The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-05-26

June sun in Italy; for it was high
| noon, and not cloud broke the deer
clear blue of the sky.
NV mind dwelt on the strange circum.
stance at the farmhouse, and not easily
explained conduct Of the inmates
While in the midst of my meditations
my ears caught the sound of footsteps,
and, turning the corner of the deep
mountain-path, two carbineers came in
sight, and told one of them my sur
prise at the conduct of the woman at
the farm. to which he replied
"Signort Ufficiale, / can easily ex'
plain the conduct of those poor people,
and, seating himself on the grass, he
gave the following explanation:
When the brigands make a requisi.
ton on farmhouse, their conduct diff
fers from their unusual treatment o.
travellers or strangers. The first thing
is to make an onslaught on the animals
They next enter the house; and no one
thinks of refusing them, because In
these mountain districts the houses are
SO distant that help from without is
never thought of. Often there are only
the mistress ofthe house and the females
at home, the men being out at theil
labor.
The first thing demanded is jewelry
for the Italian peasant woman, when
she has any money, Immediately goes to
ieweler to convert it into earrings
bracelets, necklace and a huge gold
cross pendent from the same. These are
of the very finest gold.
l have seen a large boned, brown
peasant woman, on festal holiday,
dressed in a rough homespun dress, with
earrings reaching nearly to her shoul'
ders; neck upon which was huge
goitre, encircled with a necklace o
chased gold beads, so large and so costly
that it might have graced the neck ol
some princess, and who might well envy
| her the possession of the same.
Resistance would only lead to VIC.
! lence; so the poor woman parts with
her fortune. Not a drawer or corner is
left unsearched; and, with their hands
and pockets full of their ill-gotten
wealth, the brigands prepare to act the
last scene of this miserable drama.
When the cupidity OF the brlgand is
satisfied, and he has got all there is to
have he takes hold of the master Of the
house or farm, and, leading him out
into the open air, tells him to take leave
of his family and to confess himself, fol-
he is about to die!
"But why?" says the agonized and
robbed man; 81 have let you take all. D
But the words are wind; and, after
he has taken an agonizing leave of his
weeping wife and family, he is blind
folded, and his hands tied behind his
back.
Now the click of gun OF o:her fire
arm is heard, and the two who are to
be the executioners are brought into
position. The wife is thcre-the chill
dren have fed in terror; but the poor
wife holds out her one hand to the hus-
band, while with the other she covers
her poor face to shut out the fearful
sight. And now all seems about to
finish, when the capo walks up to the
kneeling N ian, and, taking the bandage
from his eyes. he says:
"If you will take the oath which |
shall dictate, I will give you your life,
for the sake of your wife and chill
dren."
The kneeling man raises his eyes to
the clear sky above him, which lie had
thought to have looked upon for the
last time, apd, putting his hands To-
gether-which had been unbound-he
prepares to say the oath which is die
tated to him. He is laid under numer-
Gus pains and penalties. And now his
wife and children are clinging to him
with ali the lively and emotional
affection of the Italian. The fear of 8
terrible death has passed away, and his
sturdy arms take in one fatherly en-
brace all his dear ones.
Such was the explanation which |
heard from the carbineers. l under
stood at once the fat denial of any
knowledge Of the brigands. The people
dared not tell; because, if they did, be-
fore twenty-four hours, not only the
father, but the whole family would
be ruthlessly butchered. This has
really happened more than once or
twice.
Thanking the men for their civility,
and seeing that by this time the sun was
on the decline, I gave the word and we
were dSdlu Ou OUI way.
We examined diligently every turn
and fissure that we saw on our path, but
were surprised to see no trace of bri-
gands. when suddenly, on turning round
projecting ridge of rock, we came upon
a stirring scene.
Imagine, if you can, asort of room cut
in the rock, but with many graceful,
Towering vine hanging over and be-
tween the crevices OF the rocks, whence
pearly drops of water trickled like silver
to the mossy ground. Here, tightly
bound, and possibly meant for some
torturing death, were five men, three OF
whom were English and two Germans:
The brigands-more than twelve in
number-were for the most part kneel.
ing on the ground, occupied in search
ing the knapsacks and the persons OF
the victims, as also good-sized travel
ing bag, from which one ofthe brigands
had abstracted fine white embroidered
shirt, and was proceeding to array him.
self in it. This was the chief. cannot
describe the alarm, the exclamations o.
surprise, which broke from the brigands
and may say the groans of relief which
came from the captives.
A sharp encounter took place. Three
of the brigands tell wounded, but moi
mortally, also some of my men; but
had the pleasure Of sending, under 8
strong escort, aided by the cGrnbanteri,
nine of the gang to Ancona, there to re
ceive the reward of their crimes; fol
this capture brought forward many per.
sons to certify to dark deeds done by
these ferocious ireebooters.
Some time after this, when we were
stationed at Ascoli, q report of fresh
atrocities had lately made US increase
our diligence, when we heard that q
certain country house was to be at
tackled the following night; the house
to be plundered and burned, the men
killed and the women carried off by the
brigands.
On our silent way toward the place
we met a miserable, ill-looking man
whom I would rather not have met on
the lonely hillside. / noticed that the
usual courteous salute which traveller
generally returns was wanting on this
occasion; and, on passing cur men, he
re:raced his steps, and presently we
heard low whistle thrice repeated,
which, nom experience, l knew to be
danger signal.
I, however, quickened my pace, and
we soon arrived at the house. l placed
my men, and, taking my own position
and giving my brother officer his, we
waited.
Night came on, and with it our work.
We had scarcely arrived at our post
when we found that, sharp as we had