Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-12-04
Five DAYS VIII BrIgaRe:.

rive pays Uith bTis dHSs
The London Daily Neios correspOn.
dent in Rome writes: 'Signor EgldiO
Sarconl, Deputy Vice Chancellor in the
Ministry of Grace and Justice, set out
from Rome about the middle of August
last TO enjoy his months holiday at
Corlete Perticara, a hamlet in the
Basilicata, and about halfa days jour-
ncy south of Potcnza, the chief town of
the providence. His family had pre-
ceded him thither, and IN his eagerness
to join it with the least delay possible he
stayed no lenger in Potenza than to
hire vehicle, accepting, in fact, the
first Mat offered itself On he went,
anticipating the joyous reception in
store for him, and--high leading fuuc-
uonary as he was. thinking nothing Of
the law and as little OF Its breakers,
when suddenly, some SIX miles from
Potenza, he was reused from his revere
by two grua voices bidding the driver
pull up. Presently two sinister faces
appeared at the window; two rides
were lcveled at him, and he was told
10 alight immediately. Unarmed, HIM.
self with no assistance near him Tor
miles around, and the driver most like
ly an accomplice OF his assailants. there
was nothing for 1t but to comply. Forth
with the brigand5 bound him hand aud
foot, carried him up the hill, that
assembled from the roadside, and on
reaching dense forest Of beech trees
deposited him On the ground. They
relieved him Of all his yaluables, iu-
cluding some 100 lire he had about him.
and then they told him that unless
5000 scudi were paid for his ransom he
would be put to death. Valnly did he
plead poverty and protest that his
family did not possess that sum. His
captors were inexorable, and with many
brutal threats forced him to write to his
relatives for the sum required. BY this
time it was nightiall.a and with his hands
and feet bound so tight that the cords
cut his flesh, he had TO stretch himself
iull length on the bare damp earth,
while the brigands slept beside him.
On the the same spot, and very nearly
in the same position, he spent the
whole night and part Of the next day
with scarce a morsol Of food or drop TO
drink, TIL he received orders to march.
His feet were just so far left free as to
enable him to walk with difficulty over
the height and holows If their de
yious path; aud when his swollen and
aching limbs forced from linn an inyolun-
tary cry ofpain, his captOrs would push
him before thcm with the muzsleS CT
Their rifles, and keep HIM il perpetual
fear OF being shot by accident. -Four
days and four nights Of this bodily and
mental torture did he UNDERGO. till Oh
the dth day a chance OF escape proyiden-
TALLY appeared The brisauds, who al
ways kept him tightly bound, had
descended to the plain that noruisg,
aud returned with a little loed--bread
aud chcase, with some water, Having
eaten thell fill and given Si-nor Sarco..i
what remained, they all three lay down
To a slcsla under tho shadow Of some
plum trees. 1t vas sunset before they
rose and resumed their march. Sguor
sarcoui's less being left a little irter to
enable him to climb that hill over
which their Journey lay. They had
not gone far when he, being always a
little ahead Of his captors, got glimpse
through the trees Of five carabbineer-
who were parolllas The neishborhood.
The moment he cav the uniform and
the red stripe Of their trousers he dartcd
off towards them though they were a
full rife shot away. BY this time the
brigands had also seen the carabne RS
and without further heed for then
captive they took to their heels in The
opposite direction. signor Sarconi was
at once unbound and conveyed under al
escort CT two carabineers to his over
ioyed family at CorletO Perticara, whlC
the other three gave chase to th'
iusiliyes. These gentlemen, however
are still at large, aad their victim--iI
spite ofall the conjugal and flial carr
iayished on him--has not yet recovered
from the prlvations and actual wound
inflicted on him during his five days
captivity