The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-11-06
Caught by Bandits.

Sig. Egidio Sarconi, 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 Corleto Perticara, a
hamlet in the Basilicata, and about
half days journey south of Potenza,
the chief town of the province. His
family had preceded him thither, and
in his eagerness to join it with the least
delay possible he stayed no longer in Po-
tenza than to hire a vehicle, accepting,
in fact, the first that offered itself. On
he went, anticipating the joyous re-
ception in store for him, and-high
legal functionary 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 reverie by two gruff voices
bidding the driver pull up. Presently
two sinister faces appeared at the win
dow; two rifles were leveled at him
and he was told to alight Immediately
Unarmel himself. with no assistance
near him for miles around, and the
driver most likely an accomplice of his
assalants, there was nothing for it but
to comply. Forthwith the brigands
bound him hand and foot, carried him
up the hill that assembled from the road
side, and on reaching dense forest OF
beech trees, deposited him on the
ground. They relieved him of all his
valuables, including some one hundred
lire he had about him, and then they
told him tina. unless five thousand
scudl We're paid for his ransom he
would be put to death. Nainly did he
plead poverty, and protest that his
family did not possess that sum. His
captors were inexorable, and with many
a brutal threat, forced him to write tc
his relatives for the sum required. BY
this time it was nightfall, and with his
hands and feet bound so tightly that
the cords cut his flesh, he had to stretch
himself full length on the bare, damp
eartll, while the brigands slept beside
him. On the same spot, and very
nearly the same position, he spent the
whole night and part of the next day
with scarcely a morsel of food or a
drop to drink, till he received orders
to march. His feet were just so far
left free to ena ole him to walk with
difficulty over the heights and hollows
of their devious path; and when his
swollen and aching limbs forced from
him an involuntary cry of pain his cap
tors would push him before them with
the muzzles of their rifles, and KEEP
him in perpetual fear OF being shot 10y
accident. Four days and four nights
of this bodily and mental torture did
he undergo, till on the fifth day
chance of escape providentially ap
pearcd The brigands, who always
kept him tightly bound, had descended
to the plain that morning, and returned
with n little food-bread and cheese,
with some water. Having eaten theil
fill and given Sig. Sarconi what re
manned, they all three lay down to
siesta under the shadow of some plum
trees. 1t was sunset before they rost
and resumed their march. Signor Sar
conis legs being left little freer tC
enable him to climb the hill over which
their Journey lay. They had not gone
far when he, being always little
ahead of his captors, got glimpse
through the trees of five carbineers who
were patrolling the neighborhood. The
moment he saw the uniform and red
stripe of their trousers he darted OF
toward them though they were full
rifle shot away. BY this time the bri
cands had also seen the carbineers. and
without further heed for their captive
they took to their heels in the opposite
direction. Signor Sarconi was Mt once
unbound and conveyed under an escort
of two carbineers, to his overjoyed
family at Corleto Perticara, while the
other three gave chase to the fugitives.
These gentlemen, however, are still
at large, and their victim, in spite OF
all the conjugal and tilial care lavished
upon him, has not yet recovered from
the privations and wounds inflicted on
him during his five days captivity
LondoR DailV Ners.