The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-08-01 00:00:00

BRIGANDAGE IN SPAIN.

The Times has published the fellowint, letter :7

Sir,—For the last fourteen years my brother; have
been working, on their own account, several mines in
the Linares district and other ports f Spain. Three
months ago they sent me to open out a new sett in the
Sierra Morena. 20 miles from Linares. On the 3r4
inst. I started on horseback from these mines to pro-
ceed to Carolina, accompanied by my foreman. After
a ride of two miles along a narrow path, surrounded by
thick bushes and bnishwood, two men, armed with
Remington carbines, suddenly stepped.out into the
path four yards in front of me and ordered me to die-
mount. My attendant, who carried a gun, found him-
self attacked in the same way by three others. Seeingre-
aistance was useless, we dismounted. They searched us for
arms, and took away our watches, which they eventually
returned. They then led the way to a ravine, where
the brushwood effectually concealed us. I was politely
told it was only a question of ransom. I answered
that I supposed so, but desired to know who was the
chief of the band, as I did not wish to treat with all of
them. On this, one of them told rue he and another
were the leaders. He then gave me a letter to read, in
which they had fixed my ransom at £40,000. In this
letter my brothers were repeatedly informed that
should be murdered if their request WM not attended
to. They also gave directions about sending the money.
It was to be carried by a man dressed in black, with a
white hat, and a red handkerchief in Ids hand. The
man was to be mounted on a white mule. He was to
go without arms and alone, unless he required a guide.
The route was exactly laid down, with injunctions
only to travel from sunrise to sunset. In case he should
be robbed by other thieves, my brothers were to re-
place the money or I should be shot. I observed it was
useless asking for such a sum,—thatwe could not raise
it. They, however, requested me to sign the letter,
which I did. They ordered my foreman to take the
letter to my relatives at Linares, intrusting him with
our two horses, which were only in their way. We
then continued travelling all that day and night, I on
a donkey and they on foot; only resting for a short
time on two occasions. On the road they fired three
shots at a sportsman about 300 yards off, who did not
answer when called, fortunately without hitting him. We
arrived at seven o'clock in the morning at the place where
they kept me all the time I was their prisoner. They
formed a kind of hut by clearing a space of brushwood,
joining the top branches and covering them with more
brushwood. The heat during the nine days! remained
there was anything but agreeable. My 'bed consisted
of brushwood and a manta. a kind of rug. They
brought food, wine' and tobacco regularly. I was
only threatened the first day, probably with the inten-
tion of making me write letters urging my brothers to
send my ransom as soon as possible. This I refused
to do, and seeing that their threats were useless they
abandoned this system and told me they did not
intend to hurt me—that they were sorry to be obliged
to place me under such restraint. During my cap-
tivity I was guarded by four of the robbers. One
of the men who took me, and two others who
showed themselves the next day, went forwards
to secure the money. My guards were very cau-
tious. they never put down a rifle without first
withdrawing the cartridge. Most of the brigands
appeared to be men who had not worked for some
time back. Several of them expressed themselves well,
although their chief subject of conversation referred
to their former exploits (hazailas) and to the circum-
stances which had led them to adopt this mode of life.
They disapproved of capital punishment. One of them
said he was giving a good education to his son, and
that if he thought he would take to his father's profes-
sion he would shoot him. On the 13th those who had
been waiting for the ransom returned, bringing with
them one of the mules my brothers had sent. I then
heard that I was free, but was only allowed to start on
my way back in the evening. The chief then gave me
Eti ,saying I might require it on the road—that it would
not be right for a caballero to go about without a
penny. With Spanish politeness he excused himself
for having detained me, and hoped! should find slimy
friends well at home. Not to be behindhand, I ex-
pressed the hope that the money would benefit
them, "que les aproreche a usledes cl diners." To one
of them, a Malagueno, I said, "Hails stra ri.sta.” He
answered, "Yes, but under less damnable circum-
stances." The chief then informed me that henceforth
I might travel about those mountains with safety, as
they would be the first to take care no other band
should molest me. I then mounted the mule and, ac-
companied by one of the brigands, rode across the
country for several hours. At midnight, on reaching
a path which he said would lead to a house, he left
me. About half an hour later I came upon some
woodcutters, with whom I spent the rest of the night.
Next morning one of them guided me to our none, and
thence I proceeded to Linares, where I arrived on the
evening of the 13th. I then first learnt the amount of
the ransom sent --namely, £6,000.
My relatives in Linares were nine days without
hearing directly from me, with alternate hopes and
fears, according to the different reports that went
about the place, but without being certain whether I
was alive or not. I must now add that the Spanish
authorities of Madrid, and particularly the Sub-
Governor . Linares, spared no trouble to get my
release without exposing me to the vengeance of those
lawless men. The Sub-Governor did everything that
could be done. The Government are now pursuing
them vigorously, and 1 believe, will not allow us to
suffer in -a
to.criniary way in this matter. Oar Consul-
General at Malaga and Vice-Consul at Linares have
also from the first displayed much activity, helping
to raise the necessary funds among our friends of
Linares. ARTHCR HASELDEN.
July, 1874.