Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-07-22

uron, TWO lUJlo DOyS anu Guro0 young
girls, had fastened in terror into the
court yard, to retire to the castle and
send his six muskets and all his pistols
by the three servant girls into the
courtyard. He then hastily whispered
to Logarino, his body servant, to take
his best horse and, leaving the castle by
a secret door in the rear, gallop to Nori
for succor.
Logarino had reached Nori, as we
knew, in due time, and half an hour
after his arrival he started on his way
back to Castle Mama, accompanied by
fifteen we'll mounted and we'll dressed
men, who, under the leadership of the
only royal carabiniere that was station
ed at Nori, we're extremely anxious to
succor the besieged Count. and to in
fict a terrible lesson upon the outlaws
that had infested the country for years
past.
While they are on their way to the
scene of the struggle, we will briefly
state the cause of the mortal feud be-
tween Count Edgardo Casavione and
Rocca, the bandit chief.
In the year 1912, both the Count and
Rocca had been officers inthe Sixteenth
Italian Regiment, which, under Napo-
leon the First, had participated in the
disastrous Russian campaign. Count
Casavione had been lieutenant colonel
of the regiment; Rocca only a second
lieutenant. During the battle of Smo-
lensk, Rocca had been caught in the
act of robbing q wounded Russian gen
eral. He had been tried by court
martial, presided over by Count Casa
vione, and had been cashiered and SEN
fenced to be sent to the galleys at
Genoa for six years. When his epaulets
were torn from his shoulders, Rocca
exclaimed:
"Edgardo Casavione, this is your
work-you shall suffer for it. -
Until 1916, Rocca had undergone his
terrible punishment; but then the King
of Sardinia had pardoned him on con-
dition of leaving his dominions. Roc
ca had then taken up his abode in Cor
sica, and had at first led an honest life
as farmer, but in 1922 he had joined
gang of outlaws, and had finally been
compelled to flee to Sardinia, a large
reward having been offered for his ap-
prehension, dead OF alive
On the Island of Sardinia he had
learned for the first time that Count
Casavione, against whom he had sworn
such terrible vengeance in the year
1912, was now proprietor of the castle
and estate of Mama, where he lived
peaceably and happily with beautiful
wife and family of charming children.
From that moment his principal OBJ
M -, T. 10
twenty-fv ruhians about him, than
whom no viler cut-throats could be
found. They were the dregs of the
robber gangs of the italian peninsula,
who had found last asylum in the
mountain Businesses of the Island of
Sardinia.
Roeca, handsome, daring, powerful
man, had easily become their chief.
They readily followed him wherever
he told them to rob a peaceable farmer
or travelling peddler. But when he
told them they must help him to MUIR
der Count CasaviOne, even If it should
be necessary to storm his castle, they
had demurred, for Castle Mama, be-
was surrounded by high walls, and
could be entered only by single gate
or door, than which nothing stronger
could be imagined.
Rocca however, overcame their re-
pugnance by telling them that he
would secure them admittance to the
courtyard of the castle through a ruse;
that they could easily overcome the re-
sistance of the Count and his four SER
wants that the beautiful Countess and
her three young daughters should be
surrendered to their lust.
And then he disguised three of his
ruffians as pilgrims, and sent them to
Castle Mania. Count Casavione knew
who Rocca was ]; he knew also that he
might look for the worst, unless
he could hold .out, with his three men
until succor arrived from Nori.
Meanwhile, the bandits were thun-
dering with the butt ends of their mus
kets against the iron door. They had
easily forced open the outside gate, and
they were now, as it were, in the inte-
rior Of the wall which had been built
there-Castle Mama was an old mediae-
val stronghold extraordinary thick
ness. There was between the outside
gate and the inside door a space about
twelve feet long, nine feet high, and
seven feet wide.
Rocca could not think of scaling the
wall, for its top was fringed with sharp
iron splits AS yet he had no idea that
two Of his diguised pilgrims were dead,
and the third helpless prisoner.
Suddenly he ordered his men to stop
pounding against the iron door, and he
shouted ia laundering voice:
/. " Metro, Sacchi, Nerdo-what are
you doing inside? Answer, I tell you !"
This time Count Casavione replied. q
fRocca," he cried, in calm, but ter
ribie tone, two Of your emissaries
have paid with their lives for their wick
edness. The third lies here helplessly
on the ground. Take warning by their
fate, you and your companions, for
death awaits all of you without fail
The outlaws were considerably start
led by this announcement. But Rocca
cried out: - sae.ie9Eo
.r."Don't believe him, men; he lies