Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-03-27
INTERESTING LETTER.

A letter from Rome dated the 3lst jan
uary, uarraies the following extraordinary
act Of Roman Bandlui -
have to-day to relate most singular
and almost incredible fact, The authenticity
of which is established by the most incon-
testble evidence, including that of official
reports. On the 18th OF this month the
theatrical corps of Fotlini-P opoli was play
ing the " Death of Caesar" Forlini-Popo-
Ii is small town Of about 1000 inhabitants
enclosed 10y high wall, entered by two
gates, and scarcely three miles from the
town of Forli, of which it is kind of sub
urb. BY eight IN the evening, the hour
when the theatres open IN Italy, all move
ment has disappeared from the streets, win
duws are closed, aud the inhabitants have
retired to their homes, the cohee-houses, or
theatres. This absence of activity in the
streets, which every one remarks AT Rome,
Is still more complete in the small towns
II may then be understood how, at Forlin-
Popoi, and particularly on an evening when
the theatre was open, the streets should be
so deserted as to make possible the occur
renee now to be related. The first act of
the piece had terminated and the curtain
had Just fallen, when suddenly it rose aud
disclosed-instead Of the actors who had
Misrepresentation brigands of the band del
! Passatore, who armed with muskets and car
! bnes, levelled them so as to command the
entire range of the pit and boxes At the
same moment another party, consisting of
30 brigauds, made their appearance on the
/ floor of the house, the issues OF which were
/ guarded, and, armed with sabres aud pistols,
menaced the spectators. A moment of stu
pur, during which no one dared 10 move
elapsed, when the chief of the brigands add
yanced to the foot lights, and, exhibiting
the keys of the two gates of the town, said,
" Gentlemen. you see by these that you are
entirely in our power. Any resistance on
your part would lead to disasters which |
should be the first to deplore, but which il
depends on you 10 avert. Listen, then, to
what have to say. | am about to call out
the names Of several among you. As pro-
nuunce name, let him who bears it step
forth from his box and repair to his house,
IN company with one or two of my friends.
who will asss, him to bring hither all his
hoards and that without defrauding US of a
porpetto." This said, the orator displayed
paper, and commenced reading the fatal
roll. Submission was inevitable. A doZ-
Ell carbineers formed the sole police of For.
llin-Popol;. Six of those were in the thea
ire, aud had been gagged by the brgands.
The six others, surprised in their guard
house, had yeniured a vain resistance. The
burgomaster was the first victim. Some
time was, of course, required for this oper-
alton, which did not terminate before quar-
Ter of twelve. II was probably to shorten
the agony of the pit and boxes that two
brigands went from spectator to spectator,
collecting hatiuls of watches. purses, chains,
rings, and even umbrellas. When the har-
vest was gathered, and the booty had been
heaped upon the stage, the brigahds allow
ed the curtain to fall, aud quietly withdrew
carrying all with them. The money thus
obtalued amounted Ia 1000 Roman piastres
or about 1000 francs, aud the bljoux, OBJ
ects of art, &c, at double that sum. Tn,
next day an Austrian detachment SET ont II
pursuit of,he band, which probably had dis
persed by that time in the mountains, Of
passed the Tuscan frontier. Their number
is supposed to have been about three or -four
hundred. 1t is probable that they we're IN
league with some of the inhabitants How
ever this may be. private houses aud public
treasures all have been plundered, with th'
exception OF the Monte de Plele, the iasten
ing of which resisted all The attempts made
TO break"