Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1853-06-21
The Robbers Of Smyrna.

Ma BRYANT, in letter 10 the Evening
Post, dated at ConsIantnople, thus speaks of
The baudilti in and about Smyrna:
While at Smyrna, the other day, | heard
many accounts of robberies committed by
handful who have their haunts in the neigh
boring mountains. The city is fairly in
vested by them; and no man whose life is
worth The ransom of thousand piasters,
ventures to trust himself ut any considera-
bic distance from The city, or TO inhabit any
Of the neighboring villages except that oil
Boornabat, on the plains Of Smyrna. Yet
in these villages many merchants possess
country houses and gardens, graceful and
pleasant retreats, where they once lived win
their families a part OF the year, when The
heat made Smyrna, closely built city with
very narrow and very dirty streets, and not
a single open square or public promenade,
disugreeabe and unwholesome. AT present
they never visit them. Smyrna is now a
sort Of prison watched by guard OF rob-
bess. About two years ago they seized Mr..
Van Lennup, a respectable merchant OF
Smyrna, who was walking out with two ol
his children. They demanded hundred
thousand piasters for his ransom; which
was negotiated down TO fifty thousand
about $20,000-on the payment Of which
he was allowed 10 return home. One oil
the most remarkable Of their recent captures
was that of Frenchman, the proprietor ol
silk factory, who short time since was
by some means decoyed 10 village not lal
from the city, seized, and released on the
payment Of thirty thousand riasterS-abou
$4,000. a" lie deserved his late," said 6
Smyrnaile, who acted as our guide through
the city. I" He had seduced several young
women employed in his factory, and the
people Of Smyrna oil say that the robbers
served him right"
A lady, q native of the east, who hac
lived many years in Smyrna, related TO mt
an instance which shows how little regarc
this community has Tor human life. 80
young man Of Smyrna, a Christian, haC
fallen in love with Turkish girl, and, elo
ping with her, sought refuge with the ban
diui, among the mountains. They CAV
him shelter, and urged him 10 become on,
Of them, but he declined, hoping yet to es
cape TO Greece or some Of lis islands, whor
10 have run away with Moslem would nc
be punishable as crime. One day IN
, chief Of the troop renewed his instances
which were again firmly rejected. Th
chief drew one Of his pistols. aimed it 1
the young woman, shot her dead on tn
. spot, and turning again to her lover, said
/ him, Now you are ours Since ihat tim
, the young man has been robber. II
knew that if he returned 10 society, II
| blood of the Turkish girl would be require
at his hands"
: The present chief OF the bandiui is oil
who, amid the atrocities he is commi;in
t, has shown himself capable Of generous a
e lions. On one occasion, hearing that
member Of family in which he had bet
/. a servant was in some pecuniary embarras
o ment, he made his appearance and offer
/. him the means Of exiricaiing his affair
which, however, were not accepted. |
resolu,ely withheld his companions fro
committing any robbery or act Of wrong {
/. Franks or Christians. "The Turks"
n said, "are our tyrunls ard oppressorS, a
in plundering the Turks we perform an
ID of justice; but lei us spare the ChrisIia
who have never done us harm"
NJ Some time since this man was taken a
carried TO Constanlnople, where he was 10
n. detained a prisoner During his absen
l. The troop broke through the rules he h
laid down, and robbed Franks, Chrisia
S and Turks indiscriminaIely. He is n
#, at large" said the person who gave me