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

WHICH, SGOOu OH Guo UOp VI Uuc WILL, near
to the entrance. It had long been out
of use, but it's small windows allowed a
single man with sufficient quantity of
shots to prevent the bandits from get
ting out of the gate or standing near it.
He took six loaded muskets with him.
AS he got up into the turret, he saw
Rocca and two of his men there. He
fired, and one of the latter fell. Rocca
and the other bandit uttered ferocious
oaths, and fastened back into the
gate.
, The bandits were caught in a trap.
Count Casavione shouted down to them
to surrender. They answered with
fierce oaths. Four tried to rush out,
but another bullet from the Counts
musket drove them back.
Then the bandits made fresh desper-
ate efforts to force open the iron door,
but as they had to stand so close to-
gether they had to work at consider
able disadvantage.
Finally, seeing the fruitlessness of
their efforts, the bandits became very
still Every now and then one would
put his head out but bullet from the
Counts musket drove them back again.
Then they held long deliberation in
excited tones, ending in low whispers,
and finally in profound silence.
The Count OWNED that the bandits
were waiting for the setting in of dusk,
to effect their escape in perfect security.
The day was one of those delicious,
clear July days, such as can only
abound in the Mediterranean.
At six o'clock, it was still as light
almost as at noon. Shortly afterwards
Count Casavione espied at consider
able distance cloud of dust, from
which in about fifteen minutes, cav
a1cade emerged.
1t was the long-expected relief. The
Count was almost overcome with Joy
He whispered to his servants in the
court yard that the end of the struggle
was drawing nigh.
But now it became all-important for
him to give his approaching friends
warning of the position in which he had
pent up Rocca and his men, SO that
they might not rashly venture within
range of the bandits guns
A winding roadway was leading up
the rock toward the entrance of the
castle-yard. When the men from Nori
were halfway up, they gave a ringing
cheer. AS soon as their voices had
died away Count Casavione cried, in a
thrilling tone:
Friends, the bandits are trapped in
the wall between the gate and the iron
door. They cannot get out, because l
and my men are in the turret here. So,
beware of rushing directly at them"
The men from Nori shouted "Si !!
ST |" in order to indicate that they I'M
derstood the Count.
Meanwhile the bandits were perfectly
beside themselves with rage and terror.
They cursed Rocca in the most horrible
manner for enticing them into this
trap, and finally one of them shouted
out to the Count:
owe will surrender if you will spare
our lives"
''First push Rocca, without arms, out
Of the gate, was the Counts reply.
There was moments pause. Then
Rocca was heard to utter fearful oath,
brief struggle ensued, and then the
bandit chief was thrust out Of the gate.
He threw up his arms and cried for
mercy.
Count Casavione aimed at the bandit
chiefs left leg, and planted bullet in
it. Rocca fell to the ground, uttering
a piteous moan.
Meanwhile the men from Nori had
dismounted, and cautiously crept up to
the rock, slightly to the right of the
gate. As soon as they stood with their
guns ready to fire, Count Casavione
said to the bandits:
"Throw you muskets out of the gate.
[ pledge you nv word as a nobleman
that your lives shall be spared"
There was brief pause. Then the
bandits flung out their fire arms
The next moment the men from Nori
rushed up to the gate, while Count
Casavione descended from the turret
into the interior of the court yard, and
ordered his servants to open the iron
door.
The bandits allowed themselves to be
bound. All they uttered were appeals
for mercy.
Rocca, who was found writhing with
circulating pain-for his left leg had
been shattered-was carried into the
castle, where his wound was dressed.
He was stretched on lounge and Sc
curel y fastened to it. He spoke but
once. ~ $685. s-. .-''-.
"Edgardo Casavoine," he said, eff
you are true nobleman, shoot me dead
now
5sa"I am no executioner, was the
Counts sombre reply. = = -. !.
The captured bandits and their
wounded chieftain were conveyed the
next day in SIX wagons to Nori, where
they were received by the inhabitants
with loud threats and excavations, while
Count Casavione and his servants re-
ceived a perfect ovation.
Rocca's leg had to be amputated.
When he. had fully recovered from the
effects of the operation, he and the
other bandits were tried for their crimes.
Owing to Count Casavione's promise
that their lives should be spared, Roc
cas- men were sent to the galleys for
thirty years, while he himself was sem
fenced to have his right hand cut off,
L. L 1 Il.