Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-11-19
A ROMANCE OF BRIGANDAGE.
Death OF CaprarO, "a Brigand OF the
Old school.

The Roman correspondent OF the Lon
don Times writes as follows:
Freiligrath might follow up his Ban
ditep Begrabniss, or brigand's funeral,
by another ballad, equally effective, on
the Banditeutod," or brigand's death,
choosing for his subjec the last hours Of
Capraro. So romantic was that condot-
there's career, that in touching on it |
almost feel myself contributing to that
"boy-literature" whose morbid fascina-
tions for the young have been so well ex-
posed in your columns. The mandates
Of the historic muse, however, are imper-
alive, and shall therefore describe, from
the Gazetta di Girgenti, the fate OF
man of whom it may indeed be said that
no part of his life became him so we'll as
his leaving it.
The provinces of Palermo, Girgenti
and Trapani have for several years been
scourged by brigands, the chief Of whom
are Di Pasquale, Rinaldi, and, till the
other day, Capraro. The last of these
was, however, the Oldest the ablest, and
far the most formidable, not only from
intellectual sagacity, and had almost
said strategic power, but from gay reck-
lessness and savage generosity of nature
that made him the idol of his younger
followers, and the natural leader of the
older ones. Luck, too, was generally
with him in his undertakings Frequent
as were his marauding expeditions and
his encounters with the royal soldiery,
he always managed to escape with his
life, when his comrades had either fallen
around him, or been dragged off to
prison. AS late as last May he had a
close run forit, when Arnane, Portaban-
dieri, Di Carlo, Ferrara, and some fifteen
others were captured, shortly after being
caught in the act of eating the still pull
sating hearts they had torn out of the
bodies of their victims. His gang thus
became so reduced in numbers that he
was thought to have given up the high
way for some other work Of industry;
but no. He was soon heard OF again, as
daring and successful as ever, till meas.
ures of special maturity and efficiency
had to be put in operation against him.
On the evening of one Of the last days
of September Slgnor Alessandro Albini,
commandant Of the mounted militia of
Sciacca District, with eight of his trust
lest men, and acting in concert with
Signor Clemente Belliti, lieutenant Of
the Royal Carabineers, at the head of
some four or FIVE of that service, was
patrolling certain suspicious. looking To-
calities near Misiliformi, when suddenly,
at turn of the road, he saw brigand
scout surveying his movements from one
OF the eminenees of Mount Cerame. He
silently detached five of his mounted
troop toward a neighboring grotto, and
there ESQ true was his surmise) they
found Capraro, with six of his comrades,
preparing to bivousc for the night. Both
parties saw each other at the same time,
and in an instant the rattle of rife shots
was heard in the still autumn air.
Quickly coming up to the spot with the
rest of his own and with Belliti's COM
pany, the Commandant gave orders to
charge. Capraro, who by this time was
shot in the left thigh, rallied his men,
who would otherwise have taken to flight,
and brisk exchange of revolver shots
at very nesErange ensued, when Cap
Lraro fell, with another bullet in the left
hip, one in the neck and two in the
breast. AT this bis men lost all heart
and scampered of, but not before one of
them was brought down by Lieutenant
Belliti. In the grotto we're found four
jackets, one Of them with pocket.book
containing fifty-one lire in paper, while
all about the place were images of
saints and Madonnas. Capraro, re-
taiRing on his countenance, like
| Catiline, the. naughty ferceness
of his nature, had just ceased to
breathe when he was borne away. He
wore jacket and pantaloons of black.
colored cashmere. flannel shirt of a
| liyelier tint, high boots, of white leather,
ana, alpng over his shoulder, an excel
lent binocular held-glass of long range
and elegant manufacture Round his
neck was a gold chain with guard, to
which was attached silver watch, while
on his finger he wore a massive gold
ring, with "Vincenzo Capraro" en-
graVed on 1t. Two pocketbooks were
also found on him, one of them with his
name artistically embroidered in gold;
while by his side lay o double.barreled
| rife of Lefaucheus workmanship, calibre
| H. and a six ohambered revolver with
central percussion. The belt he had on
contained thirty.two cartridges. His
body was conveyed to Sciacca, where it
was soon identified according to the
usual legal forms. That. done, the news
OF his capture and death were telegraph
ed 10 the government, and all the next
day tbs people could talk Of nothing else
but the fate Of Tue veteran condottiere,
ard the blessed relief it brought them
The fugitiYes from the late fight have
| fed, it is stated, to Di Pasquale's or Ri
naldis headquarters, somewhere in the
PalermItsn Province; but the death of
the inspiring genias Of Sicilian outlawry
has, it is hoped, given the coHp dc grace
to the cause. No thanks, however, will
be due tc the priesthood foF that happy
conHnmmatinH