The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-07
THREE MONTHS WITH ITALIAN
BRIGANDS.

in 1865 he set out, accompanied by his wife,
upon an Italian tour, going first TO Sicily, and
making the gird or ''round" OF that island,
which was a few years ago so pleasantly de.
scribed by Ross Browne in his famous 'Yusei."
Mr.. Moens had, moreover the special design to
photograph the eruption OF Etna, which was
then going on. HIS description of this is very
interesting; but we must pass 1t over in order
to give as far as we may, some account of his
subsequent experiences when a captive among
the brleands on the mainland.
Crossing over to Naples early IN May, he set
out for q trip to the ruins Of the famous temple
OF Postum, which stand 10 solitary grandeur,
in mountain wilderness, with no traces of the
people by whom the stupendous edifces were
reared. The party consisted OF Mr.. Moens, Mr..
Aynsley, an English clergyman, and their wives.
From Naples q railway runs, past the consider
able town of salerno, somewhat more than
twenty miles from Postum. IL was indeed
little suspicious that the landlord of the "Hotel
Vittoria" at Salerno thought II necessary to post
up, in various languages, notice to travellers
desirous OF visiting the temples of Postum that
the road is now perfectly sale between Salerno
and Postum, OWING TO the vigilance OF General
Avenati, the military commander of the district,
who has stationed patrols along the road a.
Battipagra, Barizzo and Postum" Alter
three hours drive they reached the temples
little before noon, squad OF soldlefs accom-
paDylng them. Mr. Moons set his camera IN
order and photographed the ruins. Toward even'
ing they set out on their return; not little sur
prise that tn cir mllitaryprOteCtors were nowhere
visible Tie truth was they afterwards
learned, the soldiers had been Withdrawn 20
that negotiations could be carried on with
gang of bandits for the relief OF couple o
Italian gentlemen whom they had gobbled up
only few days before on this very safe road
For these the brgands demanded q ransom OF
17l,000 francs, but finally compromised for
81, 900.
They had almost reached Battipaglia and
supposed that they had passed the dangerous
place when lit le before dusk they perceived
a number OF fellows creeping out OF the corn
fields. Some OF the brIgands aimed their
guns others turned the horses heads across
the road. They started up from all sorts of
hiding.places, aud in a few minutes thirty or
more were gathered around the carriage. The
travellers were politely desired to descend"
Don't be afraid, Madame, don't be atraid,n
they said to Mrs. Moens. The coachman was
ordered to stay where he was Tor a quarter of
IN hour, and then to drive off with tue ladies'
the two gentlemen being hurried off over fields
and through thickets
The bandits were wonderfully polite-the
leader, whom Mr.. Moens came to know quite
we'll as Captain ManZO, always addressed them
as SignOTe "Gentlemen," with a strong accent on
the last syllable. what do you want with us ?"
inquired the captives. De1drO--nOn ten1ete ("The
shners-don't be scared") was the reply. How
far are we to walkr "A good way, good way
enough" When they came to a stream the
brlgands carried their captiyes across on their
shoulders. On they went through swamps, over
in Indian tle, until midnight. BY the way they
stopped at house aad bought a lutte bread,
and while alter came upon patch OF cabbage
and onions, of which they made short work,
pocketing VI hat they could not eat; wisely, as
Mr.. Moens found out before long.
Towards day ybreak they halted on the banks
of a stream and hId among the osiers. The
brigands now began to inquire INTO he value of
their prize. 1t was quite impossible to con-
vince them that the Engllshmen were not great
lords, Notwithstanding the hands OF Mr.. Moens
were stained by hls Photographic chemicals.
'Hs hands are black SAID one, land his
troHserU are like what prisoners wear and are
all worn out, poor teOw!' 'Wait, wen see,"
replied the Captain. At length a bit of the
hard sausage, called supGrsdtO, was offered to
the prisoners, who declared chat lit would not
agree with their StomaChs." 1t seemed TO
strike the captors as good JOKE that any man
should object 10 supelsato. They'll iSe il
better by-and-by," said he, which proved true
enough; Tor Mr.. Moens found before long that
poor 1000 and little OF it was the normal Condl-
tion OF prigapds and their prisoners.
Besides the EnPhshmen, the brigands had
picked Up a couple OF Italian gentlemen; and as
soon as they got to toerably safe spot the Cap
tain began 'busneSsh-thdt is liking the ran
som That OF one Italian was pat down at lZ,OOO
ducats, the other al 5000 "a ducat Is about So
cents) The two EuglIshmen were Jumped
toee,her at 1000 ducaCs. They declared that
such sam was out OF the question; the brlgands
insisted that II was quite moderate for two such
great lords, who were worth at least two millions
apiece. Finally, they came down to $4,000, and
10 abatement. How to get at the cash was now
the problem. The Engllshmen declared that
their wives had not the money, and, being
strangers and ignorant of the language, could
not get 1t IN Naples. 1t was finally arranged
that one of them to be decided by lOt-should
go, and the other should stay. MIR. Moens drew
the short stick aud had to remain, While Mr.
Aynsley was hurried oH by two men, who also
bore letters from the Italian prisoners TO Their
jIIends, asking Tor the money for their ransom.
Hardly were they away when the bngands
saw a company of 100 soldiers marching along
the road beloW-a sharp sklrmlsh took place;
but the gang, all save two, managed to get off
band was again surprised by the soldiers, and
there was more firing. In the excitement the
Italian prisoners managed 10 escape. The
brgands did not look out very sharply for these
small Italian Try: but they TOOK good care OF
their big fish, the great "tngllsh Lord" They
were now far up the mountain side, and all
next day Mr.. MOens could see the soldiers
passing and repassing in the valley below,
looking like mites in the distance At hrst he
meditated irving TO escape, put quickly dis
covered that the attempt would be madness.
"The bIigands," he saws, iran down the noun
tain like goats hile had to be careful to pick my
way at every step. Accustomed 10 the mountain
1ron their earliest youth, q ey were as spIe-looe9
hght, dRVume or night made not the slightest dli-
fernce to them. their hearlng, 100. was most
acute his sense th,Y had cultivated TO such a
pitch that, Ike the rcd Indians the shghtes; rustic
the leaves, the antest SOUND never escaped heir
notice. Men miles distant, working in the he ds or
mOWlnP the grass, they could dstil pulsh with the
greatest ease They knew, generally, who they
were, young end cid ana to what village they be
lonped. When I, IeTnaps, cou,d barely distinguish
living beings, they could describe all their mOuOns
From Mr. Moen's Diary written, we infer
mainly from memory, aided by bret jottings N
little memorandum book, which he managed
to conceaD we excerpt some passages which por