Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-05-18
THE GREEK RRIHaNDS
Am Escaped Captive's Personal Rem
fniscences eff His Capture, Impris
ouu emit and Escape.

n
infscences ef His Capture, Impris.
o,nme emit and Escape.
To the Editor of the London Times:
SIR: Having lately had visit from a
young Greek Just escaped from the custo.
DIV of the brigands in the mountains o1
Thessaly, think it will not be uninterest.
ing to your readers to givea short account
of his capture, captivity and escape. He
lis. one of four brothers, possessors OF
coasting vessels and inhabitants of Kariza.
village situated at the foot of Mount
Ossa. Itappears that two of his brothers
fafd another inhabitaut Of Kariza were re-
turning to their homes from the sea coast.
a walk of about an hour. They had
got. about half way, and had reached
a spot romantic in its solitude and abound
ing In rocks and trees, when they were
suddenly surrounded by eight brigands,
who appeared as if by magic from their
hiding places, armed to the teeth-this
well-known phrase in this case being liter
ally verified, as the brigands carried their
swords between their teeth ready for &C.
ton, in case the guns which they held in
their hands leveled at their victims should
miss fire or prove insufficient for their
deadly work, should any resistance be
made. In this case, however, it was i'm
possible, as only one of the brothers had a
revolver, which was loaded with shot in
stead of ball. The brigands forthwith de-
spoiled them of 100 liras, which they had
in their possession, and made prisoners of
two of them-viz: the youngest brother,
aged 81 years, as they said he would be
able to walk the best, and the companion
of the brother, aged about 80 years.
There seems to have been some fatality
in the family of the elder of the captives
in thus falling into the hands of brigands,
as about ten years ago his father was in the
church of Kariza, with the greater part of
the villagers when it was surrounded by
brigands. In trying to effect his escape,
as, being about the richest person in the
village he feared being taken prisoner,
he fled to the roof of the church, and was
there shot by the brigands, who, neverthe-
less, got good round sum from the BROTH
er of the victim, who was unaware at the
time Of what had occurred. Seven years
after this event the brother who had been
thus duped and had been led to pay so
much money, and which had reduced the
family very much in circumstances, was
taken prisoner by the brigands, who, not
being satisfied with the e500, given tn EN-
as ransom, cut off half of each OF his ears.
The captors, with their two prisoners,
made their escape to the mountains in the
neightorhood, and for two days continued
their flight night and day, and for two more
days they did not rest except at night.
During this time they managed to reach
the rocky heights of Mount Othrys, which
form the frontiers of Greece and Turkey,
where they remained in comparative secu-
ril1y for eighteen days. I am informed there
are other brigands who infest this chain of
mountains in parties of twelve and twenty
five, amounting in all to about one hum
dred. The brigands lived we'll in their
mountainous retreat. Lamb and mutton
which they roasted by their fires figs and
OJher fruit, milk, wines, &c, formed their
daily fare, and in tie evening they sarg their
robber songs, and seemed to enjoy them
selves very much in their retreat. The two
prisoners were kept bound night and day,
but not so as to prevent their walking
otherwise they were we'll treated with the
exception of the cruel threats that the
brigands assured them they would carry
out if the ransom we're not paid, They at
first demanded 1000 liras-1, 900 from each
of the four brothers as ransom for the
younger of the prisoners, but afterwards
they reduced their demand to 1000 liras,
of which they informed the brothers at
kariza by letter, threatening to cut off the
ears and nose OF the prisoner II they did
not fully comply with the demand. Before
the answer came, and after the prisoner
had been twenty-five days with their mex
orable captors, it appears one night,
having, probably, drank more wine
than usual, were very drowsy and
slept soundly, those who were
on watch not excepted. The younger and
more vigorous captive, pretending at first
to sleep soundly, now seized upon this
opportunity and made his escape to Army
ros, where friendly hand cut his bonds,
and whence he proceeded to Volo on horse
back Having previously informed his
brothers by letter of his escape, and of the
unfortunate drowsiness of his fellow pris-
oner, who still remained with his captors.
and for whom they demanded l, 1000 liras as
ransom, he left Volo by steamer for Salonica,
where he arrived on Friday, the 1st inst,
and visited his relations there-the family
with whom l am at present residing. The
evening was spent in rejoicings, and among
those present who were overjoyed to see
the return of the one who was given up for
lost, none was more merry than the escaped
captive.