The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-06-10

amber beads, Martini rifles and Cartrid.
ges, a field glass, and fifteen trumpets.-
II all these were not sent within five
days my ears would be sent in, in eight
days my nose, and in ten days my head,
On three occasions, Mr.. Blunt sent me
some newspapers, always with a few
CHEEKY words scattered about among the
printing.
After a weary time in the cave, for it
was bitterly cold, and in the daytime
they rarely lit a fire unless the weather
was toggy or snow was falling, l was told
that all had been arranged. Taken out,
bIindfOlded, mounted on a mule, and
sometimes picking my own way, | was
brought down to the vicinity of Cateri.
ma. l had to write a third letter relative
to the movement of the troops escorting
the ransom, also saying that if there was
any bad money among the ransom the
amount would be doubled.
"On the day of my release the scouts
reported early that the trumpets had
sounded in Caterina for the troops to fall
in, shortly afterwards that they had
marched out, and after a time they ap.
preached, accompanied by Consul Gem
eral Blunt, and were halted. Mr.. Bizz0,
the dragoman of the Consulate, who had
personally carried out the negotiations
between Mr.. Blunt and Nike, aCcompa.
MED by some of his own men (he has
Two large farms near Caterina), a Turk
ish officer, and Hussein Agha, the can
vass of the consulate, brought up the
ransom. Now | learnt for tie frat time
that 1000 liras was the real amount, for
the brigands had always told me that it
had been arranged for 1000. | believe
they gave out that amount to mislead
other bands of whom they were in dread.
Mr.. Blunt, too, had very wisely conceal
ed the amount from everybody. 1t was
generally understood that he had raised
the 1000 liras for me by mortgage, and
90 judiCiously bad be concealed the other
10 900 that Nike, who knew everything
that won't on in Salonica, sent word not
to try to deceive him-he knew well that
Mr.. Blunt had only 1000 ready; and it
was necessary to get a spy to inspect the
full sum to assure him. Nor were these
precautions unnecessary, for we after.
wards learnt that Davelli, another chief
of a band numbering some thirty, had
formed a project for carrying off the
ransom, but was misinformed as to the
day of payment.
1--WE being seated in the forest, the
bags Of money were laid out, and three
of the band inspected each coin to see
that there were no marks which might
give a clue to their whereabouts after
wards. One bag was counted and the
others weighed against it. They had
Withdrawn their demands for the other
things mentioned in the letter except
the watches and a Martini and revolver,
A Martini rifle offered them was accept.
ed, but the revolver was not good, and
they preferred waiting for a new ONE
Satisfied with the ransom, they shaved
NE and gave me a cup of water accord.
ing to their customs, returned five liras
they had borrowed from me in the cave,
as also a revolver they had taken from
ne. 1t is unusual to release a captive be-.
fore nightfall, but it was successfully ar
ranged by Mr.. Bizzo, and l was set at
liberty. When taken l had some thirty
odd liras in my pocket of this sum they
borrowed five for their expenses, but did
not touch the rest.
"In a few minutes I was able person.
ally but very ~inadequately to thank Con-
sul'General Blunt for his energetic &C.
ton and able efforts which had led to
my release, to contribute to which he
had left nothing unthought of or to
chance.
"Had troops been allowed to pursue
the brigands while | was in their hands,
owing to the snow on the ground afford
ing facilities for tracking and the open
state of the forest, the risk to me would
have been very great. Mr.. Bizzo work.
ed hard and at considerable personal
risk, and | am greatly indebted to 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 your Nike had attacked
a farm of Mr.. Bizzo's last year, and had
been pursued in consequence, so bore
him a grudge.
1.-THE band is under the leadership of
Nike, assisted by his brother Basil and
his brother.in-law Kalesh. Another
brother, Georgia, is chief of a second
band, numbering only eight. A third
brother is in prison in Greece. Of Nj
kos band six are deserters from the
Greek army. These, with Nike and his
relatives, are armed with the 'Gras'
or Greek service rife, which they prefer
to all others. The remainder of the
band are armed with the Martini and
'Milonar,' or old Greek service weapon.
One of the deserters had served at the
time of the Marathon murders, and was
well up in the events ofthat time. One
had been a monk at Mount Athos. All
made the sign of the cross before and sf.
ter eating Allhad taken part in the last
raid in Thessaly. l fear 1 shall never
learn who were their instigators and &C.
completes, but l can not believe that the
attack originated with the brlgands.
According to the brigand cartridge
account they fred 1872 rounds in the at.
tack, and my windows, ceilings, and
walls bear witness to Vulnerable hits.
"Wha a difference between the rag.
ged ruttians who formed the brigand
bands when l first came to this country:
five or ten men, armed with old flint
guns, which would not 90 off at all in
wet weather, and were a nearly equal
source of danger to the shooter and the
shootee's in ine-and now-bands of
fifty to a hundred and fifty, armed with
he best Of modern weapons, going about
'equisitioning towns and villages and
people off to ransoml
MAY every Englishman and foreigner
whose misfortune it may ever be to fall
INTO the brigands' hands be as fortunate
l was in having those to look after
heir interests who spared neither pains
lor trouble nor left anything unthought
If until the sought.for end was att
DEMOCRATIC CIRCUMSTANCES AGAINST
DIVIDING THE PARTY.-The feeling which
low pervades the Democratic party Of