Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-05-25
The Greek BrigandS.

An Athens correspondent of the New York
Tribune gives full particulars of the terrible
tragedy lately enacted on the plains of Mar
athon. The excitement over the event in
Athens is represented as very great, nothing
else being talkedabout or listened to. When
Lord Muncaster, one of the captured party
of tourists, came to Athens on parole to pro
cure the ransom for himselfand his colleagues,
he warned the Greek government that any
pressure upon the brigands would endanger
the safety of his companions, and was sup
ported therein by the entire foreign embassy
who also demanded that security for the
future should be guaranteed in addition to
an assumption by the government of the
payment of the ransom. - W no shall pay
the ransom is not an open question, re-
piled the King, - i not only assume the pay
iuvnt myself, but, if need be, | will give my
own life to the brigands TO save-.t---
@''frsi EsegsSS5T-Ss. Ut to
Oropo to treat with the rebels. As he was
nothing but clerk in the Treasury Depart
ment, the brigands refused 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
authority. The aid-de-camp of Gen 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, and poured out their
gold at his feet. What they were determin-
ed to have, was an unconditional pardon,
and the release of two of their band, now
for long time in prison.
Diplomacy was failure. In vain they
were told that amnesty was forbidden 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 gov
ernment was that of a mastery inactivity :;
to give the brigands time to think. and to
learn that escape was possible, but not am
nesty. But amid the excitement which pre-
vailed, and the demands of a strong and
united opposition that something should be
done, it was honestly thought if the brigands
should find themselves surrounded, they
would accept the ransom, set their prisoners
free, and 20 free themselves. So several
hundred troops marched out from Athens,
and a regiment more moved down from
Chalsis.
The tidings of this military movement
reached the brigands. They asked that they
might cross the river Asopos, and permission
was granted. The river, swollen by the re-
cent rains, was forded with difficulty, but
when the feat was accomplished they still
insisted on advancing. Excited, perhaps, by
the appearance of so large an army, aware
that a long record of crime was enrolled
against them, they at length divided into two
parties, each party taking two of The pris-
Oners, and attempted 10 break the lines, one
party fleeing toward Thebes, the other to-
ward the mountains In vain did the pris-
oners assure them that the soldiers were not
there to menace them that they might at
.irny hour receive their / %, 600, and 90 where
they pleased they would hear of nothing
bat amnesty. % Fourteen years" said the
older of the two leaders. . have | been a
brigand, and now il is not money | -;
no iSone ana ana rs siet sf5 &c,
They fired upon the soldiers, and when
their prisoners fell, through sheer cxhaus-
ton, they put them to death. Poor Herbert
they stabbed and then cut his throat, and
they discharged pistol shots into his back
Lloyd died from wounds inflicted by the
bayonet. Then only did the soldiers FIRE up
on the brigands. They fell on them with
perfect madness. Thirteen hsrYe thus far
been taken, and the pursuit for the remain
ing twelve is still continued. Seven dis
severed heads are hanging by trio hair out
on the Campus Martius to-day, that the peo-
pie may know Of certainty what to Believe,
and crowds of men and women are there
not TO shed one tear of sorrow, or utter one
word of pity save for the friendS,1f the I'M
fortunate foreigners.