The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-21

Tor 1000. believe they gave OUT tnat
amount 10 mislcad other bands OF whom
they were 10 dread. Mr. Blunt, too, bad
very wisely concealed the amount from
everybody. II was generally UNDERSTOOD
that he had raised the 1900 lIras for me by
mortgage, aud so iudicIously bad ne con-
ccaIed the other 10000 Iiras that Niko, WHO
knew everything that went on IN ssion'ca,
sent word not TO try TO deceive n'm-ne
knew well that Mr.. Blunt had only z,Voo
ready aud il was necessary 10 gel
A SPY
10 inspect the full sum to reSssufe him. Nor
we're these precautions unnecessary. Tor we
afterwards learned that Dayelli, another
chief Of q band numbering some thirty,
had formed a project for carrying on the
ransom, but was misinformcd as TO the day
OF PAYMENT. We being seated round In tne
forest, the bags OF money were Iaid OUT ano
three Of the band inspected each coin 20
see that there were nc marks when mIsnt
rive a clue TO their whereabouts aIter-
wards. One bag was counted and the 0ther
W eigbcd against 1t. they had Withdrawn
their demands for the other things men.
toned In the letter except the Watches anu
= Martini ana revolver. A Martini rine
offered them was accepted, but the revolver
wss mt GOOD. and they preferred waiting
for n new oue. Satisfied with the ransom
they shaved ne and gave me a cup OF water
according to their customs, returned nve
l,ras they had borrowed from me In the
cave. as also u revolver they had taken from
me. II is unusual to release a captive De-
fore plehtialI, but IL was successfully ar
ranged by Mr.. Bizzo, and
WAS SET AT LIBESTY.
When taken i had some t~hirty-odd liras
in nv pocket; OF this sun they borrowed
five for their expenses, but did not toucD
the rest, In a few minutes / was able per-
sonally but very ~inadequateIy to thank Con.
sulGeneralB Blunt for his energetic action ana
able efforts, which had led to my release, to
contribute 10 which he bad left nothing I'M
lbouobt OF or 10 chance. Had troops been
allowed 10 pursue the brigands While was
in their hands, owing to the snow on the
ground affordiug facilities for tracking, and
he omen tate OF the forest. the risk 10 DE
would have been very great. Mr.. Bizzo
worked hard and at considerable personal
risk. and 1 am greatly indebted 10 him. On
his first interview with Nike, the opening
words Of the latter were, How many pairs
of shoes l have worn out looking after
you.' Nike had attacked a farm OF Mr..
Bizzo's last year, and bad been pursued 10
consequence, so bore him a grudge."
Colonel Synge concludes bis letter with
the following account OF the composition
and character OF the band by whom he was
carried Off:
"THE AND
is ucder thc leadership OF Nike, assisted by
his brother Basil and his brother in-law Ka-
lesb. Another brother, Georghi, Is chief OF
a second band, numbering only eight. A
third brother Is in prison In Greece. VI
Nlko's band six are GeserterS from the
Greek army. These, with NIkO and bis rela-
tlyes, arc armed with the 'Gras' or Greek
service rife, which they prefer to all
Others. The remainder Of the band
armed with the Martini and milo
par.' or old Greek-seryice weapons.
One OF the deserters had served at
the time of the Marathon murders, and
was well up in the events OF that time. One
had been q monk at Mount AthOs. All made
the sign Of the cross before and after eat.
ing. All had taken part in the last raid IN
Thessaly. l fear I shall never learn who
were their instigators and accomplices, but
| cannot believe that the attack originated
with the brigands. According TO the bri.
gand cartride c account they fired 382 rounds
in the attack, and my windows, ceilings,
and walls bear witness 10 numerous hits.
What a difference between the ragged ruff
fans who formed the brigand bands when
j ifst came TO this country-iye OF ten
men. armed with Old fint-guDs, which
would not 90 of at all in wet weather, and
were a nearly equal source OF danger TO the
shooter and tue 'sbootee' in fne-and now.
bands Of fifty to a hundred and fifty, armed
with the best OF modern weapons, going
about requisitioning towns and villages and
carving people off to raDsom."