Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-07-16
TRIBUTE TO A SLEUTH.
Candle to Burn Nearly Five Years
for Joe pctrOSiuO


A candle soon will be lighted to burn
four years and seven months in men,
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-
slve character the determination was
reached that it await the wishes of
Mrs. Petrosino, who probably will have
1t sent to her husbands birthplace IN
Italy and there enshrined TO burn I'M
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 1t is I'M
derstood that it was thought the burn
ing of the memorial candle In the
church would be Il constant reminder
of Petrosino'S martyrGom 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 a beloved mem
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-
siRo called at their shop while Father
Monteleoro of Mount Carmel was
there and iokingly asked what kind of
| Il candle would he made to burn for
him. The elder member of the firm re
! Piled that the day was far off when
| that service would be required. but
when Pe;rosino insisted replied jok-
ingly:
when the time does come. joe n
candle to burn in Your memory will 1e
made that never has been equaled in
| Rome or in France or in the United
| States. 1t viii be the most perfect ever
| designed
Immediately after the news of the
assassination was received the promise
was recalled. and the candle firm Sc
| its most skillful men at work. They
kept at the task night and day. for tb,
| candle bad 10 be made by hand and its
| ingredients so hlertlcd and its long
wick So prepared that it would burn
longer than any candle ever manufac
turCd
The principal material used was pure
| Austrian beeswax kneaded and TEN.
| pered and mixed with secret ingre.
| dent 10 retard combustion. The wick
| of Il special Egyptian cotton. was treat.
| cd with Il 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 ar
rived In New York.
The cardIc Is nine feet high and has
a circumference of three feet six inch
es. 1t weighs lis pounds. From with.
in enc foot of the tip to one foot of the
base it is embossed with fourteen
carat gold. laid on in octuple leaf The
centerpiece. all pure gold. shows lilies
Of the valley and reproduction i'm
| 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-si hours
With only brief intermission f6r eat
ing and sleeping. The cost Of the can
| die was $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.