The weekly Butte record., 1867-09-28
The Brfgands of Greece.

date OF Argos, Greece, July 10, 1867, gives the
following sketch:
Recent experience has given me some insight
into the matter of "brigandage." Indeed my
movements have been somewhat modified by the
actions Of handful Of desperate rufians who IN
fest the neighborhood and represent the once hon
orable profession of klepts or highwaymen. II has
long been notorious that no man known to have
property can safely travel in any part Of Cont
mental Greece. Brigands infest all the roads, and
have dared to appear even upon the one between
Athens and its Bot Biacus. which is only FIVE miles
long and so thronged with vehicles that it may be
called a street. Not long ago they lay in wait
there for the rich and influential Calturgi but
mistaking their man seized a French officer and
carried him off to their mountain haunts- They
were mortified by their blunder, but would not
give up their prisoner until they extorted ransom
OF about S. 600. They once pounced upon rich
man in his gardens in the outskirts of Athens and
held him until ransomed for large sum. They
have done the same in other large places. They
usually however, contrive to discover when a
person of property or influence IS about 70 journey
and how strong is to be his escort. They then lie
in wait in some advantageous post upon the high
road pounce upon him suddenly. and overpower
him by superior force. They carry him OF TO the
mountains and keep him under guard in some
cavern. fix sum for his ransom. varying from
thousand to ten twelve thousand dollars, accord
ing to his means: and they always get II. They
open negotiations by sending private messenger
to his friends. who informs them that the prisoner
will be well treated for certain time: that If the
ransom is paid he will be instantly liberated; but
that if the messenger is molested any treachery
attempted. the prisoner will be instantly shot
They have so invariably kept faith in both these
respects that they can be relied upon. If they find
they have oyervalued their prize they Will negoti-
ate for a smaller ransom. As soon as this put
within their reach they shave and wash their
prisoner give him escort to the high road, supply
him with money enough TO pay his expenses, and
kindly wish him safe journey and happy return
to his friends. On the other hand, where their
messenger has been maltreated or bad faith
suspected they have ruthlessy shot their innocent
victim. Sometimes they have carried off the chill
dren of rich men. In all cases the uncertainty
about the prisoners fate is so narrowing to their
friends that they strain every nerve to raise the
ransom. Some families have been ruined by these
means. l have had personal knowledge. not only
of many cases where persons were deferred from
undertaking excursions of few miles into the
country, bat where native traders choose to wait
whole DAYS for boat to carry them from one polnt
to another, rather than venture a land journey of
two hours.
have lust seen long list Of the names of known
brgands with the prices offered by Government for
their capture dead or alive. For Kltzns they offer
90 900 drachmas and smaller sums for the Others
| met Yesterday at Sauphia. band OF armed peas
antry bringing the raw, bloody. CHASTITY head OF a
brgand whom they had slain; and there are IN the
fortress of that place twenty six men condemned TO
death for hrirandage. The gElotine has at times
been fearfuy active and the ruthless chopping off
of the heads of three thousand men in the prime OF
life within the last quarter of century. has shown
both the zeal and the policy of the government.
The truth is that during the first and second de-
cades after the liberation of Greece from turkey.
brigandage existed as necessary consequence OF
the previous condition of the people 1t was
social institution which no human power could
suddenly suppress. But as the old klepthes and
wild Palikaris died ont; as the peasaDtry laid aside
their arms and looked to Government for protec-
ton: as schools were established and order began
to prevail and human life to become sacred. brig
andage grew rarer. The brigands became secre-
gated from the people. and were known as brig
ands by profession. Now, in all the Islands there
is security. In Attica and in the Peloponessns
there are no more than one hundred professional
brigands. The immunity which these wretches
have enjoyed is clearly owing to the stupidity or
the guilty completely of men in power; probably to
both. 1t needed but bold and resolute action to
clear the country of them in three months The
moment for that action has at last evidently come.
The audacity of the brigands had reached such
pitch that there has been howl OF indignation
through the press and the country. A storm was
gathering which no administration could afford to
disregard.
clear majority of the Cabinet Ministers seems
reused to the necessity of action. and those who
secretly sympathse with Brigandage will not dare
oppose them. Diakxopones, resolute and fearless
enemy OF the brigands, is made Military Governor
of Attica, and will be supported in putting down
and hunting To the death kitzos. who. followed by
small band of brigands. has hitherto been de facto
Governor of the province, and blockaded Athens.
Perhaps Diskxopoules has done so. for kitzos
seems to have crossed the Isthmus of Corinth and
come into Peoponessus
We heard, the day before yesterday. and again
Yesterday, of the appearance of brlgands few
miles to the north of Us and of fights between them
aud the gens-d armes The peasants have become
reused, and stimulated by the hope of getting re
wards, are hunting hrgands. These were the men
saw at Nauphia, with raw and bloody heads. l
conclude from what saw and heard yesterday, that
death blow has been given to brlgandage IN Attl-
ca. the Peloponessus and the southern parts OF
Continental Greece.
There have been several desperate fights with the
brigands in this immediate neighborhood The
band stood at bay for moment in several places.
but was broken and dispersed. The fugitives are
now eagerly hunted by the gens-d armes and by
wild and excited peaSantrv. At least three nave
been killed and several wounded. Others are said
to be bloekaded, and can hardly escape.
After sunset last evening there came lpto TINS
town a tumultuous crowd of armed shepherds and
peasants who it said. had the heads OF several
bsigands. followed them to the quarters OF the
Sub Prefect They refused admission 10 The
crowd. and it was by the impudence OF the Keeper
of coffee shop. who knew NE, and who halloed
that was an American noble that got in through
the narrow passage. This as well as the ruom was
fed with wild and imprisoned men, sun heated
and sweating from the chase. They all wore the
shaggy eapotes and once white festanel OF the
shepherds. They still kept their hands on their
loaded muskets. and grasped their daggers, as II
suspicious of some trap. | looked round eagerly
but saw no heads except those that were upon
stslwart shoulders and in which glared eyes full of
life and fire. When assured that ] was not an enc
nv. and that wished for some proof what thsy had
done. the swsrthy leader swung back his capote.
and. pluuging his hand into a canvas bag that
hung BY his side, pulled out by the hair ghastly
head 1t had been hacked off close below the chin,
and wis still fresh and CORY. It was the massive
but CORY head of a Young man of swarthy complex
ion coarse but strong features and evidently of the
Albanian race. Was il kitzas3 They all hoped
So and perhaps believed so. The nose little
smashed. and the cheeks bruised. probably falling
on the rocks as he wSs shot down. One eye was
closed, but the other was nearly wide open. and
this perhaps gave the strange look OF lnteslisence
as if be were quizzing Us and amused at our emo
ton. So striking was this appearance that could
hardly help asking, Are you indeed hiizos, and
worth twenty thousand drachmas :.
Last night | went back TO my cid quarters. and
made arrangements for visiting Tyrhyus and Myce-
mas early in the morning OF all places in Greece,
MyeenaS, which was old in Homer's days. aud said
by him TO be in 4 recess of Argive land, is one
which bricsnd> would choose To pouGce upon
traveller. The gray old ruins are far away from the
high road. encircied by mountains, and accessible
only by tedious clambering over the rocks and up
steep hills Ii is the very hsunts which b-isands
most favor Three days ago would not have ven
tured there with women aud children for all the
gold that celi be stored in the treasury At Athens.
But to-day | feel assured of perfect safety. The
hEisan5s are hunted aud are flying towards the
passes leading out of Peloponessus and into Rom
ella and Will never feel assured. return TO waste
and plague this long suffering land any more. But