The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-05-01
THE IYSURRECITOY IN SICILY

From the Correspondence Of the Nelo York TriJa,ueI
lhe lhsurrectlon now or lately going on in Sicily
was not uneXpected the calmness of the Sicians
IS always Sullen, and for several months there have
been mutterings which threatened a Storm In the
last days OF March, there occurred at Palermo one
OF those events that show the temper of the peo-
pie; La Trartdto was performed at the theatre,
and the Primd dOHRn appeared with tri-colored
tavOrs. The whole house greeted the cnlors with
enthusiasm, and the stage was covered with came
las red and white, with the green leaves append
ing. On the following evening the same scene was
enacted, and, though the police were stationed
outside, no attempt was made to enter the theatre
or suppress the exhibition of feeling Saturday
the 3lst OF March, the last evening of the
Wlnter season, and as much as 10 piasters were
offered for place. great demonstration was to
be made during the evening, but before the eve
ming came the police sent round to say that the
gasometer was out of order, and the house was
closed. 1t had been determined to commence the
revolution at Palermo on the 4th of April; the
signal was to be muslet shot in certain spot
following which the monks, who favored the insur-
gents, were to ring the bells of the Monastery della
Granecia, on the Piazza della Marina. The police
were informed of this bv traitor and the sirnal
shot was fired by them, thus precpitating the re-
volt. The monastery was sacked four of the
monks were killed, the others seized and impris-
oned As aparty of the Royal soldiers were going
along the street early the morning of this tight
they heard slight noise from house bv which
they had just passed; at once they turned about
and discharged their muskets at the Paazzo Petro-
ella, where Mr.. Gardner, an English merchant,
resides, killing servant girl who was lust uncos
ing shutter. Indeed, it appears that the troops,
after Fastening on the catastrophe as Just narrated
went firing at random along the street seeming
careless, or wantOnly murderOus in their incna-
tions. Through this dav there was much fight
ing in different parts of the city, but it
Is impossible to obtain anything like au-
thentc information; for telegraphic com
munication across the Straits 0! Messina has been
suspended, and the Government take good care that
Sha fnrih Ih.n fol otnbo,
are tissues OF lies, being little more than reiter-
ated assertions that all is quiet, when every one
who knows anything about the matter knows that
the island is thoroughly uneasy, and daily break
deh2sH Paermo Messihhafn AID taSatn% Ct we're ere ea
ing the island, and numbers had been arrested
From Palermo alone 200 had been sent into exile
within fortnight. The Government despatch con-
cerning the outbreak of the 4th was as follows -
1hat a few IllntentiOned persons had dared to at
tack the royal artillery troops in Palermo, and had
Killed four soldiers and three companions of arms
that the troops had taken possession of the monas
tery of the Granecia (in the Piazza Marina almost
IN the center OF the capta), and that some armed
bands which he'd appeared in the neighbOrhood of
the capital had been destroyed, but that tranquil
ity and order had been perfectly re-estabshed.-
The lighting, thus began, continued daily through
the week till Sunday, the Sth, to which date only
we have anything like reliable information. 1t is
said that twenty monks were taken out and shot
Among other brutalities recorded by an eye-wit-
ness, he says he an abbess and nun dragged
along through the street by soldiers, some of whom
urged them on by thrusts of the bayonet. Their
offence was that they had given shelter to com
promised person. At Messina it arranged that
the rising should be made on Sunday, the Sth, and
an attempt was made to carry out the design; but
the insurgents were disheartened by the bad news
from Palermo, and the revolt was failure, as all
the Scilian revOlts seem fated to be unless some
leader with discretion well courage shall head
| the movement. The insurgents had fed to the
country or were driven outside the walls; the roy
al troops held all the strong places of the city, and
many citizens supposed to have been killed.
Among the revolutionary party are numerous
members of the highest families; and, as in the
| outbreak OF lS4S, most of the yOuBg men are on
that side. Troops were leaving Naples for Sicily
in large numbers, at the latest accounts, though
the Governor had sent word that he needed no
more. The Royal lntendente is said to make com
mon cause with the revolutonists. From Palermo
the supply of fresh water and provisions from the
country had been cut off, and great scarcity fol-
| lowed. What effect this had upon the troops who
held the city, but could not control the bands roam
ing in the mountains it remains to be seen.