The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-10-18
BRIGANpAGE I'M aREFOB.

A correspondent of the Chicago Tribe
uue, writing from Argos, under date Of
July 10. gives the following particulars
of the atrocities of the Greak brigands,
against whom that section of The country
has been thoroughly aroused, and for
whose determination large sums are of
| fered by the Government:
Recent experience has given me some
insight into the matter of ''brigandage."
Indeed, my movements have been soms'
what modified by the actions Of the hands
| full oil desperate rufians who infest the
neighborhood, aud represent the once
honorable profession of klspts or high
waymen. It has long been notorious
that no man known to have property can
safely travel in any part of Continental
Greece. Brigsnds infest ell the roads,
and have dared to appear even upon the
one between Athens aud its Bot Biacus.
which is only five miles long, aud so
thronged by vehicles that it may be call
ed street. Not long ago they lay ia
wait there for the rich and influential CAL
lurgi; but installing their man, seized q
French officer and carried him off to their
mountain haunts. They were mortified
their prisoner until they had extorted .
ransom of about $4,000.
They once bounced upon rich man Id
his garden in the outskirts Of Athens, and
held him until rausomsd for large sum.
They have done the same in other large
places. They usually, however, conlrivO
to discover when person Of properly or
influence is about to journey, and how
strong is to be his escort. They then lie
in wait upon some advantageous post up
on the high road, pounee upon him sud-
cenly, and overpower him by superior
force. They carry him off to the noun
tains, and keep him under guard in some
cavern, fix a sum for his ransom, varying
| from thousand to ten or twelve thousand
dollars, according to his means; and they
always get it; they open negotiations by
sending private messenger to his friends,
who informs them that the prisoner will
be well treated for a certain time; that if
the ransom is paid he will be instantly
liberated; but that if the messenger is mo-
Tested or any treachery attem pied, 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 overValued their
prize, they will negotiate for smaller
ransom. As soon as this is put within
their reach, they shave and wash the pris-
oner, give him escort TO the high road,
supply him with money enough to pay
his expenses, and kindly wish him a safe
journey and happy return to his friends.
On the other hand, where messenger has
been maltreated, or bad faith suspected,
they have ruthlessly shot their innocent
victim. Sometimes they have carried of
the children 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 deter
red from undertaking excursions of a few
miles into the country, but where native
traders chose to wait whole days for 9
boat to carry them from one point TO
another, rather than Venture~a land jour-
ney of tWo hours.