The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-03-04
For the Bloomfield Times
The Bandit of the Apennines.
BY 8. d. t.
"AVE you ever been at the foot of the
Ill Apennines and viewed their lofty


Ill Apennines and viewed their lofty
SUBMITS?
To those who have beheld them as
have, it is grand sight, as their romantic
appearance surpasses AL description. One
of my most singular adventures transpired
while crossing one of the passes that leads
over these mountains. This pass is fre-
quently travelled by tourists during the
summer and fall months, and it is also in
tested by banditti.
had been travelling in France, Spain
and Italy, during the summer and autumn of
1860. 1t was in the month of October that
l determined to cross from the western to
the eastern side of the Apennines. 1t was
night when / reached a little hostelry called
the "Mountain Inn," about one-fourth
way up the pass on the western side of the
mountains. Here l stopped to take re-
freshments before proceeding any farther.
The inn-keeper was very polite, friend
ly man. He was quite free in conversing
with me, accompanying each little speech
with a respectful bow. At last, having fin
ished my meal, 1 prepared to resume my
journey.
The moon was struggling through great
banks Of clouds with which the sky was
overcast. was travelling in large, COM
Portable carriage, and was ON the point of
taking nap, when I was aroused from my
lethargy by hearing voices outside. Sud-
denly the carriage was stopped by man,
ferociously masked, who, sezing the reins
of one of the horses, demanded my money,
at the same time, presenting pistol to my
head. felt for my revolver, but it was
not at it's accustomed place 1t must have
been removed by the postillion. The
thought instantly flashed through my mind
that this fellow was in league with the BAN
ditti.
saw no alternative but to give up my
money and jewels.
Among these was ring presented to me
by my mother, and which priced very
highly, on account of the donor, who had
departed this life about two years before.
/ asked the leader to let me retain it, tell
ing him why it was of value to me. He
handed it to me, with polite bow, so
much like the courteous salutation of the
inn-keeper of the Mountain Inn," that
could not help fancying that they were one
and the same.
After stripping me of all they could get,
they tied me to tree, and went off, the
postillion going with them. After they
had gone, shouted for help, but all in
vain.
At dawn, while I was waiting in sus-
more,) Count, with large retinue of
servants, passing by, released me, and then
l continued on my journey on foot.
Six months after this having business to
attend to in Florence, I proceeded thither.
On the day Of my arrival at that place, there
was to be public execution. Happening
to be out on the streets, ] met the process
sion conducting the criminal to the gallows.
"Who is the man whom they are going
to hang?" l asked of a by-stander. os
"That," said he, "is one of the most
daring bandits of the Apennines. He is
the leader of certain band of outlaws
that infest the pass that crosses the noun
tains. They plumber, and, sometimes,
even kill travellers who may be so unfortu-
nate as to fall into their hands"
Happening to catch glimpse of his face,
our eyes met with imperturbable polite
ness, he rose il the car, all manacled as he
was, and made me the same bow to which
could have sworn among thousand. 1t
was no other than my host Of the "Moun-
tain Inn," and my polite friend of the
mountain pass. 1t was his last bow, as in
less than an hour his body was dangling
from the gallows.