The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-05-13
Brigands.


seems to bring new life into my thoughts
Tor the time being"
Brigands.
BRIGASDAGE seems to be an institution
peculiar TO Southern Europe, and flour
lshes especially in Italy, where travel
ing Is rendered unsafe by the murderous
bands OF robbers who infest the mount
aiEous districts. The habits and char
acteristics of these freebooters are not
without interest when looked at from
distance, though close acquaintanceship
with them is to be avoided if possible
Around Naples and Salerno they are so
numerous that travellers, and also the in
habitants of these cities themselves, are
IN constant dread of the robbers, and
scarcely dare venture beyond the gates
of the city without an armed escort.
The main object of brigandage is
financial one. The robbers are in want Of
money, and the best way, they seem to
think, to provide themselves with this
necessary article is TO steal it, When
they capture travellers they help them
selves TO money, watches and jewels,
and anything else that may be of value.
But that IS not all; they take the cap
tiyes into the mountains and hold them
for something more, andthey are careful
TO insist upon having as much as they
can possibly get. If the victim is a
nobleman or some wealthy aristocrat,
they think it will be worth about GIG, 900
10 release him, but if he is an
ordinary mortal, with no influential
friends, one or two hundred pounds
will be sufficient. In several in
stances prisoners have been kept three
OF four months by the brigands, and
while negotiations were pending they
have been allowed to see their friends
and even to visit neighboring cities to
make personal appeals for raising the
ransom demanded. But this only hap
pens where parties of two or more were
captured, one being allowed to go away
at time and the rest held as hostages
Sometimes when the ransom is not forth
coming at reasonable time the brigands
cut oil the ear OF a victim and send it to
his friends, with the intimation that the
other ear will come soon unless matters
are hurried up. This usually has the
desired effect.
The brigands generally treat their
prisoners well and civilly. They look
upon them as lawful prisoners of war to
be exchanged for money. Sometimes
they parole them not to attempt to es-
cape, and allow them to do what they
please, and at others they put them in
charge of watchful guards, who have
orders to shoot them if they attempt to
get away. If pursued however, and too
much encountered by their prisoners
they kill them, on the principle that
dead men tell no tales.
The appearance of the brigands is
rather picturesque. Their leaders are
often tolerahly well.educated men, and
they sometimes make their demands
upon party of unfortunate travellers
whom they propose to rob in terms of
the most ceremonious politeness. Their
courtesy, however, does not make the
object they have in view any less disa-
greeable TO their victims The costumes
of band of these outlaws encountered
on the road between Salerno and Postum
are described as follows: They were
dressed in long jackets of brown cloth,
the color of withered leaves. These
were provided with immense pockets of
a circular shape, on both sides and others
on the breast. Besides there was slit
on each side of the jacket that gave en-
trance to two more large pockets COM
modious enough to hold anything in the
shape of garment. One of the brigands
in searching for missing article drew
out of these different reCeptacles for
plumber pair of trowsers, two shirts,
three or four pounds of bread, bit of
dirty bacon and hunk of cheese What
else was included among his resources
did not appear. Their waistcoats were
buttoned at the side, with gilt buttons
down the center for ornament; the
larger ones were stamped with dogs
heads, birds, etc There were two large
circular pockets at the lower part of the
waistcoat in which were kept spare car
tridges, balls, gunpowder ana knives.
Two smaller ones higher up held a watch
on one side and percussion-caps on the
other The garment was of dark blue
cloth, like the trowsers, which were cut
in the ordinary way. The jackets were
also provided with capuces or hoods, at
tached 10 the neck by buttons. When
tie weather is very cold or at night they
are drawn over the head. \ belt about
three inches deep, divided by two parti-
tons to hold about nifty cartridges, com
pleted the costume. Most of them had
reyolvers kept either in belts or in the
lefthand pockets of their jackets. They
were secured by silk cord passed
around their necks and fastened to ring
in the butt of the pistol Some few had
stilettos, only used for human victims
Many wore turned-up wide-awake hats,
with ostrich feathers, which gave them
an absurd and theatrical appearance
Gay silk handkerchiefs wound round
their necks and collars on their cotton
shirts made them look like dandies when
they were clean, which was but seldom.
A band of these outlaws not long ago
attacked an English gentleman and his
daughter, who were driving about
mile from the city of Palermo. The
father was dragged from the carriage by
the brIgands and taken to one of their
haunts in the mountains. They endeav-
ored to make him sign paper giving
them 81 900 for his ransom. This he re-
fused TO do, and the brIgands finally low
cred their price to $50, which Re was
told to bring in the morning and deposit
upon certain stone in field which was
pointed out to him. He was then al
lowed TO depart, after solemnly promis-
Ing TO have the money forthcoming
His daughter returned to the city, and
the soldiers were immediately turned
out to scour the country. Several men
were arrested. When her father re-
turned he was requested to identify the
men, but, fearing further violence from
the brigands, he refused to do so. They
were consequently released. In few
days two men called upon him to thank
him, and as an acknowledgment of his
forbearance courteously returned his
watch.
This is very much as if anyone driving
within a short distance of the city of
New York were seized by a band of rob-
bers, carried off TO the highlands, and
only released upon the payment of a sum
oil money ranging anywhere from 81 600
10 $4,000. For a great catch the
bflgands viii sometimes demand $780,
w, and the victim only regains his free !
DOM ri the sacrifice of his entire estate. |
Brigandage still fluurishes in united |
Italy as 1t did when the country was TN |
Der Bourbon rule. Ii is a source Of |
great pront to the peasantry, who seem |
70 lie in league with the brigands, and ii |
IL 70 great extent through their aid and |
information that brigandage is carried !
on. The peasants act the part of |
fences, and, like other fences, get |
nearly all the gains of the actual perpe-
traitors of the robbery. They furnish
them with food ard other necesssr;es
Tor which they charge extravacant prices
IL mas been calculated that fiye.sixths
Of the money received for ransoms On
TO the peasants, This proftahIe brs,