Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-06-28
The Beginning of the Sicilian Insurrection

DdIty AdOeTIS6T translates Slclllan CORES"
pondent'S account of the rise and progress Of
the revolution. The letter is dated at Palermo +,
and gives interesting details
The matin bell of the monastery della Gan
cia was the signal for the rising of April 4, the
troops being encamped outside the city walls
All at once, a large body of the people, led by
their valorous fellow-citizen Riso-the greater
part without arms, and divided into brigades-
marched through the principal streets, proceed
ed by the tri-colored banner, crying, ViUa Pltal
ia! ViUa VittOriO Emanuela! Viua case di
SaUoia! This went on for more than an hour,
when the police and tropps received the order
for attack. The insurrectionists.' soon surround
ed on every side, poured into the solid old odi-
flee of the Gancia, where they gave valorous
resistance to the fire of the troops, who, to get
better position, penetrated by force into the
neighboring houses, which they remorsolessly
sacked. They finally resorted to cannon, when
the people were obliged to cede. Many were
saved; some hid themselves, and many were
killed. francesca Riso, fountain builder, but
brave man of intelligence and cultivation,
was the last to yield at the Gancia. Though
seriously wounded, seeing that be was about to
be taken, he stabbed himself twice with his
dagger, but still lived Arrested and carried to
the hospital, he made the judges grow pale
with his answers to their questions. What is
your name?' francesca Riso.' your pro-
fession?' A CoNsPRAToR. Have you ac-
complices?' l have none Alone have
thought all my life on preparation for this day,
in which l would prolong my painful agony, to
enjoy the spectacle of your terror. lam, more
over suro that shall be avenged with the
blood of the oppressors of my country
A horrible sack of five days ensued. The
monasteries were robbed, the inmates tortured :
no respect being paid to either sex or ago.
Drunk with the excess Of fury, blood and wine,
the soldiers entered private houses, destroyed
what they could not carry away, and left many
destitute of inhabitants or goods. But no hint
could they force out of the indignant populace
as to where the insurrectionists. who had fled,
were hidden; all the ingenuity of their unfor :
tunate brothers was united to deceive the cum :
ming officers who finally abandoned the pursuit.
In the meantime the civil and military authori-
ties far from putting any obstacle in the way
of these cxcesses, ordered state of seige.-
The inhabitants were forbidden to appear on
their balconies or in the streets. Every face
which for moment approached the window i,
every hard slamming of a shutter, was the sig
nal for the discharge of musketry and all the
peaceable citizens who had their houses near
barracks, or other military posts, were obliged
to abandon them to the fury of the soldiers.
The insurrecton, begun in town, was ex-
tended to the country, and the royal troops in
turn were surrounded by the insurrectionists. s.
The chief promoters Of tue revolt, among whom
were the most respectable citizens of the place,
in order to preserve the city from bombardment
and stop the Internal excesses of despotism, es-
capped to the neighboring country. In severa
of the suburban towns the revolutionists were
victorious, and the tri-colored banner and the
cross of Savoy waved triumphantly. The city
vanquished, but not quieted, the troops were
obliged to extend their action, and marched tC
: the attack of three of the surrounding towns
They fired every house in their passage mur
dering barbarously the inhabitants, whether
! men, women or children. With all their feroc
ity, they could get possession of but two o
, these towns, while the tricolors still aoateC
from the heights behind them, and the military
, cry of Long live the King was drowned il
f the vociferous clamors Of Long live Italy ant
the House of Savoy
The troops succeeded in making prisoners o
some of the noble chiefs of the insurrectiOn
| young men of the highest families in Europe
descendants of Don Fernando COrtez and Dol
t Giovanni d'Arragona. When warned Of thei
peril they refused, though warmly pressed, t
fly this was their magnanimous reply W
fear nothing nor will We leave our country i'm
mcrsed in blood They were taken and brough
to the fortress, In the midst Of an indignant pc
t pie crowding their passage.
The day of the llth was saddened by th
0 news of the arrest Of Father Octayius LAMA
of the princess of Trabbia. He had taken rel
uge on board of an American merchant ship
: Toward evening, the police, ny permission Z
Q the American consul went on board and seize
him. That the government should have com
0 to the point of introducing distinctions betwee
mercantio ships and war-sloops, no one will b