New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-10-12
NEW PUBLICATIONS,
ITALIAN BRIGANDS.

Mr.. Moons Is an Engllsn gentleman WHO wac O"P
tured by bandtti in May, 1865, near the runs OF
Pastum, in what wasformerly the Kingdom OF Naples
and was held by the robbers until the following Au
gust when be was released on the payment OF ran
som of Sl2750 He was generally treated with KIND
mess during his captivity, and though he suffered Sc
verely from hunger and cold those were hardshps OF
which the band bore their full share. An English
clergyman named Aynsley, wbe was taken prisoner
with Mr. Moons was released and sent TO get the
ransom for himself and his companion. The robbers
never rested long in any spot, but were continu
ally on the march among the mountains. They moved
with the greatest caution two or three in advance
making frequent signals and utterng canotes.
When they approached road they halted until they
had satisfied themselves that the way was clear. The
first night after his capture Mr. Moons was obliged TO
travel until nearly daybreak, when the whole party
lay down to sleep by the side OF stream In the
morning all the bread collected and divided into
shares, the prisoners farng like the rest IL was so
hard that il had to be soaked before 1t could be eaten
At III o'clock they moved again, and marched untli
they reached, about o'clock, the summit OF Monte
C0rvino the highest eminence In the nelghborh0oo,
where the chief of the gang, hne-looking fellow
named ManzO proceeded to fix the amount oil their
ransom The sum demanded from Messrs. Moons
and Aynsley was at first $4,000 dncats each, or
$40 500; hut it afterward reduced. MIR. Aynsley
had scarcely departed to get the money when the
brigands oyertaken by soldiers, and sharp
firing was kept up for little while both sides in
the course of which Mr.. Moons was very near being
killed. He closely watched. however to take
advantage of the confusion and make his escape; ana
Gas compelled TO trudge on with his captOrs. Alter
four DAYS of terrible fatigue hardship and hunger the
party reached the headquarters OF the main body OF
the band of which Manzo and his companions were
merely detachment. Here Mr.. Moons found four
women belonging to the gang. They were dressed
lust ike the men, except that they wore corsets.
Their hair was cut short, and two OF them carried
guns the others being armed with revolyers. Ihey
&c 1ba uxrhiD fha nj.
tanned for ransOms and their lot seemed TO be, like
that of too many other women, to mend their lords
clothes and minister to their pleasures and in return
TO get plenty of blows and cruel treatment Two OF
them were quite handsome.
There seemed 10 be a very good understanding be-
tween the bandtt and the peasants. The roboers oo
tanned all they wanted from the country people pay
ing for what they got four or hve times Tue Pce tna'
honest folks would have been charged, and our anthor
declares his conviction that so long as the farmers and
villagers have strong peeuniary interest IN the preva-
fence of brgandage the Government VIII never sue
coed in depressing such outrages as thst rom WhlcH
he suffered The proper course to pursue would be,
In his opinion to assess upon all the inhabitants OF
the district in which capture takes place the sum
exacted as ransom. " If in addition TO this, he
says, "a cOurt,maral were held on the spot on any
one found with more bread on his person than specl
sied amount say sufficient for his midday meal and
H. after speedy trial. any one thus proved TO have
any dealings whatsoever with the bngands were
hanged excepting always any persons who may be
il would cause state of fear among the peasants at
least as great that now excited by the brigands
and the peasants would betray the causes OF this
scourge Of Southern Italy into the hands OF the
sFoOps" This remedy would certainly be savage
enough bnt We may doubt whether after all 1t would
be effectual Even now the Government athxes such
severe penalties to the crime Of holding intercourse
with the robbers that great difficulty and delay was
experienced in conveying to Manzo the sum de-
manded for Mr.. Moens's ransom. Notwithstanding
this the bgnditti bold in their operations that
the proprieors dare not show their faces out Of their
houses for they carried off from the very villages
should they venture to go step from their own DOORS
All their lands are left to be cultivated by their aborers
Of their discretion, without ever being visited by the
ewners and subject to the rapacity OF these peasants
the master gets certain proportion Of his pro-
dloe the peasants bringing home just what pleases
them and no more"
The ransom arrived at last and Mr. Moens joyfully
babe his picturesque entertainers goOd-by. Before he
lsft they collected sum of money to enable him TO
travel TO Naples like gentleman the captain Manzo
caye him several gold rings; and another Of the band
presented him with knife that had been the instru
fpept of many murderous deed. Two guides one Of
whom was Manzo's mother (who seemed very proud
Of the generosity Of her son in the matter OF the
ringsl came TO conduct him back 10 civilization. At
parting Manzo asked our author what be should say
10 the Project about the band:
tod him that should tell him that he and his band
about 90 had been match for army Of 10 600 and
had proved eeyerer Of the two This pleased
him immensely and he quite rubbed his hands with gee and
AZ ASoc; IN o'clock Manzo asked me should ike go
% away all the clothing had been carrying
about with me 50 long tied up IN hsndkeese ana WINCH
TO my inquiries Manzo informed that he vel
Sshed with he amount we had paid HIM Ny macintosh coat
put my pocket and esng tae .oIeea Kisses shoO1 hSGs
way possible GeUeoso added another to my stock Of rings
making the hHh5er hye. n,,
"a" now stepped forward accompanied by Teaeseo and the
mother Of Manzo bIgands wishing me pleasant jour
new waving their 10 while in sight Ihey were soon
lost to the wood and walked on free man having
been captive in their hands l02 days all which time never
entered any description Of house sleeping always in the open
II was one o. those earfy hot days when in southern
everything looks coppercoOred and when the slightest
motion requires great exetion but We had long journey be-
and desirable 10 get to Gon before dark so on
we went In the bong felt this very much for when
was with the band had dtted in the Walk
ing the daytime only attempted when In dense forest
where il was impossible for the Of the sun 10 penetrate
Up hill and down dale walked It seemed so curious TO be
sbe 10 walk In SO open manner and from habit kept looking
round any watching motions Tedesco
gave piece Of chocolate which late brother captive
Veon had kindly sent 70 He had often done so before
but the bgands had always eaten IL and told
thing about H. Shirts too were sent up two or three times
these the way had reached but were
worn by the lucky who fel in with the guides
~ desperate plight as regards dress and though
cared little about appearance when IN the woods did not
good face and make the best Of IT, Ny trowsers all In
tateys from catching in the braes and bushes and hanging
ribbons the feet My coat covered with the fat and
grease the meat that had had carry the pocket and all
lining Of the skirts 70 shreds while constantly
gnaI color and pattern Of the cloth My wideawake was
dirty and toy Ny sht had worn day and night since the
Of June and boots all broken and Of the
unstohed am quite certain that Of friends
would have been able 10 recognize but cheeed myself
with that large bath would be ready for
nv appearance Sgnor Viscontis house where my friends
everything that might require in the shape of dress
almost describe the state of body
covered from the effect of the vern through
bgands having steadily refused TO allow me TO remove
fear Of the troops coming upon US before could
rearrange my dress