Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-05-04
TRIBUTE TO A SLEUTH
Nine Foot High Candle Adorned With
Gold Will Remain Lighted In Nom
Org Of New York Detective Slain In
Palermo, Sicily.

Palermo, Sicily.
A candle soon will be lighted to burn
four years and seven months In mem
DRY Of Joseph Petrosini, the detective
on the New York police force who was
assassinated in Palermo. Sicily. 1t was
constructed with mathematical Ger
tainty by New York firm and was to
have been placed In the procathedral
on Mott street, New York, to keep
alive the light Of remembrance, but
because Of its dimensions and expen-
sive character the determination was
reached that 1T await the wishes of
Mrs. Petrosino, who probably will have
1t sent to her husbands birthplace in
Italy and there enshrined to burn un-
til the last particle is consumed.
There was another reason apart from
those advanced to explain why the
candle was not placed in the procathe-
dral. Anonymous threats were made
to destroy the church on the day Of
the funeral Of Petrosino, and it Is un-
derstood that 1t was thought the burn
ing OF the memorial candle in the
church would be a constant reminder
Of Petrosino's martyrdom to the des-
peradoes who plotted his death. To
avoid this the candle was quietly tax
en- back to the makers, in whose home
Petrosino had been reared and where
he was looked upon as beloved men,
Der of the family.
The fashioners of the candle are ex-
perts in the making of candles used in
the ceremonies of the Roman Catholic
church. About nine months ago Petro-
sino called at their shop while Father
Monteleono of Mount Carmel was
there and tokingly asked what kind Of
candle would be made to burn for
him. The elder member Of the firm re-
piled that the day was far of when
that service would be required, but
when Petrosino insisted replied tok-
ingly:
When the time does come. Joe, a
candle to burn in your memory will be
made that never has been equaled in
Rome or in France or in the United
States. 1t will be the most perfect ever
designed"
Immediately after the news Of the
assassination was received the promise
was recalled, and the candle firm set
It's most skillful men at work. They
kept at the task night and day, for the
candle had to be made by hand and its
ingredients SO blended and it's long
wick so prepared that it would burn
longer than any candle ever manufac-
tured.
The principal material used was pure
Austrian beeswax kneaded and tenn
pered and mixed with secret ingre-
dent to retard combustion. The wick,
of special Egyptian cotton, was treat
ed with composition to keep it from
feeding too fast with the waxy fuel.
The candle was ready on the night of
the day the slain detectives body mr.
rived in New York.
The candle Is nine feet high and has
circumference Of three feet six inch
es. 1t weighs 178 pounds. From with
in one foot Of the tip.to one foot Of the
base 1t is embossed with fourteen,
carat gold, laid on in octuple leaf. The
centerpiece, all pure gold, shows lilies
Of the valley and reproduction In
miniature of the holy college. The
laying on Of the gold and the fabrica-
ton Of the design were the work of
two men, who kept at their task, when
time began to press, thirty-six hours,
with only brief intermission for eat
ing and sleeping. The cost of the can
die was $3.50.
Precise calculation as to the time the
candle will burn was not figured out
to the hour, but the makers believe
they are within ten hours when they
say that it will burn steadily four
years and seven months.