Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-07-22
COUNT CASAVIONE.
A Story of the Bandits.

A story OF the Bandits.
The Island of Sardinia, in the Medi-
terranean, for centuries past has been
the scene of many wild and terrible adj
ventures, and its chronicles, as the Ital-
ian historian, Schiavone, said, should
be written in blood; but CONSPICUOUS
among all these episodes of a half
barbarous island life stands the tragical
event which occurred in 1924, and in
which Count Casavione bore the lead
ing part.
It was on the 22d of July of that year,
at late hour in the afternoon, that the
people of Nori, small town IN the
eastern part of the island, were startled
by the arrival ola young man, mounted
on noble steed, covered with foam.
He shouted to them in a painting
voice:
"Au O you who wish to save the
lives of Count Casavione and his family
mount at once your horses and hasten
as fast as they will carry you to Castle
Mama, where the Count is besieged bv
Rocca and his gang of robbers and
murderers, and may God give that YOU
do not arrive at the castle too late p
This stirring appeal was received by
those who heard it with shouts of min
gled dlsmay and approval. For Count
Casavlone, of Castle Mama, was popu-
lar IN that part of the island, because
he was man of the greatest benevo-
lence, who, but the year before, when
a long-continued drought had exposed
the people of Eastern Sardinia to the
danger OF famine, had generously re
Ileved the people of the needy commu-
mites by the princely gift of one hun
dred thousand scudi.
Rocca, his assailant, on the other
hand, was universally detested on ac-
count of the bloodthirstY and ferocious
manner in which he carried on his in
famous business as chief of a gang Of
mountain brigands.
Within afew minutes after the arrival
OF the messenger from Castle Mama.
who was the body servant of Count
Casavione, the market place of Nori was
filled with excited people, to whom the
messenger explained more at length the
startling occurrence that had led him to
the town.
He said that about noon three men,
wearing the garb Of pilgrims bound for
the Holy Land, had Knocked at the gate
OF the castle walls, and had been I'M
hesltatingly admitted, for the Count
was pious and hospitable man. The
pilgrims had said they had come from
Corsica, and had conducted themselves
with strict propriety at the family table,
to which the Count, after the fashion Of
the country, had invited them. After
dinner, however, as they were walking
with the Count III the walled courtyard,
one OF them had suddenly drawn from
his pocket silverwhisle and given with
1t shrill signal, to which another
whistle on the outside of the walls had
immediately responded.
Before the Count had been able to
ask the pilgrims what this meant, they
had thrown off their upper garment,
drawing long stilettos, and threatened
TO take his life in case he did not at
once open the heavy iron door closing
the entrance to the castle.
count Casavlone, very powerful
man, had at first consented to do SO.
and as the outlaws-for such they were
had turned to drag him to the door.
he had snatched the stiletto from the
hand of e'of them, and had buried *
into the breast of another; and, then.
after giving the first, the disarmed one.
terrible cash i'll the abdomen. he had
pounced upon the third of his villiauous
guests, and, after brief struggle, had
succeeded in disarming him. He held
the outlaw in terrible grip by the
throat, and called loudly for help. His
four servants at once came to his assist
ance. They bound the third outlaw
hand and foot. The other two lay dy-
ing on the ground.
Meanwhile the cause of this sudden
assault upon Count Casavione had be
come apparent. Loud knocks at the
castle door caused it to tremble audi
ble. A hoarse voice shouted in a men
acing voice:
Edgardo Casavione, open this door
Kocca IS here with his twenty men.
open 1t voluntarily, and only your own
life shall be taken. But resist me, and
L swear by the Holy Virgin of Loretto
that L Will torture your wife and five
children to death before putting an end
to your own life 4! You know why I am
here. You know, too, that there is no
help near. This door will not resist MS
very long" s. - : :
Count Casavione made no answer.
He begged his wife, who with her chill