Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-02-09
TR AG E:
I 4 q u N Z;
Or, the Story of o Pyrenean Bandit

oui pSdSCtul SAYS q let
ter from Lavelanet, in the department Of
Ariege, south of France, have been for
some months agitated by occurrences OF
an unusual kind. The sole and constant
subject of conversation is bandit, named
Tragine, whose cOnsummate daring and
extraordinary career have made his name
famous among the Pyrenees. This let
ter was dated in the year 1910, and the
adventures of the person indicated in it
have been of SO remarkable kind, that
we conceive them likely to interest our
readers, as well as to make us all bene.
iicially sensible Of the grent blessings
which we possess in 4 country of order
and good government. Enjoyed daily,
such advantages are too apt to be forgot
to the nursing sometimes of uncalled for
discomfort.
Pierre Sarda, fami,iarly known by the
name of Tragine, was man of about
thirty-tive years of age, and, though of the
common height, prodigiously strong and
muscular in body. He was born on the
Pyrenees of Artiege, and familiar with
all their recesses. He was condemned
in 1887, for an attempt at assassination,
to five years imprisonment, and was ac-
cordingly shut up in the round tower of
the old castle of the Counts of Folk, but
made his escape from it soon afterwards,
in company with another prisoner named
Sastre. From this period, Tragine be-
came an outlawed plunderer and such
was his character for strength and daring,
that he moved about almost openly in
that simple district, and no one ventured
to meddle with him. For some time he
had an associate in Sastre, but at length
quarrelled with, and shot him dead.
After CON mitting this crime, he coolly
passed into the village of Leychert, and
told what had happened. The conse-
qucnce was, that he was condemned to
confinement and hard labor for life, but
was never caught, to be subjected to the
punishment. He knew the mountains so
well and was so active and dan. erous,
that no one could seize him. He had the
audacity to build hut in lonely spot,
and to bring to it his wife and two
children. Here he remained, sometimes
visiting the villages around, and always
armed with double -ba1reled gun, two
pistols, and poignard. He would go
in this guise into inns, or would visit
acquaintances, asking favors which no
one dared to refuse. He even presented
himself more than once at church on Sum-
days, and attended with seeming devout-
ness to 1.-THE services. On meeting any
man, he would hold out his hand, and wo
to him who refused to grasp it. In short.
by dint of unparalleled etfrontery and
daring, Tragine made himself the annoy
ance and terror of the whole neighbor-
hood.
Such was the state of things until
new act of the bandit aroused the district
to increased exertions against him. NJ
Pierre Pic, mayor of Leyc!ert, was out
in the fields near his own house, accom-
panied by friend, an old man like him.
self. Tragine saw them, and burst upon
them, crying: Face to the earth, and
death to you if you novel; The old
men recognised Tragine, and obeyed in
terror. The ruffian advanced toward Pic.
exclaiming "Ah Mister Mayor, so YOU
were at Folk the other day to bring the
prosecutor fiscal and the police upon me :"
With these words he struck the poor old
mayor several strokes with his gun; so
severe that NJ. Pic, unable to endure
them grasped the weapon to prevent its
futher use in the same way. But the
struggles was too unequal to last and
Pic fell, deeply wounded by new blow.
His passions being now awakened, the
bandit did not rest here, but drew his
poignard, and gave the mayor several other
wounds, which dyed the grass with blood.
Suddenly, however, the assassin stopped,
and exclaiming: 81 have wounded YOU
enough, but you would struggle with, and
if you do not say you hurt yourself in the
struggle, wo be to you! Give me your
hand. Give me your hand" The mayor
could not hold out his hand, but the
ruffian seized, and shook it heartily: and
afterwards embraced his passive victim.
with great seeming ferypc. He then took
him upon his shoulders, in order himself
to bear the poor old man home. But the
blood poured so copiously from his wounds,
that Tragine was forced to set him down
by the way, and then went off to an
nounce the event In prison. At the first
house he came to he stopped, and called
ON the occupant to 60 Instantly to the
wounded mayor. The man recognising
IRA OF No q ynyca crin.dI that L a. .ro.ll -