate, patroness of the town of
Baucina, in the Province of Palermo,
Sicily. The festival began early yester-
day with the firing Of guns, and will end
tomorrow evening with blaze of fire.
works.
Today religious professions passed up
and down Elizabeth Street, between
Spring and Blocker Streets, and the
Church of Our Lady of Loretto, 1903
Elizabeth Street, turned away hundreds
who desired to hear Father Nicholas
Russo tell OF the wonderous works of St
Fortunate. More natives of the town of
Baucina live in three blocks of Elizabeth
Street than remain in the town itself.
When the people were forced to leave
Italy they were unable to bring the bones
of the saint, who they believe has wa tched
over and cared for them for hundreds of
years. Their traditions say that the bones
of Fortunate were brought to Baucina
from Palestine in the year 500 A. D., and
that they have rested in the Church of
the Colleigio di Maria ever since. The
colony has never before felt prosperous
enough to hold a celebration in her honor
in this city.
The Italians were busy all day yesterday
decorating their tenements. Not a single
fire escape in the whole four blocks is with
out it's bunting and flags and fancy lam
terms. The flags are mostly Italian, but
. Cfrf,, aud
all Of the bunting is in red. white, and
blue. The streets are filled with strings
of lights. mostly Italian oil cups with
globes OF different colors. Along the pave
ments in front OF stores many booths have
been erected. in which decorated cakes.
knickknacks, and religious relics are for
sale. Three or four big band stands were
also erected yesterday and will stand
through the celebration.
long and lively band concert was given
by three Italian bands yesterday afternoon.
The bands played the loudest aHd best
they could, for prize of 500 goes to the
most popular band at the end of the cele-
bration. In the evening there was a long
religious parade. A host of young girls in
white dresses marched at the head of the
procession carrying the lighted candles of
their first communion. Their soft Italian
voices were raised in sacred song Back
OF them was a small army OF boys, clean
for once in their lives. Back of the chill
dren thronged the older people
Solemn mass was said this morning at
the Loretto Church. and many children re-
ceived communion. All day the church
will be open for prayer The priests told
the old story of St. Fortunate and the life
OF goodness which gives her power
A feature of the festival which is to
take place tomorrow will cause many OF
those who see it to shudder High above
the street ropes and wires have been
tightly stretched, and on these little girls
dressed as angels are to be hauled about
in midair They will be dressed in white
and have wings fastened to their arms.
The mothers of the little girls selected
for the angel parts have been convinced
that there is no danger. and the girls
themselves are eager for the experience
There will be more bands, more fireworks,
more people, more wine, and good things
to eat. The religious part of the festival
will have passed, and there will be moth
ing to dampen the enjoyment. The re-
ligious festival will be turned into car
niyal of pleasure.
But Fortunate will not be forgotten
The people forgot her once. according to
their traditions-forgot her for some trav-
cling heresy. When they finally came
back to her worship and desired 10 move
the arklike tomb in which her bones lie.
through the streets. half the people of
the town were not able to lift il. Nor
did they succeed until they had tasted and
prayed for weeks. The fathers of some
of the older men in the local colony say
they remember this.
AS the Sicilian colony in this city has
prospered selling fruit and other things
to their fellow Italians and TO Americans
they are going to send 1000 back to Bau-
Gina to build chapel for the use of mem
bers OF the colony when they return to
pray at st. Fortunatas shrine Many Of
them go back every year TO have their
health restored or to pray that sickness
may not come upon them and their
friends