Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-05-31
The Greek Brigands.

An Athens CORRESPONDENT commu-
nicates to the New York Tribune fur
ther particulars of the terrible TRACE
dy enacted on the classic plains Of
Marathon. The excitement over the
event in Athens is represented as very
great, nothing else being talked about
or listened to. When Lord Muncas-
ter, one of the captured party of tour
lists, came to Athens on parole to pro-
cure the ransom for himself and his
colleagues, he warned the Greek gov
ernment that any pressure upon the
brigandS would endanger the safety
of his companions, and was supported
therein by the entire foreign embassy,
who also demanded that security for
the future should be guaranteed in ad-
dition to an assumption by the gov
ernment of the payment of the ran
som. Who shall pay the ransom is
not an open question" replied the
King, not only assume the payment
myself, but, if need be, l will give my
own life to the brigands to save the
lives Of those foreigners" We quote
what followed:
"An agent Of the government was
sent to Oropo to treat with the rebels.
AS he was nothing but a clerk IN the
treasury department, the brigands re-
fused to receive him, and sent him back
to say that if the King wanted his
friends released he must send to them
some person of rank, clothed with au-
thority. The aid-de-camp of general
Church then received full powers to
treat with the brigands. They were
as naughty as ever. Money was of
no consequence; they already had
enough Of that, aud poured out their
gold at his feet. What they wanted,
and what they were determined 10
have, was an unconditional pardon,
and the release of two of their band
now for long time in prison.
Diplomacy was q failure. In vain
they we're told that amnesty was for
bidden by the Constitution. Change
your Constitution, as you have often
changed your laws was the reply
'we can afford to wait 1t seems now
that the true policy Of the government
was that Of a mastery inactivity; tC
give the brigands time to think, and
to learn that escape was possible, but
not amnesty. But amid the excite
ment which prevailed, and the de
mands Of a strong and united opposi
ton that something should be done
it was honestly thought if the brig
andS should find themselves surround
ed, they would accept the ransom, Sc
their prisoners free, and go free them
selves. So several hundred troop
marched out from Athens, and a regi
ment more I'd down from Chalsis
The tidings Of this military move
ment reached the brigands. The,
asked that they might cross the rive
ASopos, and permission was granted
The river, swollen by the recent rains
was forded with difficulty, but whel
the feat was accomplished they still
insisted on advancing. Excited, per
haps, by the appearance Of so large a
army, aware that a long record G
crime was enrolled against them, the
at length divided into two partie;
each party taking two of the prison
ers, and attempted to break the lines
one party fleeing toward Thebes, tn
other toward the mountains. In val
did the prisoners assure them that th
soldiers were not there to menac
them that they might at any hour re
ceive their e25,00O, and go wher
they pleased; they would hear t
nothing but amnesty. 'Fourtee
years. said the older of the two lead
ers, have 1 been a brigand, and nov
it is not money that l crave; all | wan
is to settle down in some quiet HON
and ha LOT alone
They fired upon the soldiers, an,
when their prisoners fell, throug
sheer exhaustion, they put them t
death. Poor Herbert they stabbed
and then cut his throat, and they dis
charged pistol shots into his back
Lloyd died from wounds inflicted b
the bayonet. Then only did the so
diers fire upon the brigands. The
fell on them with perfect Madness
, Thirteen have thus far been takeI
and the pursuit for the remainin
twelve is still continued. Seven di
severed heads are hanging by tn
hair out on the Campus Martius tt
day, that the people may know Of
certainty what to believe, and crowd
Of men and women are there, not t
shed one tear of sorrow, or utter on
t word of pity save for the friends {
| the unfortunate foreigners.