The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-28
GREEK .BRTGANDS,
A Chapter or Personal History,
The London AtierGum says;-

asst, in spite of temporary successes aud of
the local terror and submission which the re-
putation of few ruthless acts may create.
But the reflection that the captors will prob.
ably come to the gallows at last is poor COZ
ISOLATION to those who like Mr.. Moens in Italy,
and M. cOttirOpoulOs in Greece have lived for
many weary weeks in present misery, and
with death before their eyes, conscious that
the majesty ofgovernment was not only power
less to rescue them, but was actually working
heart and soul to prevent the delivery OF the
ransODl.
"Mr SOttiropoulos, respectable landowner
of the Morea VINO lived by the produce of his
small estate, which produce, consisting princi-
pally OF currants and other fruits, he and his
family in person helped to gather in, was
nevertheless a member Of the House of Assem-
bly,, and, as far as we can see, a gentleman in
every way, though gentleman of rather
moderate means when compared with the mil
lionaires of Western Europe. 1t is the Gus
tom, lie writes, for the landowners in Greece
TO reside upon their estates during the sum-
mer and autumn, in order that they may be
able 10 superintend the gathering and drying
OF the fruits On his little estate at Agrile, on
the western coast of the PelopOpnesus, be-
tween kyparissia aud Philiatras, in the month
of June, after his parliamentary duties
were over, Mr.. Sottiiopoulos was
living with his family, occupied in
collecting the fruits The extent of
according to our English notious but itmust
be remembered that in parts OF Greece where
the land is really good, the produce in gwen
space is more valuable than it would be in
our northern latitude. A cargo of excellent
dried currants may spring out of a very small
plot of land, and may bring to the diligent
Arcadian a solid return IN Western gold.
Even looking at the estate in question in this
way, it certainly was rather small; for by the
statistics and comparison of laud measures
given in the early part of the book, We caunot
make out that it consisted of more than about
thirty-six acres. 1t had, however, the advan-
tage of being near the harbor of Agrile which
afforded an easy exit for its produce; and
when we are told that it was pre-eminent for
its fertility, and might be expected in time to
produce l00 900 pounds of currant5, 1000
Okes of sultana raisins, and from 10000 to
$4,000 okes of wine, and, moreover, that 1t
took about 30 laborefs TO gather in the har-
harvest, we may perhaps value it approx
mately at from E20OO to $4,000 sterling.
'TLe proprietor of this little estate was
seized by brigands in the midst OF his pleasant
labor, and was obliged to pay from first to
last, 20, 600 drachmas, or E2500, before he
could obtain his release. As member of the
House of Assembly, he was no doubt looked
upon by the half-wlse, half-ignorant robbers
as heavy swell, agentleman of aristocratic
position, TO whom it would be almost an insult
to propose small sum by way of ransom.
MIR. SOttiropOulos believing that the sum de-
rnanded was greater than the whole value of
his property, took different view of the case,
but was unable to convince his amiable captors
Of the correctness of his estimate
Gin reading through this narrative we see
pretty we'll what are the views and principles
of Greek bIigands, and We perceive a tolerably
close affinity between these and their brethren
of the Italian peninsula. We find the same
hollow pretence of political motives, the same
genuine thirst after money, the same determi-
nation to keep up the prestige OF the profess
sion by suffering no captive to escape alive
without ransom. In the picture drawn by
Mr. Sottiropoulos, as in that given by Mr..
MOens, all romantic fancies of picturesque life
disappear in moment, and the reality of
Origandage presents itself as a compound of
falsehood, ignorance, selfshness, and dirt. The
Greek, however, seems to be superior to his
Italian brother in good nature, and there is
comcal pathos in the farewell interview of
the deputy with his captors, who kissed him
and wished him all sorts of happiness, appa-
Iently i'll sincerity at the moment, though
Ihey had nearly WruDg his life out with hard
ships, and had told him daily during his cap
tivity that their rules would compel them to
slay him if the ransom did not come. The
usual threat of these amiable creatures seems
to be, that if the ransom is not forthcoming,
they will send the captive's head home to his
relations ito be made into pie This plea
SAINT phrase occurs IN the following letter,
written to Madame Sottiropoulos, which
affords so graphic picture of the particular
kind of pressure which is brought to bear
upon the relatives and friends of captives that
we need not make any apology for giving it in
full
BRIGAND's LETTER.
"'This evening, at place called Agrile, We
have taken captive Mr.. S. SottropOulos a
member of the House of Assembly, and we
demand eighty thousand drachmas for his
Iansom:-TherefOre take care to get ready the
ransom money, that Mr.. SOttiropoulos may see
his home again, for otherwise you will receive
his head. These Franks, VINO involve the
whole world in dissension, and trouble the
poor people, must bear the blame ON their own
throats. They cut off some of us Paekaris
every day, and if l may not dye my bullet
with the blood OF one Frank, whes We do not
receive the ransom money, how then shall the
PRllekaria be able 20 preserve their reputation
and to continue their system? We strictly com
mand you to make no stir, but to keep the
matter secret. Look we'll to it: do not put
forward the friends of Mr.. SOttiropoulos anC
cause them to hunt after us for in that cast
we will cut off his head, and afterwards fight
against the hunters like Pallellaria, who know
how to make the blood flow when their OWE
lives are in danger. BY no means tell the
affair to the Government, nor permit the mill
tary or gendarmes to pursue us, for you shal
Rever see Mr.. SottiropOulOs again. Take good
care, also, that you do not act as did the wife
of Bambas of Spezzia for she stirred up the
Government to pursue us, and when we Pale
karia were fighting with the soldiers, the IL
fated Bambas called out TO them to go away