The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-23
THE APOSTLES PRISON.
BY WILLIAM L. CURTIS.
Especial Correspondence of the Chicago
Record Herald)

Especial Correspondence of the Chicago
Record Herald)
Rome, Jan. 24.--No spot in Rome is
more interesting to the Christian world
than the Mamertine prison, which is ex-
cavated from the solid rock under the
Capitol Hill of Rome, for there the
Apostles Peter and Paul were confined
for nine months. bound by chains to a
pillar which is stfll shown. There is no
doubt as to the historical accuracy of
this statement, although most of the
traditions and legends connected with
the place are probably fabulous. For
example, visitors are shown a deep I'M
preston in the rocky walls of the dungeon
which bears some resemblance 10 the
profile OF human face, and the monk In
charge tells them that 1t was made by
Peters head as he leaned against the
stone. Another version accounts for it
in an even more remarkable manner.
One OF the guards is said to have
damned Peter against the wall Of the
dungeon with such violence that his
head made this deep impressions
In the center of the floor. which is OF
markable phenomenon which, according
to the legends of the church, opened
miraculously in answer to the prayers
of st. Peter in order that he might
have water to baptiZe the guards whom
he had converted. Livy and Plutarch,
however, mention this spring long before
the apostles were confined here. JuvenGl
also describes it, and it is mentioned by
Sallust, who depicts the horrors of the
prison i'll his account of the execution
of the Catiline conspirators 4 stair
case leading to the dungeon is compare
| lively modern. At the time of Peter
and Paul prisoners We're lowered
through q hole in the upper floor It
was from this prison that Cicero came
forth and announced to the people in
the Forum the execution of the Catiline
ccnspirators by the single word "Vixer-
unit (they have ceased to llve.)
What Is more interesting to us, how
ever. is the fact that from here Peter
wrote his second epistle to Timothy,
Peter said: Shortly / must put off this
tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus
Christ has showed me. Nevertheless,
we according to His promise, look for
new heavens and a new earth wherein
dwelleth righteousness" And Paul
said: For am now ready to be Of
fered, and the time Of my departure is
at hand. 1 have fought a good fight; I
have finished my course; 1 have kept
the faith
! The prisons are entered through a
small church known as "St. Pietro In
Carcere," hung round with votive offer
ings and blazings with candles and lamps
1t is the favorite church of the criminal
classes, and upon the walls are curious
contributions to the honor OF the saints
rusty daggers, knives, pistols ard
other instruments of murder and vio-
lence, which are supposed to have been
brought here fresh from use and hung
up beside the altar to propitlate st.
Peter. 1t is customary for the assassins,
thieves, pickpoclIets and burglars OF
Rome to make offerings here as soon as
possible after they have committed
crimes, with the hope, no doubt Of secur-
ing pardon. Formerly, when the clergy
had stronger hold upon the people. the
receipts were very large. Now they are
much less and growing smaller every
year. A most valuable and interesting
contribution to criminal annals might be
made if the priests of ''St. Pierto in Car
cere'' had kept a record of the confess
sions that have been made in this little
|, church. There is an impression that the
priests have had frequent and close COM
munion with the police authorities, but
the secrets of the confessional have
, never been violated.